Colm Meaney
Acting
Colm J. Meaney (born May 30, 1953) is an acclaimed Irish actor. Born in Dublin, Meaney discovered his passion for acting in his youth and later honed his craft at the Abbey Theatre School before joining the National Theatre of Ireland. He achieved global recognition for his iconic portrayal of Chief Miles O'Brien within the Star Trek franchise, seamlessly transitioning the character from Star Trek: The Next Generation to a leading role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine across a staggering 225 total episodes. Beyond science fiction, Meaney is deeply revered for starring as the quintessential working-class father in all three film adaptations of Roddy Doyle’s beloved Barrytown Trilogy: The Commitments, The Snapper (which earned him a Golden Globe nomination), and The Van. A highly versatile character actor, his prolific Hollywood filmography includes memorable roles in major blockbusters such as Die Hard 2, The Last of the Mohicans, Con Air, and Layer Cake. On the small screen, he delivered powerhouse performances as the ruthless railroad tycoon Thomas C. Durant in AMC's Western series Hell on Wheels and the crime boss Finn Wallace in Gangs of London. An accomplished stage veteran of Broadway and the West End, Meaney was honored with the prestigious Irish Film & Television Academy’s (IFTA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. He continues to remain a vibrant force in the industry, starring in high-profile projects such as the Netflix feature adaptation Remarkably Bright Creatures and the crime drama series The Yank, which reunited him on screen with fellow Star Trek alumnus Kate Mulgrew.
Known for
Acting153
movieRemarkably Bright Creatures
2026
Ethan Mack
movieRe-Creation
2025
Ian Bailey
tvSafe Harbor
2025
Kieran Walsh
movieDuchess
2024
Frank Monaghan
movieNo Way Up
2024
Brandon
tvThe Santa Stories
2023
The No Man/ Bill
movieIn the Land of Saints and Sinners
2023
Robert McQue
movieThere's Always Hope
2023
Jonathan
movieMarlowe
2023
Bernie Ohls
movieUnwelcome
2023
Colm “Daddy” Whelan
movieThree Day Millionaire
2022
Mr. Barr
tvThe Serpent Queen
2022
Francis I of France
movieSave the Cinema
2022
Martyn
movieConfession
2022
Father Peter
movieThe Monkey
2021
MacDonell
tvBack to Barrytown
2021
Self / Narrator
moviePixie
2020
Dermot O'Brien
tvThe Singapore Grip
2020
Major Brendan Archer
tvGangs of London
2020
Finn Wallace
movieThe Banker
2020
Patrick Barker
movieSeberg
2019
Frank Ellroy
movieThe Last Right
2019
Detective Donall Crowley
movieTolkien
2019
Father Francis Morgan
tvWill
2017
James Burbage
movieHalal Daddy
2017
Martin Logan
movieThe Journey
2017
Martin McGuinness
movieThe Secrets of Emily Blair
2016
Father Avital
moviePelé: Birth of a Legend
2016
George Raynor / Coach George Raynor
tvThe Cowboy
2016
Self
movieNorm of the North
2016
Grandfather (voice)
tvChildhood's End
2015
Wainwright
movieI Am Your Father
2015
Narrator (voice)
movieThe Devil's Hand
2014
Elder Beacon
tvThe Driver
2014
The Horse
movieThe Yank
2014
Fintan McGuire
movieFree Birds
2013
Myles Standish (voice)
movieA Belfast Story
2013
Detective
movieOne Chance
2013
Roland Potts
movieAlan Partridge: Alpha Papa
2013
Patt Farrell
movieStar Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds
2013
Chief Miles O'Brien (archive footage)
movieBel Ami
2012
Monsieur Rousset
tvHell on Wheels
2011
Thomas 'Doc' Durant
movieThe Perfect Stranger
2011
Mark O'Reilly
movieWhole Lotta Sole
2011
Detective Weller
movieThe Conspirator
2011
David Hunter
movieThe Flight of the Swan
2011
Giannopoulos
movieAlleged
2010
H.L. Mencken
movieParked
2010
Fred Daly
movieGet Him to the Greek
2010
Jonathan Snow
tvAlice
2009
King of Hearts
movieThe Race
2009
Frank Kensay
movieLaw Abiding Citizen
2009
Detective Dunnigan
movieThe Damned United
2009
Don Revie
tvZOS: Zone of Separation
2009
George Titac
movieThree and Out
2008
Tommy Cassidy
movieUnnatural Causes
2008
Trevor Jones
movieKings
2007
Joe Mullan
tvMen in Trees
2006
Bob O'Donnell
tvCovert One: The Hades Factor
2006
Peter Howell
tvThe Unit
2006
Charge D'Affaires
tvIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2005
Shelley Kelly
movieBattle of the Brave
2004
Benjamin Franklin
movieThe Murdoch Mysteries: Poor Tom Is Cold
2004
Inspector Brackenreid
movieThe Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying
2004
Inspector Brackenreid
tvThe Murdoch Mysteries
2004
Inspector Brackenreid
movieBad Apple
2004
Gibbons
movieBlueberry
2004
Jimmy McClure
movieIntermission
2003
Jerry Lynch
movieKing of Texas
2002
Mr. Tumlinson
movieRandom Passage
2002
Thomas Hutchings
movieBackflash
2002
Gin O'Malley
tvLaw & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
Harold Garrett
movieChapter Zero
1999
Frank Lazaras
tvThe Magical Legend of the Leprechauns
1999
Seamus Muldoon
movieMystery, Alaska
1999
Mayor Scott Pitcher
movieMoney Kings
1998
Al Sheehan
movieClaire Dolan
1998
Roland Cain
movieOctober 22
1998
Steve
movieMonument Ave.
1998
Jackie O'Hara
movieOwd Bob
1998
Keith Moore
movieCon Air
1997
Agent Duncan Malloy
movieThe Last of the High Kings
1996
Jim Davern
movieThe Van
1996
Larry
tvScarlett
1994
Father Colum O'Hara
movieThe Road to Wellville
1994
Dr. Lionel Badger
tvGargoyles
1994
Mr. Dugan (voice)
movieWar of the Buttons
1994
Geronimo's Dad
movieThe Snapper
1993
Dessie Curley
movieStar Trek: Deep Space Nine - Emissary
1993
Miles O'Brien
tvStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
Miles O'Brien
tvDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993
Jake Slicker
movieInto the West
1992
Barreller
movieUnder Siege
1992
Daumer
movieThe Last of the Mohicans
1992
Major Ambrose
movieThe Commitments
1991
Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr.
tvLaw & Order
1990
Wyatt Landon
movieCome See the Paradise
1990
Gerry McGurn
movieDie Hard 2
1990
Windsor Plane - Pilot
movieDick Tracy
1990
Cop at Tess'
tvThe Simpsons
1989
Tom O'Flanagan (voice)
moviePerfect Witness
1989
Meagher
tvStar Trek: The Next Generation
1987
Miles O'Brien
movieThe Dead
1987
Mr. Bergin
tvMacGyver
1985
Irwin Malcolm
tvMoonlighting
1985
Keterina Suitor (as Colm Meany)
tvScreen Two
1985
Dessie Curley
tvTales from the Darkside
1984
Constable
movieEaster 2016
1982
Kevin Murphy
movieNailed
1981
Younger Protestant
tvStrangers
1978
Peter Smolett
movieThe Panic
J. Pierpont Morgan
Production1
movieThree Day Millionaire
2022
Executive Producer