Gavan O'Herlihy
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- July 29, 1951
- Died
- September 15, 2021 (aged 70)
- Birthplace
- Dublin, Ireland
Biography
Gavan O’Herlihy (29 July 1951 – 15 September 2021) was an Irish actor whose career spanned film, television, and stage, marked by a distinctive presence and a talent for commanding roles. Born in Dublin to actor Dan O’Herlihy and artist Elsie Bennett, he spent his early years between Ireland and the United States, eventually attending Phillips Academy Andover and later the University of California, where he excelled as a champion tennis player before turning fully toward acting. O’Herlihy first gained attention as Chuck Cunningham in the early episodes of Happy Days, a role he deliberately left behind to avoid being typecast in light comedic parts. He instead built a diverse and often hard‑edged body of work, appearing in major productions including Never Say Never Again (as the villainous Jack Petachi), Superman III, Death Wish 3, Willow (as the warrior Airk Thaughbaer), and the acclaimed miniseries Lonesome Dove. His television career was equally varied, with appearances in Twin Peaks, Star Trek: Voyager, The Six Million Dollar Man, Murder, She Wrote, and numerous British productions after relocating to the UK. Across more than fifty screen credits, O’Herlihy became known for portraying complex, often formidable characters — soldiers, outlaws, antagonists, and men with a dangerous edge — roles he embraced for the challenge and dramatic weight they offered. Off‑screen, he was regarded as thoughtful, private, and deeply committed to his craft, preferring character work over celebrity. He died in Bath, England, on 15 September 2021 at the age of 70, reportedly of natural causes.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
The Descent: Part 2
Movie · as Vaines
Cruise of the Gods
Movie · as Mickey
Butterfly Man
Movie · as Bill Kincaid
18 Wheels of Justice
TV · 1 ep
Prince Valiant
Movie · as King Thane
Sharpe: The Legend
Movie · as Leroy
Top of the World
Movie · as Lieutenant Logan
Jonathan Creek
TV · as Hal Drucker · 1 ep
Midsomer Murders
TV · as George Arlington · 1 ep
The Shooter
Movie · as Dick Powell
Star Trek: Voyager
TV · as Maje Jabin · 1 ep
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
TV · as John Garrideb / James Winter · 1 ep
The Last Outlaw
Movie · as Marshal Sharp
Sharpe's Eagle
Movie · as Captain Thomas Leroy
Sharpe
TV · as Cpt. Leroy · 1 ep
Conagher
Movie · as Chris Mahler, Cowboy
Twin Peaks
TV · as Officer Preston King · 2 eps
Red King, White Knight
Movie · as Clancy
Tales from the Crypt
TV · as Richard · 1 ep
Lonesome Dove
TV · as Dan Suggs · 4 eps
Willow
Movie · as Airk
China Beach
TV · 1 ep
A Killing on the Exchange
TV · as Dan Maitland · 6 eps
Death Wish 3
Movie · as Manny Fraker
The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission
Movie · as Conrad E. Perkins
Space Riders
Movie · as Ron Harris
Sherlock Holmes
TV · as John Garrideb / James Winter · 1 ep
Cover Up
TV · 1 ep
Superman III
Movie · as Brad Wilson
The Secret Adversary
Movie · as Julius P. Hersheimmer
Never Say Never Again
Movie · as Jack Petachi
Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime
TV · as Julius P. Hersheimmer · 1 ep
Matt Houston
TV · as Michael Sheridan · 1 ep
We'll Meet Again
TV · as Capt Red Burwash · 1 ep
A Rumor of War
TV · as Stanton · 2 eps
Mark Twain: Beneath the Laughter
Movie · as Young Clemens
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
Movie · as Art Stinson
A Wedding
Movie · as Wilson Briggs
A Death in Canaan
Movie · as Father Mark
The Amazing Spider-Man
TV · as David · 1 ep
The Ghost of Cypress Swamp
Movie · as Big Bob Landers
The Bionic Woman
TV · 1 ep
The California Kid
Movie · as Tom
The Healers
Movie
Happy Days
TV · as Chuck Cunningham · 8 eps
The Six Million Dollar Man
TV · as Dan · 1 ep
Police Woman
TV · as Gordon Stuart · 1 ep
Call to Danger
Movie · as Mechanic
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
TV · as Josh McBride (as Gavin O'Herlihy) · 1 ep
Marcus Welby, M.D.
TV · as Herb Frane · 1 ep