1946Born, Dublin
74Credits
John Kavanagh (born 1946, Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish character actor who was a member of the Abbey Theatre company for ten years (1967–1977) before going freelance. He has worked in over 20 films and numerous TV series since 1970. His film credits include Braveheart (1995), The Butcher Boy (1997), Dancing at Lughnasa (1998), Florence Foster Jenkins (2016), and The Last Duel (2021). On television he is best known for playing The Seer / Pope Leo IV in Vikings (2013–2020) and Vikings: Valhalla (2022–2024), and Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio in The Tudors (2007–2008). He received a Drama Desk Award nomination (1989) for Juno and the Paycock. He is also a singer, having played the lead in the…
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Known for
BraveheartCraig
VikingsPope Leo IV
The Last DuelLe Gris' Priest
AlexanderParmenion
Florence Foster JenkinsArturo Toscanini2026Bucking FastardMr. WestmorelandMovie
2024BaltimoreSir Alfred BeitMovie
2022PeacockGeorgia's Boss · 1 episodeShow
2022Vikings: ValhallaThe Seer · 4 episodesShow
2021The Last DuelLe Gris' PriestMovie
2021Riverdance: The Animated AdventureGatekeeper (voice)Movie
2019SupervizedWindsorMovie
2017DepositsNarrator (voice)Movie
2017Lost MemoriesDadMovie
2016Florence Foster JenkinsArturo ToscaniniMovie
2015Vikings: Athelstan's JournalThe Seer (archive footage), The Seer · 6 episodesShow
2014HorseJuniorMovie
2014In SecretInspector MichaudMovie
2013The Invisible WomanReverend BenhamMovie
2013The StagFionan and Little Kevin's DadMovie
2012Titanic: Blood and SteelEdward Carson · 1 episodeShow
2010The RunwayMovie
2009Father & SonJohn O'Connor · 4 episodesShow
2007Closing the RingReverend SmithMovie
2007The TudorsCardinal Campeggio, Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio · 10 episodesShow
2006The Tiger's TailHarryMovie
2006The Black DahliaEmmett LinscottMovie
2004AlexanderParmenionMovie
2004The Halo EffectStanMovie
2004The Wonderful Story of Kelvin KindMovie
2003MysticsGerry the BarmanMovie
2003Benedict Arnold: A Question of HonorJudge ShippenMovie
2002Pete's MeteorSergeant MaloneyMovie
2002SinnersFrankMovie
2002PuckoonHaggertyMovie
2001Last Days in DublinMovie
2001Rebel HeartEugene O'Brien · 4 episodesShow
1999Vicious CircleCharlie RiceMovie
1998Dancing at LughnasaFather CarlinMovie
1998The Butcher BoyDr. BoydMovie
1997The InformantIRA ChiefMovie
1996Some Mother's SonCardinalMovie
1996Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was ToldVoiceMovie
1995Shadow of a GunmanAdolphus GrigsonMovie
1995BraveheartCraigMovie
1995Sharpe's SwordFather Patrick CurtisMovie
1995Circle of FriendsBrian MahonMovie
1994ScarlettJamie O'Hara · 1 episodeShow
1994Widows' PeakCanon MurtaghMovie
1993Love Lies BleedingSean KerriganMovie
1993Bad CompanyPatrick MolloyMovie
1993SharpeFather Curtis · 1 episodeShow
1992Into the WestHartnettMovie
1991Children of the NorthSeamus ReillyMovie
1991PerformanceAdolphus Grigson · 1 episodeShow
1991Arise and Go NowFather DadeMovie
1991Events at DrimaghleenSuperintendent O'KellyMovie
1990August SaturdayTom CrosbieMovie
1990Fools of FortuneJohnny LacyMovie
1990Who Bombed Birmingham?ZMovie
1988JoyridersManagerMovie
1988The Storyteller: A Story ShortBeggarMovie
1988The StorytellerBeggar · 1 episodeShow
1987Bellman and TrueDonkeyMovie
1986The FantasistRobert FoxleyMovie
1986ScreenPlayTom Crosbie, Superintendent O'Kelly, Father Dade, Sean Kerrigan · 1 episodeShow
1986LovejoyHennessey · 1 episodeShow
1985The PriceKearneyMovie
1985The PriceKearney · 6 episodesShow
1984Children in the CrossfireMovie
1984CalSkeffingtonMovie
1983The Country GirlsJamesMovie
1983AttractaMr. DevereuxMovie
1982The Ballroom of RomanceBowser EganMovie
1980Revival: Pearse's Concept of IrelandPatrick PearseMovie
1971A Week in the Life of Martin CluxtonPriestMovie
1970The McKenzie BreakMovie
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