Cyril Cusack
Cyril James Cusack (26 November 1910 – 7 October 1993) was an Irish stage and screen actor with a career that spanned more than 70 years. During his lifetime, he was considered one of Ireland's finest thespians, and was renowned for his interpretations of both classical and contemporary theatre, including Shakespearean roles as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and over 60 productions for the Abbey Theatre, of which he was a lifelong member. In 2020, Cusack was ranked at number 14 on The Irish Times' list of Ireland's greatest film actors.
Born to Irish and English parents in South Africa and raised in County Tipperary, Cusack dropped out of law school to join the Abbey Theatre and remained with the company for 13 years, acting in over 60 plays. In London, he performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre, and later founded his own company which toured across Europe. Making his film debut at age 8, Cusack worked with many notable directors, including Powell and Pressburger, Franco Zefferelli, François Truffaut, Carol Reed, Peter Brook, Peter Hall, Fred Zinnemann, Christine Edzard and Anthony Harvey. He co-starred opposite Richard Burton several times, who once commended Cusack's acting as "always himself and yet always totally different". Fluent in both English and Irish, Cusack had a starring role in the first Irish-language feature film, Poitín (1978).
He was the patriarch of the Irish Cusack acting family, as the father of Sinéad Cusack, Sorcha Cusack, Niamh Cusack, Pádraig Cusack, and Catherine Cusack.
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Once more unto the breach (from Henry V, Act 3 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Upon the King Henry (from Henry V, Act 4 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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This day is called the feast of Crispian (from Henry V, Act 4 Scene 3) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Methinks I am a prophet new inspired (from Richard II, Act 2 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Now is the winter of our discontent (from Richard III, Act 1 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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If it were done when 'tis done (from Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 7) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Is this a dagger that I see before me (from Macbeth, Act 2 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow (from Macbeth, Act 5 Scene 5) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Full fathom five (from The Tempest, Act 1 Scene 2)USX762097609 - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Be not afear'd ... (from The Tempest, Act 3 Scene 2) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Our revels now are ended (from The Tempest, Act 4 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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O that this too too solid flesh (from Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 2) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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To be or not to be (from Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Get thee to a Nunnery (from Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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How all occasions do Conspire (from Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 2) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Alas, poor Yorick (from Hamlet, Act 5 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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If music be the food of love (from Twelfth Night, Act 1 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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I left no ring with her (from Twelfth Night, Act 2 Scene 2) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Fie fie unknit that threatening brow (from Taming of the Shrew, Act 5 Scene 2) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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But soft! what light through yonder window (from Romeo & Juliet, Act 2 Scene 2) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Gallop apace you fiery-footed steeds (from Romeo & Juliet, Act 3 Scene 2) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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O bid me leap .. (from Romeo & Juliet, Act 4 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Well Juliet I will lie with thee tonight (from Romeo & Juliet, Act 5 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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How oft when men... (from Romeo & Juliet, Act 5 Scene 3) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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If you prick us do we not bleed? (from The Merchant of Venice, Act 3 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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The quality of mercy (from The Merchant of Venice, Act 4 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Sir, spare your threats .. Scene (from The Winter's Tale, Act 3 Scene 2) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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I am not what I am... (from Othello, Act 1 Scene 1) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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Most potent grave and reverend Signiors (from Othello, Act 1 Scene 3) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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If wives do fail (from Othello, Act 4 Scene 3) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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It is the Cause...Soft you... (from Othello, Act 5 Scene 2) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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All the world's a stage (from As You Like It, Act 2 Scene 7) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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It is not the fashion to see the lady (from As You Like It, Epilogue) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
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The Death of King Lear (from King Lear, Act 5 Scene 3) - Great Shakespeare Speeches - Olivier, Burton, Welles -
Cyril Cusack
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