John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh

Acting

Born:
1946-01-01
Place of birth:
Dublin, Ireland

Biography

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 Irish stage production of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris in the 1970s. No other personal details are publicly confirmed.

Known For

Filmography

One Sweet Hour

One Sweet Hour

2026Tommy
Movie
Bucking Fastard

Bucking Fastard

6.02026Mr. Westmoreland
Movie
Baltimore

Baltimore

6.02024Sir Alfred Beit
Movie
Peacock

Peacock

5.82022Georgia's Boss
TV
Vikings: Valhalla

Vikings: Valhalla

7.62022The Seer
TV
The Last Duel

The Last Duel

7.42021Le Gris' Priest
Movie
Riverdance: The Animated Adventure

Riverdance: The Animated Adventure

6.02021Gatekeeper (voice)
Movie
Supervized

Supervized

5.22019Windsor
Movie
Deposits

Deposits

2017Narrator (voice)
Movie
Lost Memories

Lost Memories

2017Dad
Movie
Florence Foster Jenkins

Florence Foster Jenkins

6.62016Arturo Toscanini
Movie
Vikings: Athelstan's Journal

Vikings: Athelstan's Journal

6.92015The Seer
TV
Horse

Horse

2014Junior
Movie
In Secret

In Secret

6.12014Inspector Michaud
Movie
The Invisible Woman

The Invisible Woman

5.92013Reverend Benham
Movie
The Stag

The Stag

5.82013Fionan and Little Kevin's Dad
Movie
Vikings

Vikings

8.12013The Seer
TV
Titanic: Blood and Steel

Titanic: Blood and Steel

7.22012Edward Carson
TV
The Runway

The Runway

6.12010
Movie
Father & Son

Father & Son

7.42009John O'Connor
TV
Closing the Ring

Closing the Ring

6.12007Reverend Smith
Movie
The Tudors

The Tudors

7.82007Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio
TV
The Tiger's Tail

The Tiger's Tail

5.62006Harry
Movie
The Black Dahlia

The Black Dahlia

5.62006Emmett Linscott
Movie
Alexander

Alexander

6.02004Parmenion
Movie
The Halo Effect

The Halo Effect

8.02004Stan
Movie
The Wonderful Story of Kelvin Kind

The Wonderful Story of Kelvin Kind

9.02004
Movie
Mystics

Mystics

5.52003Gerry the Barman
Movie
Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor

Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor

4.82003Judge Shippen
Movie
Pete's Meteor

Pete's Meteor

5.32002Sergeant Maloney
Movie
Sinners

Sinners

7.52002Frank
Movie
Puckoon

Puckoon

6.32002Haggerty
Movie
Last Days in Dublin

Last Days in Dublin

8.02001
Movie
Rebel Heart

Rebel Heart

7.32001Eugene O'Brien
TV
Vicious Circle

Vicious Circle

8.51999Charlie Rice
Movie
Dancing at Lughnasa

Dancing at Lughnasa

6.01998Father Carlin
Movie
The Butcher Boy

The Butcher Boy

6.81998Dr. Boyd
Movie
The Informant

The Informant

6.61997IRA Chief
Movie
Some Mother's Son

Some Mother's Son

6.81996Cardinal
Movie
Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was Told

Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was Told

1996Voice
Movie
Shadow of a Gunman

Shadow of a Gunman

7.01995Adolphus Grigson
Movie
Braveheart

Braveheart

7.91995Craig
Movie
Sharpe's Sword

Sharpe's Sword

7.31995Father Patrick Curtis
Movie
Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends

6.31995Brian Mahon
Movie
Scarlett

Scarlett

6.61994Jamie O'Hara
TV
Widows' Peak

Widows' Peak

6.41994Canon Murtagh
Movie
Love Lies Bleeding

Love Lies Bleeding

10.01993Sean Kerrigan
Movie
Bad Company

Bad Company

1993Patrick Molloy
Movie
Sharpe

Sharpe

8.01993Father Curtis
TV
Into the West

Into the West

6.41992Hartnett
Movie
Children of the North

Children of the North

7.71991Seamus Reilly
Movie
Performance

Performance

6.31991Adolphus Grigson
TV
Arise and Go Now

Arise and Go Now

1991Father Dade
Movie
Events at Drimaghleen

Events at Drimaghleen

9.01991Superintendent O'Kelly
Movie
August Saturday

August Saturday

10.01990Tom Crosbie
Movie
Fools of Fortune

Fools of Fortune

6.51990Johnny Lacy
Movie
Who Bombed Birmingham?

Who Bombed Birmingham?

8.51990Z
Movie
Joyriders

Joyriders

10.01988Manager
Movie
The Storyteller: A Story Short

The Storyteller: A Story Short

1988Beggar
Movie
The Storyteller

The Storyteller

8.21988Beggar
TV