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Michael O'Neill
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Michael O'Neill

One of the most well-respected character actors working today, Michael O'Neill boasts a prolific resume in motion pictures, television and on the New York stage. The tall, distinguished actor consistently turns in memorable performances, from his role as secret service agent Ron Butterfield, head of the presidential detail on the hit series The West Wing, to the heartbreaking Mr. Pollard, Tobey Maguire's poetry-loving father, in Seabiscuit.

O'Neill has appeared in a wide variety of films that include Secondhand Lions, Around the Bend, Traffic, The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Mod Squad, The Sunchaser, Jennifer 8, The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag, Lorenzo's Oil, Sea of Love, Ghost Story and Dancer, Texas Pop. 81.

Among his recurring roles on television were turns as Ron Cheals on ABC's The Unit; as Dr. Colbert on two hit series, Boston Public and Ally McBeal; as Pete Burton for ABC's The Nine; and as Richard Walsh on the much lauded and popular 24.

Other television appearances include the shows Without A Trace, Cold Case, Commander-in-Chief, Crossing Jordan, Carnivale, Judging Amy, NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope, Roswell, JAG, The X-Files, The Pretender, E.R., L.A. Law and Picket Fences, to name just a few. He has also starred in several tele-films, including CBS' Plainsong and Beyond Betrayal; USA Films' Victim of Love: The Shannon Moore Story; HBO's Norma Jean & Marilyn and Blind Justice; and ABC's For Their Own Good, as well as the miniseries The Shining.

O'Neill was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama and attended Auburn University, where he earned his bachelor of science in economics. After graduating he moved to New York, where he continued his studies and landed his first job performing in Time Steps at Playwrights Horizons.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2008.

Michael O'Neill Facts

OccupationActor

Selected Filmography

Not available.