News of Lydon’s sudden passing was the source of great shock in his hometown of Wexford. Old friends and acquaintances recalled a quiet and unassuming man, who lit up the local stages of his hometown long before becoming an award-winning actor.
Born in London in 1964, the family returned to his father Jimmy O’Brien’s native Wexford when he was nine – something which Lydon described as being formative to his identity and life’s work. When branching out into the acting world, he decided to take his mother, Julie Lydon’s maiden name, as there was already an actor by the name of Gary O’Brien.
A father of two sons – Sean Luke and James – in recent times, Lydon spoke to the Irish Independent about the “full circle” moment of returning to the Wexford Arts Centre stage to star in Of Mornington, a play by his great friend Billy Roche, alongside his son James.
His relationship with Roche goes back to those early days in Wexford and it was through portraying gritty characters in Roche’s works that Lydon first came to prominence, Roche going so far as to describe him as “my Robert De Niro”.
Gary Lydon as Garda Peadar Kearney in ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ alongside Colin Farrell.
His big break on stage came with a distinct Wexford twang in the form of renowned playwright Billy Roche’s Wexford Trilogy in the late 80s. Gary went on to star as troubled teenager Jimmy Brady in A Handful of Stars at The Bush Theatre in London and has brought several of Roche’s works to life on stage in the years since, the two becoming great friends.
Lydon would form several strong relationships in the acting world over the years, working as a stage, television and film actor of some renown over three decades. As well as working regularly with fellow Wexford man Roche, he would also act in several roles for Martin McDonagh and was extremely highly regarded among his peers.
He became widely-known to television audiences for his portrayal of Patrick Murray in RTÉ’s medical drama The Clinic between 2003 and 2009, a role which earned him an Irish Film and Television Award (IFTA) for best supporting actor
He also appeared in acclaimed Irish TV series such as Pure Mule, in which he played the role of Bomber, and Love/Hate.
In the world of film, some of Gary’s best-known credits include Calvary, The Guard, Brooklyn, War Horse and of course playing the gritty role of Garda Peadar Kearney in the aforementioned The Banshees of Inisherin.
Gary Lydon.
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In his final interview, Lydon spoke of a desire to step away from some of the more gritty chracters he’d been typecast as over the years and perhaps take on a little more comedy. He spoke excitedly about a new film, One Sweet Hour, written by Eugene O’Brien who also penned Pure Mule, in which he was to show another string to his bow having taken on the role of an ageing Elvis impersonator.
The many people who encountered Gary Lydon in both a personal and professional capacity over the years will no doubt have been shocked and saddened to learn of his passing, aged 61. Indeed, Gary specifically spoke of his joy at having created lasting relationships in what can be a cold and disposable industry.
“It’s a great joy to me that I’ve become friends with people in the industry and worked on multiple projects with them,” he said. “That way you have a real passion for it, as opposed to just being a jobbing actor.”
Having completed that “full circle moment” on stage with his son at Wexford Arts Centre in recent weeks, the staff and management there were shocked by the news.
Actor Gary Lydon and playwright Billy Roche.
“Gary had honed his craft as one of the finest actors in Ireland on the Wexford Arts Centre stage in many of Billy Roche’s plays,” Elizabeth Whyte of Wexford Arts Centre said in a statement. “He forged a stellar career performing across Ireland and the UK.
“However, he will be remembered by us most fondly for his mesmerizing performances on the arts centre stage in productions of The Boker Poker Club (A Handful of Stars), One is not a Number, Lay Me Down Softly, A Hand Full of Stars revival by Four Rivers Theatre and most recently as Phil in Of Mornington, the role he most wished to play and he embodied to perfection.”
It was noted that Gary had relished his Wexford return and that returning to a Billy Roche play was like slipping into a pair of old, comfortable shoes for him.
“Gary had commented on how he had enjoyed playing Phil immensely and we had been in discussion with hopes of bringing the Of Mornington production across the water to the US,” Ms Whyte said. “We can only take comfort in the fact that Gary got to play the role of Phil that he always wanted to perform, a deeply flawed, down-on-his-luck former celebrity snooker player filled with bitterness and resentment who gradually redeems himself by the end of the play, revealing true empathy and compassion. Gary embraced these characters so finely written by Billy Roche with passion.”
Ms Whyte described it as “fitting” that Lydon’s final role on stage was alongside his son.
“The lights in the theatre world are dimmer due to the loss of Gary, but we will cherish the memories of his performances with reverence,” she concluded. “Deepest sympathies to his family, friends, stage and screen colleagues and to Billy Roche, his creative alliance collaborator for over forty years.
“May you be layed down softly Gary. May you rest in peace.”