People

Colm Meaney

Acting · follow into films and chains

Biography

Colm J. Meaney (born May 30, 1953) is an acclaimed Irish actor. Born in Dublin, Meaney discovered his passion for acting in his youth and later honed his craft at the Abbey Theatre School before joining the National Theatre of Ireland. He achieved global recognition for his iconic portrayal of Chief Miles O'Brien within the Star Trek franchise, seamlessly transitioning the character from Star Trek: The Next Generation to a leading role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine across a staggering 225 total episodes. Beyond science fiction, Meaney is deeply revered for starring as the quintessential working-class father in all three film adaptations of Roddy Doyle’s beloved Barrytown Trilogy: The Commitments, The Snapper (which earned him a Golden Globe nomination), and The Van. A highly versatile character actor, his prolific Hollywood filmography includes memorable roles in major blockbusters such as Die Hard 2, The Last of the Mohicans, Con Air, and Layer Cake. On the small screen, he delivered powerhouse performances as the ruthless railroad tycoon Thomas C. Durant in AMC's Western series Hell on Wheels and the crime boss Finn Wallace in Gangs of London. An accomplished stage veteran of Broadway and the West End, Meaney was honored with the prestigious Irish Film & Television Academy’s (IFTA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. He continues to remain a vibrant force in the industry, starring in high-profile projects such as the Netflix feature adaptation Remarkably Bright Creatures and the crime drama series The Yank, which reunited him on screen with fellow Star Trek alumnus Kate Mulgrew.

Notable films

Where to start

Highlights from credits and KinoChain journeys.

Pelé: Birth of a Legend

Appears in a KinoChain journey

The Damned United

Appears in a KinoChain journey

Remarkably Bright Creatures

As Ethan Mack

Law Abiding Citizen

As Detective Dunnigan

Con Air

As Agent Duncan Malloy

The Last of the Mohicans

As Major Ambrose

Far and Away

As Kelly

Free Birds

As Myles Standish (voice)

Chains

KinoChain journeys

Public chains that pass through their films — or name them as a bridge.

Browse all chains

The Beautiful Game on Screen

From the favelas of Rio to the pitches of Glasgow, a journey through football's cinematic universe, where the sport becomes a mirror for society, identity, and...

8 films

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