Colm Meaney
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.
Acting
TV
The Simpsons
as Tom O'Flanagan (voice)
1989
Movie
Die Hard 2
as Windsor Plane - Pilot
1990
Movie
Law Abiding Citizen
as Detective Dunnigan
2009
Movie
Con Air
as Agent Duncan Malloy
1997
Movie
The Last of the Mohicans
as Major Ambrose
1992
Movie
Layer Cake
as Gene
2004
Movie
Get Him to the Greek
as Jonathan Snow
2010
TV
Star Trek: The Next Generation
as Miles O'Brien
1987
Movie
Under Siege
as Daumer
1992
Movie
Tolkien
as Father Francis Morgan
2019
TV
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
as Shelley Kelly
2005
Movie
Far and Away
as Kelly
1992
TV
Stargate Atlantis
as Cowen
2004
Movie
Pelé: Birth of a Legend
as George Raynor
2016
Movie
Pelé: Birth of a Legend
as Coach George Raynor
2016
Movie
No Way Up
as Brandon
2024
Movie
The Banker
as Patrick Barker
2020
Movie
Dick Tracy
as Cop at Tess'
1990
Movie
The Cold Light of Day
as Bandler
2012
TV
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
as Miles O'Brien
1993
TV
MacGyver
as Irwin Malcolm
1985
Movie
Free Birds
as Myles Standish (voice)
2013
Movie
Remarkably Bright Creatures
as Ethan Mack
2026
Movie
The Damned United
as Don Revie
2009
