Sean McClory


Séan Joseph McClory was an Irish actor whose career spanned six decades and included well over 100 films and television series. He was sometimes billed as Shawn McGlory or '''Sean McGlory.'''

Early years

McClory was born Séan Joseph McClory on 8 March 1924 in Dublin, Ireland, but spent his early life in County Galway. He was the son of Hugh Patrick McClory, an architect and civil engineer, and Mary Margaret, a model.
McClory studied at St. Ignatius Jesuit College and at the National University of Ireland Medical School. He served in the Irish Army Medical Corps during World War II.
After the War McClory was drawn to acting. When out of work, he turned to other employment, including washing dishes, driving trucks, working at a gold mine on the California-Nevada border and sailing around the world. At one point, he sold his blood to obtain money for food and drinks.

Career

Stage

McClory began his career on stage, specializing in comedy at the Abbey Theatre. On Broadway, McClory portrayed Rory Commons in The King of Friday's Men. His acting in regional theater included Dial "M" for Murder at the Sombrero Playhouse in Arizona and Shadow of a Gunman with the California Artists Repertory Theatre. He also acted in a summer theater in La Jolla, California.

Film

Jack Votion, a representative of RKO Pictures who was based in Europe, discovered McClory performing at the Abbey Theatre, after which McClory went to Hollywood in 1947 and began acting in films. His work included the role of an Irish policeman in Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome and Dick Tracy's Dilemma. He was part of the John Ford Stock Company, appearing in the Ford productions What Price Glory, The Long Gray Line, The Quiet Man,'' and Cheyenne Autumn. McClory portrayed a ringmaster in Ring of Fear and a chauffeur in the comedy My Chauffeur''.

Television

On television, McClory portrayed Captain Clary on the NBC adventure series Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers, Pat McShane on the CBS crime drama Kate McShane, Myles on the CBS adventure series Bring 'Em Back Alive, and Jack McGivern on NBC's Western television series, The Californians.
In 1958, McClory was cast as Ted O'Malley in the episode "Short Haul" of the CBS crime drama, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, starring David Janssen.
McClory appeared twice in the 1960 NBC Western series, Overland Trail, starring William Bendix and Doug McClure. He was a guest star in the syndicated Western series, Pony Express and in 1960 on ABC's Western drama, The Man from Blackhawk, starring Robert Rockwell as a roving insurance investigator. Another 1960 role was as Quinn in "Talent for Danger" on the ABC adventure series, The Islanders, set in the South Pacific. In 1960 and 1961, McClory appeared in the episodes, "Heads, You Lose" and "Appointment at Tara-Bi", of another ABC series, Adventures in Paradise, starring Gardner McKay. McClory was a guest star in episodes of the television Western The Rifleman, "Knight Errant" and "I Take This Woman", playing Dennis O'Flarrety, an Irish romantic rival opposite Chuck Connors' lead character of Lucas McCain., for the affection of Lou Mallory, played by Patricia Blair.
McClory appeared as Jaimie MacDonald in the 1963 episode "Commando" of the CBS anthology series, GE True, hosted by Jack Webb. He was cast thereafter in a second-season episode of Irwin Allen's CBS science fiction series Lost in Space called "The Astral Traveller", as a Scottish bagpiping "ghost" named Hamish. He made several guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the 1961 episode, "The Case of the Malicious Mariner", the defendant in the 1962 episode, "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle," and the title character and husband of the defendant in "The Case of the Scandalous Sculptor". McClory made two appearances on NBC's Bonanza, as Mark Connors in the 1962 episode "The Tall Stranger" and as Professor James Aloysuis McCarthy in the 1963 comedic episode "Hoss and the Leprechauns".
Sean played Scott Winters in CBS's Mannix episode "Then the Drink Takes the Man", which first aired on 30 December 1967.
In 1969 Sean appeared as NYC policeman Tim O’Sullivan in The Beverly Hillbillies episode “Manhattan Hillbillies”.

Personal life and death

McClory was married four times. His third marriage, to Sue Alexander, ended with her death in 1979. He married actress Peggy Webber in 1983. On 10 December 2003, McClory died of a heart condition at his home in Hollywood Hills, California.

Filmography

Television