Ten fun facts about Gabriel Byrne

Fact 1
His acting career began in the Focus Theatre before he joined London's Royal Court Theatre in 1979.

Fact 2
Byrne's screen debut came in the Irish soap opera The Riordans and the spin-off show Bracken.

Fact 3
He has now starred in over 35 feature films, such as The Usual Suspects, Miller's Crossing, Stigmata and End of Days.

Fact 4
He started acting at age 29, and began his career on stage with the Focus Theatre and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.

Fact 5
His first play for television was Michael Feeney Callan's Love Is ...

Fact 6
He made his film debut in 1981, as King Uther Pendragon in John Boorman's King Arthur epic, Excalibur.

Fact 7
Byrne's producing credits include the Academy Award-nominated In the Name of the Father.

Fact 8
He has received much critical acclaim for his role as Dr. Paul Weston in the HBO drama In Treatment.

Fact 9
He played football in Dublin with the Stella Maris Football Club.

Fact 10
Before becoming an actor, Byrne had many jobs, including archaeologist, cook, and Spanish and History schoolteacher.