b. 1953 · Dublin, Ireland
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.
Born 30 May 1953
Remarkably Bright Creatures
2026
Ethan Mack
Bring Them Down
2025
Ray
Safe Harbor
2025
Kieran Walsh
No Way Up
2024
Brandon
Duchess
2024
Frank Monaghan
In the Land of Saints and Sinners
2023
Robert McQue
Unwelcome
2023
Colm “Daddy” Whelan
Marlowe
2023
Bernie Ohls
The Santa Stories
2023
The No Man/ Bill
The Monkey
2021
MacDonell
Pixie
2020
Dermot O'Brien
The Singapore Grip
2020
Major Brendan Archer