Actor Cyril Cusack died at home in London 20 years ago today. He had been acting since he was a child in Ireland, appearing in variety shows with his mother, the Cockney actress Alice Violet Cole. He recalls those early days in this radio clip from the 'Arts Show Tribute to Cyril Cusack', broadcast on 7 October 1993.
Cusack was a member of the Abbey Theatre from 1932 to 1945. He often appeared in the plays of Sean O'Casey and produced his own version of 'The Playboy of the Western World' in 1954 for his company, Cyril Cusack Productions. He starred in the Irish-language film 'Poitín' (1979) and played Fr Giffley in the RTÉ television drama 'Strumpet City' (1979).
The accompanying image shows Cyril Cusack as Sir Jonah Barrington in the RTÉ Television series 'Facets Irish' (1972). The photographer was Roy Bedell. © RTÉ Archives 1024/063
