Fair City actor Bryan Murray will be awarded the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the world of film and television on Wednesday evening.
Murray's acting career has spanned over five decades and he is beloved for playing Bob Charles on Fair City since 2005.
The star of screen and stage began his career at the Abbey Theatre, where he went on to feature in over 50 productions. He has also performed at London's Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Murray has also appeared in films including A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, The Disturbance at Dinner, Boy Eats Girl, Vita & Virginia and The Professor and the Madman.
He also hosted shows such as the chatshow Encore and documentary series The Tenements, which received critical acclaim and an IFTA nomination.
On Fair City, Murray's Bob Charles has been a much-loved character for many years. He ran and managed Fair City's landmark McCoy’s pub, but a series of tumultuous events led to him being homeless for a period.
In another series of dramatic events, a romantic relationship with Judith led to Bob being shot when Judith was being stalked by Tommy Dillon. He now runs and operates the Hungry Pig, which after Covid, he attempted to burn down for insurance money.
Bob eventually fell in love with and married his on-screen partner Renee Phelan, who is played by Murray’s wife Una Crawford O’Brien.
He has been widely praised in recent years for speaking candidly and frankly about his diagnosis of Alzheimer's, while continuing to appear on Fair City.
Fair City’s Executive Producer, Brigie de Courcy, commented: "I am delighted for Bryan, who is hugely deserving of this prestigious award for his exceptional contribution to stage and screen. When Bryan joined Fair City, he brought a freshness and humour to the role that made an immediate impact.
"Nearly 20 years later, he is just as fresh and just as funny. Bryan is from the first generation of actors to grow up watching drama on RTÉ. Although he went on to have a stellar career, he remains a television actor to the core. This is where his heart is, and he shows it in every scene. We are lucky to have him."
