Biographie
A fourth-generation Dubliner, he was well-known both in Ireland and on British television for his work in slapstick comedy and classic tragedy. His father, Con O'Shea, was an actor and singer who performed as part of the double act 'Light and Shade' before becoming an army captain during the Civil War. His mother was a harpist and ballet dancer. One of his great-grandfathers fought at San Antonio during the American War of Independence, inherited land in Texas, discovered oil, became a gambler in New Orleans, and eventually died during a plague. He attended Synge Street Christian Brothers School, where he shared a desk with Eamonn Andrews, who later became a prominent British television personality. After actively participating in school theatre, he turned professional at seventeen and frequently performed at Dublin's Gate Theatre throughout his career. He later took on directing roles and managed his own troupe, 'The Vico Players.' He starred in the Irish musical 'Carrie' at a Dublin festival, then toured the United States for three years with that show and 'King of Friday's Men.' In England, he appeared in 'Treasure Hunt' under the direction of John Gielgud and played the role of Bloom in the BBC series 'Bloomsbury,' a part he cherished. In 1951, he married actress Maureen Teal, and they had a son named Colm. On their working honeymoon to America, their plane crash-landed in Iceland, where they were stranded for five nights during repairs. In the U.S., they joined the Touring Players in Mexico and Florida, performed summer stock at the De Lys Theatre on Block Island, and, when unemployed, worked as elevator operators at the Waldorf Astoria. Returning to Ireland, they quickly became known as a performing duo on stage and especially on radio with their own shows, 'Maureen and Milo' and 'What Are They Talking About.' They made their home near the sea in Dalkey.
