John Kavanagh
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John Kavanagh (born 1946, Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish character actor who was a member of the Abbey Theatre company for ten years (1967–1977) before going freelance. He has worked in over 20 films and numerous TV series since 1970. His film credits include Braveheart (1995), The Butcher Boy (1997), Dancing at Lughnasa (1998), Florence Foster Jenkins (2016), and The Last Duel (2021). On television he is best known for playing The Seer / Pope Leo IV in Vikings (2013–2020) and Vikings: Valhalla (2022–2024), and Cardinal Lorenzo Campeggio in The Tudors (2007–2008). He received a Drama Desk Award nomination (1989) for Juno and the Paycock. He is also a singer, having played the lead in the Irish stage production of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris in the 1970s. No other personal details are publicly confirmed.
Known for
Credits
Braveheart (1995)
as Craig
The Last Duel (2021)
as Le Gris' Priest
Alexander (2004)
as Parmenion
In Secret (2014)
as Inspector Michaud
The Black Dahlia (2006)
as Emmett Linscott
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
as Arturo Toscanini
Closing the Ring (2007)
as Reverend Smith
Bucking Fastard (2026)
as Mr. Westmoreland
Circle of Friends (1995)
as Brian Mahon
Riverdance: The Animated Adventure (2021)
as Gatekeeper (voice)
Widows' Peak (1994)
as Canon Murtagh
The Invisible Woman (2013)
as Reverend Benham
Some Mother's Son (1996)
as Cardinal
Dancing at Lughnasa (1998)
as Father Carlin
The Butcher Boy (1998)
as Dr. Boyd
Children of the North (1991)
as Seamus Reilly
The Tiger's Tail (2006)
as Harry
Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003)
as Judge Shippen
Sharpe's Sword (1995)
as Father Patrick Curtis
Into the West (1992)
as Hartnett
Supervized (2019)
as Windsor
Pete's Meteor (2002)
as Sergeant Maloney
Shadow of a Gunman (1995)
as Adolphus Grigson
The Ballroom of Romance (1982)
as Bowser Egan
The McKenzie Break (1970)
Actor
The Stag (2013)
as Fionan and Little Kevin's Dad
Children in the Crossfire (1984)
Actor
Weeks (—)
as Jim
Horse (2014)
as Junior
Cal (1984)
as Skeffington
Bellman and True (1987)
as Donkey
The Storyteller: A Story Short (1988)
as Beggar
Vicious Circle (1999)
as Charlie Rice
Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was Told (1996)
as Voice
The Informant (1997)
as IRA Chief
Lost Memories (2017)
as Dad
Arise and Go Now (1991)
as Father Dade
Der Irland-Krimi: Zerrissene Seelen (2024)
as Arthur Browne
Baltimore (2024)
as Sir Alfred Beit
The Runway (2010)
Actor
Last Days in Dublin (2001)
Actor
The Fantasist (1986)
as Robert Foxley
Mystics (2003)
as Gerry the Barman
One Sweet Hour (—)
as Tommy
August Saturday (1990)
as Tom Crosbie
Sinners (2002)
as Frank
Fools of Fortune (1990)
as Johnny Lacy
Who Bombed Birmingham? (1990)
as Z
A Week in the Life of Martin Cluxton (1971)
as Priest
Deposits (2017)
as Narrator (voice)
Joyriders (1988)
as Manager
The Price (1985)
as Kearney
Puckoon (2002)
as Haggerty
Love Lies Bleeding (1993)
as Sean Kerrigan
Events at Drimaghleen (1991)
as Superintendent O'Kelly
The Halo Effect (2004)
as Stan
The Wonderful Story of Kelvin Kind (2004)
Actor
Revival: Pearse's Concept of Ireland (1980)
as Patrick Pearse
Bad Company (1993)
as Patrick Molloy
The Country Girls (1983)
as James
Attracta (1983)
as Mr. Devereux