JACK MacGOWRAN, THE BECKETT ACTOR
JACK MacGOWRAN, THE BECKETT ACTOR
Irish Stage Legend and Cult Movie Favorite
Jordan R. Young
Foreword by Martin Esslin
Introduction by James Mason
Afterword by Stephen Rea
“Young has interviewed seemingly everyone who knew MacGowran, and the result is a sparkling biography of a haunting and haunted man.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Impeccable. I enjoyed it enormously.”
— James Knowlson, author, Damned to Fame: The Life of Samuel Beckett
Jack MacGowran, The Beckett Actor is the revised and expanded edition of the acclaimed biography of one of Ireland’s greatest actors—a performer who could hold an audience in the palm of his hand but couldn't cope with life.
He was sought after by filmmakers as diverse as John Ford and Roman Polanski, turning up in blockbuster hits like The Quiet Man and The Exorcist, and starring in such cult movies as The Fearless Vampire Killers, Wonderwall, and How I Won the War.
He was best known as Samuel Beckett's foremost interpreter, changing forever the public perception of the author from a purveyor of gloom and despair, to a writer of wit, humanity and courage. Time Magazine said it best: “What do you give to a man who has the Nobel Prize? Answer: the love, beauty, truth and artistry of actor Jack MacGowran.”
More than 100 of MacGowran’s friends and associates were interviewed by the author, including Roman Polanski, John Lennon, Peter O'Toole, Maureen O’Hara, Carroll O'Connor, Melvyn Douglas, Patrick Magee, Billie Whitelaw, Burgess Meredith, and Siobhán McKenna.
Jordan R. Young is a prolific author, film historian and award-winning playwright. His work has been published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post.