Brendan O’Carroll (born 17 September 1955) is an Irish writer, comedian, actor, and producer. He is best known for writing and portraying the character Agnes Brown in the BBC sitcom Mrs. Brown’s Boys, which has been broadcast in over 190 countries.
O’Carroll was born in Dublin, Ireland, the youngest of eleven children. His father, Hugh, was a coalman and his mother, Maureen, was a housewife. He was educated at St Vincent’s C.B.S. in Glasnevin.
O’Carroll began his career as a stand-up comedian in the 1970s. He later wrote and starred in several stage plays, including The Mammy (1999), Agnes of God (2001), and For the Love of Mrs. Brown (2002). He also wrote and starred in the films Mrs. Brown’s Boys D’Movie (2014) and Mrs. Brown’s Boys D’Movie 2 (2015).
O’Carroll has been married three times and has five children. His first wife, Doreen O’Carroll, died in 1985. His second wife, Jennifer Gibney, is an actress who has appeared in Mrs. Brown’s Boys. His third wife, Anne-Marie Duff, is an actress who has appeared in the films The Last Station (2009) and Suffragette (2015).
O’Carroll has an estimated net worth of $25 million. He is a supporter of the Labour Party and has donated money to the party.
General Info
Full Name
Brendan O'Carroll
Height
1.65 m
Profession
Actor, Comedian, Author, Film director, Film producer, Screenwriter, Novelist, Television Director, Television producer, Presenter
Nationality
Irish
Family
Spouse
Jennifer Gibney, Doreen Dowdall
Children
Danny O'Carroll, Fiona O'Carroll, Eric O'Carroll, Brendan O'Carroll
Parents
Maureen O'Carroll, Gerard O’Carroll
Siblings
Eilish O'Carroll, Martha O'Carroll, Micheal O'Carroll, Pat O'Carroll, Maureen O'Carroll, Fiona O'Carroll, Fin O'Carroll
Accomplishments
Awards
British Academy Television Award for Best Scripted Comedy, The Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award
Nominations
British Academy Television Award for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme
Movies
Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie, The Fattest Man in Britain, Angela's Ashes
TV Shows
Brendan O'Carroll's Hot Milk and Pepper, Mrs. Brown's Boys, All Round to Mrs. Brown's, Mrs Brown: The Musicals
I don't know the secret of Mrs. Brown, but what I do know is that there are things that Mrs. Brown says and does that Brendan O'Carroll couldn't get away with. I think maybe it's a leniency that they're with an old woman. It's the old woman thing. I think secretly we all just want to be Joan Rivers.
2
People have really taken Mrs. Brown to their hearts. I think she reminds them of their own mammies... Fierce and scary but full of love.
3
For many people, Mrs. Brown has come from the middle of nowhere. But Mrs. Brown was first written for radio. I wrote it for a radio series in 1992. It was a five-minute piece for radio, and it's been absolutely astonishing.
4
You write what makes you laugh, and you hope that the audience agree, and so far they do.
5
If you are writing comedy and try to please everybody, you'll please nobody.
6
I think with Modern Family (2009), you'll struggle to find anything better. It's brilliantly, brilliantly written.
7
I can only write what makes me laugh, and what makes me laugh is the comedy I grew up on.
Anyone who thinks they can write the perfect comedy that everyone will love is a fool. I can only write what I think is funny and hope that there is a likeminded audience out there.
