Brian O'Halloran
Brian Christopher O'Halloran (born December 20, 1969) is an American actor and producer best known for playing Dante Hicks in Kevin Smith's debut film Clerks and its 2006 sequel, Clerks II. He has also made appearances in most of Smith's View Askewniverse films, either as Dante Hicks or one of Dante's cousins.
Brian O'Halloran | |
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![]() O'Halloran at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2019 | |
Born | Brian Christopher O'Halloran December 20, 1969 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor, producer |
Years active | 1991–present |
Early life
O'Halloran was born in Manhattan, New York City, and lived in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey from the age of 13.[1] A first-generation Irish-American, both his parents emigrated from Ireland. His father died when O'Halloran was 15 years old.[2] He graduated from Cedar Ridge High School.[3]
Career
O'Halloran is the lead actor in the 2000 film Vulgar, about a small town clown who is traumatized after he is attacked during one of his performances. Writer/director Bryan Johnson wrote the lead specifically with O'Halloran in mind.
He has worked on theatre productions since high school. He has said on the subject of doing theatre:
Oh, yeah. It's the best training you can do, as an actor. To be in front of a live audience. There's no 'Stop, wait, oh geez, what was that line again?' It just sharpens your reflexes. It sharpens your interaction. And it definitely sharpens your memory because you have to know an entire show from beginning to end.[4]
Since Clerks, O'Halloran has primarily been a stage actor, working with the Boomerang Theatre Company, the New Jersey Repertory Company and the Tri-State Actors Theatre, among others.
Personal life
He is currently a resident of Staten Island.[5]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Clerks | Dante Hicks | |
1995 | Mallrats | Gill Hicks | |
1997 | Chasing Amy | Executive Jim Hicks | |
1999 | Dogma | Grant Hicks | as Brian Christopher O'Halloran |
2000 | Clerks: The Animated Series | Dante Hicks | voice-only |
Vulgar | Will Carlson/Flappy/Vulgar | as Brian Christopher O'Halloran | |
2001 | Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | Dante Hicks | as Brian Christopher O'Halloran |
Drop Dead Roses | Shawn | as Brian C. O'Halloran | |
2002 | The Flying Car | Dante Hicks | |
2003 | Moby Presents: Alien Sex Party | Clerk | |
2006 | Clerks II | Dante Hicks | |
2007 | Brutal Massacre | Jay | |
The Junior Defenders | Mitch Stone | originally titled Groupies; its principal photography occurred in February–March 1997.[4] | |
2008 | The Happening | Jeep Driver | |
Hooking Up | Dr. Jordan | ||
2011 | Pokémon: Black & White | Mr. Garrison | Episode 694: Gotta Catch a Roggenrola! |
2012 | Cry for Revenge | TBA | |
2017 | Right Before Your Eyes | John McCann | |
TBA | Flea | Scavenger | Post production |
2019 | Madness in the Method | as Himself | |
2019 | Jay and Silent Bob Reboot | Dante Hicks, Grant Hicks | |
TBA | Shooting Clerks | Elis Heimermann | Also associate producer and special thanks |
TBA | Clerks III | Dante Hicks | [6] |
References
- Cahillane, Kevin. "For the Stars of 'Clerks,' It's Take Two" Archived 2012-11-06 at the Wayback Machine. The New York Times. July 16, 2006. Accessed February 15, 2011. "Mr. O'Halloran, a resident of Old Bridge since age 13, has not had to go the McJob route."
- Filichia, Peter. "Brian O'Halloran goes from 'Clerks' to 'The Crucible'", The Star-Ledger, July 23, 2010. Accessed March 26, 2011.
- O'Donnell, Chuck. "O'Halloran revisits Central Jersey theater roots", Courier News, August 3, 2015. Accessed October 6, 2019. "Playing Dante Hicks in Clerks has made Brian O'Halloran a working-class hero to generations of register jockeys.... Funny thing is, it all almost never happened. The skinny kid with glasses who once played the titular role of Snoopy at Cedar Ridge High School in the late 1980s had given up acting."
- "Interview with Brian O'Halloran". View Askew. February 2, 1998. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
- Filichia, Peter. "Brian O'Halloran goes from 'Clerks' to 'The Crucible'", The Star-Ledger, July 23, 2010. Accessed December 2, 2010. "Although he now lives on Staten Island ..."
- "Kevin Smith Announces Clerks 3". comicbook.com. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brian O'Halloran. |
- Brian O'Halloran on IMDb
- Brian O'Halloran at NJTheater.com