Obit: Tom Murphy, Irish actor, won Tony for 'Beauty Queen'

Tom Murphy, the Irish actor who won the Tony Award in 1998 for his portrayal of Ray Dooley in Martin McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane died Oct. 6 in Dublin from complications of Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was 39.

I played that part in Jobsite Theater's 2003 production of Beauty Queen. Jobsite also went on to produce Mr. McDonagh's The Pillowman in 2006.

The obit on the NYTimes site also references my favorite line in the show:

“Who wants to see Ireland on telly?” Mr. Murphy’s character asks. “All you have to do is look out your window and see Ireland. And it’s bored you’d be.” He mimes looking out a window. “There goes a calf."

Tom Murphy made quite a mark on stage and screen, above and beyond his Tony for Best Featured Actor in 1998 (where he shared the stage with current Broadway stalwart Brian O'Byrne), starring in Connor McPherson's Shining City as well as the acclaimed films Michael Collins and Adam and Paul.