John Kavanagh
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- January 1, 1946
- Birthplace
- Dublin, Ireland
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.
Filmography
The Great Wide Open TBA
as Grandad
Weeks TBA
as Jim
One Sweet Hour 2026
as Tommy
Bucking Fastard 2026
as Mr. Westmoreland
Baltimore 2024
as Sir Alfred Beit
The Last Duel 2021
as Le Gris' Priest
Riverdance: The Animated Adventure 2021
as Gatekeeper (voice)
Supervized 2019
as Windsor
Deposits 2017
as Narrator (voice)
Lost Memories 2017
as Dad
Florence Foster Jenkins 2016
as Arturo Toscanini
Horse 2014
as Junior
In Secret 2014
as Inspector Michaud
The Invisible Woman 2013
as Reverend Benham
The Stag 2013
as Fionan and Little Kevin's Dad
The Runway 2010
Actor
Closing the Ring 2007
as Reverend Smith
The Tiger's Tail 2006
as Harry
The Black Dahlia 2006
as Emmett Linscott
Alexander 2004
as Parmenion
The Halo Effect 2004
as Stan
- The Wonderful Story of Kelvin Kind
The Wonderful Story of Kelvin Kind 2004
Actor
Mystics 2003
as Gerry the Barman
Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor 2003
as Judge Shippen
Pete's Meteor 2002
as Sergeant Maloney
Sinners 2002
as Frank
Puckoon 2002
as Haggerty
- Last Days in Dublin
Last Days in Dublin 2001
Actor
Vicious Circle 1999
as Charlie Rice
Dancing at Lughnasa 1998
as Father Carlin
The Butcher Boy 1998
as Dr. Boyd
The Informant 1997
as IRA Chief
Some Mother's Son 1996
as Cardinal
Samuel Beckett: As the Story Was Told 1996
as Voice
Shadow of a Gunman 1995
as Adolphus Grigson
Braveheart 1995
as Craig
Sharpe's Sword 1995
as Father Patrick Curtis
Circle of Friends 1995
as Brian Mahon
Widows' Peak 1994
as Canon Murtagh
Love Lies Bleeding 1993
as Sean Kerrigan
Bad Company 1993
as Patrick Molloy
Into the West 1992
as Hartnett
Children of the North 1991
as Seamus Reilly
Arise and Go Now 1991
as Father Dade
Events at Drimaghleen 1991
as Superintendent O'Kelly
August Saturday 1990
as Tom Crosbie
Fools of Fortune 1990
as Johnny Lacy
Who Bombed Birmingham? 1990
as Z
Joyriders 1988
as Manager
The Storyteller: A Story Short 1988
as Beggar
Bellman and True 1987
as Donkey
The Fantasist 1986
as Robert Foxley
The Price 1985
as Kearney
Children in the Crossfire 1984
Actor
Cal 1984
as Skeffington
The Country Girls 1983
as James
- Attracta
Attracta 1983
as Mr. Devereux
The Ballroom of Romance 1982
as Bowser Egan
- Revival: Pearse's Concept of Ireland
Revival: Pearse's Concept of Ireland 1980
as Patrick Pearse
A Week in the Life of Martin Cluxton 1971
as Priest
The McKenzie Break 1970
Actor
Credits from TMDB.