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