Community hub
0 subscribers7 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Laurence Kinlan.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Laurence Kinlan
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Laurence Kinlan (born 3 February 1983) is an Irish actor in films, television series and on theatre stage. He is best known for playing the role of Elmo in RTÉ's crime drama Love/Hate.[1][2][3]
Key Information
Career
[edit]Film and television
[edit]Kinlan's debut was a lead role, his film debut at age 14 as David in Soft Sand, Blue Sea directed by Pip Broughton. It tells the story of kids living in a children's home. They are not orphans, but are children of disinterested parents and, as such, carry the scars of being unloved and rejected.[4] He got the role in an open audition at the Belvedere club and despite having no previous acting experience he got the part.[3]
His biggest role was as Elmo Creed in the long-running Irish TV series Love/Hate, a gritty crime drama based on Dublin's criminal underworld written by Stuart Carolan and directed by David Caffrey. The cult series that is broadcast on RTÉ but followed worldwide stars actor Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (as Nidge Delaney) and co-stars Peter Coonan (as Fran Cooney), Laurence Kinlan (as Elmo Creed), Aidan Gillen (as John Boy Power) and Robert Sheehan (as Darren Treacy). Kinlan's character Elmo has become so popular the Irish FM104 launched a song titled "Elmo's A Headcase!" sampling portions of Kinlan's voice and sampling of "Sexy and I Know It" as "Elmo and I Know It".[5]
Another major screen role for Kinlan was his portrayal of Dan Kelly in the 2003 Gregor Jordan film Ned Kelly, with the title character of the Kelly Gang played by Heath Ledger. Other roles were in this film directed by included Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush and Naomi Watts.
Kinlan has appeared in various roles in a number of films and TV series, including notably Veronica Guerin, The Halo Effect, Intermission, Boy Eats Girl, The Guard and many others. He played the Irish independent politician Tony Gregory in the biopic of ex-Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland) Charles Haughey titled Charlie which aired in 2015 on RTÉ.[6][7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
Theatre
[edit]He also landed roles on stage, particularly on the stages of Abbey Theatre and Peacock Theatre, Dublin as well as appearing in tours elsewhere on stages in London, New York etc. His theatre appearances include the role of Leonard in On Such As We, directed by Wilson Milam, in A Month in the Country, directed by Jason Byrne, Poor Beast in the Rain[12] directed by Conor McPherson playing the role of Georgie for which he was nominated for the "Irish Times Best Supporting Actor Award" in 2006. Laurence appeared in Saved directed by Jimmy Fay The Playboy of the Western World directed by Jimmy Fay. Kinlan also played Bartley in a major production of Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan directed by Garry Hynes, at Dublin Theatre Festival and the Atlantic Theater Company, Manhattan, New York. He portrayed the character Mossey Lannigan in Christ Deliver Us!,[13] a new play by Tom Kilroy directed by Wayne Jordan at the Abbey Theatre, again receiving "Irish Times Best Supporting Actor Award" in 2011. Another role he landed was The Covey, in Wayne Jordan's The Plough and the Stars.
Awards
[edit]- 2006: "Best Supporting Actor Award"[14] at the Irish Times Theatre Awards for his role as Georgie in the play Poor Beast in the Rain staged in The Gate theatre in Dublin
- 2011: "Best Supporting Actor Award" at the Irish Times Theatre Awards for his role as Mossey Lannigan in the play Christ Deliver Us!, staged at the Abbey Theatre
2016: Best Supporting Actor Award" at the Irish Times Theatre Awards for his role as Doc in the play "The Night Alive" staged at the Gaiety Theatre
Personal life
[edit]Born into a family of four boys, with three brothers, Kinlan is the son of Larry and Mary Kinlan. They lived in inner city Dublin. His father died after a long heroin addiction. Laurence was just 10 when his father died.[3]
Laurence reportedly left school at 16 to pursue an acting career. He has 2 sons.[3]
Filmography
[edit]- 1998: Soft Sand, Blue Sea as David
- 1999: The Bill (TV Series, 1 episode – "Out and About" as Liam Ryan)
- 1999: Angela's Ashes as Older Paddy Clohessy
- 2000: Country as Michael
- 2000: Saltwater as Joe
- 2000: An Everlasting Piece as Mickey
- 2001: On the Nose as Kiaran Delaney
- 2001: Last Days in Dublin
- 2001: On Home Ground (1 episode – "John King" in lead role John King)
- 2003: Ned Kelly as Dan Kelly
- 2003: Veronica Guerin as Timmy, a young junky Timmy
- 2003: Intermission as a Drug Dealer
- 2004: The Halo Effect as a Thief
- 2005: Boy Eats Girl as Henry
- 2005: Breakfast on Pluto as Irwin
- 2006: Johnny Was as Michael
- 2006: Small Engine Repair as Tony
- 2007: My Boy Jack as Guardsman Doyle (TV film)
- 2011: The Guard as Photographer
- 2012: Vexed (TV Series – 1 episode – "Ian" as lead Ian)
- 2012: Immaturity for Charity (TV film)
- 2013: All Is by My Side as John
- 2013: Love/Hate (TV Series – Season 4 – 11 episodes))
- 2014: The Game (TV mini-series – 1 episode – "IRA Monkey")
- 2014: Charlie (TV mini-series – 1 episode "Tony Gregory" as lead act Tony Gregory)
- 2024: The Clean Up Crew as Danny
Theatre
[edit]- On Such As We (2001) – role of Leonard
- By Billy Roche directed by Wilson Milam, Peacock Theatre, Dublin
- Defender of the Faith (2004) – role of Thomas, an active volunteer
- Play by Stuart Carolan, Peacock Theatre, Dublin
- Poor Beast in the Rain (2005) as Georgie
- By Billy Roche directed by Conor McPherson, Gate Theatre, Dublin
- A Month in the Country (2006) – role of Aleksey Nikolayevich Belyayev
- By Ivan Turgenev, adapted by Brian Friel, directed by Jason Byrne, Abbey Theatre, Dublin
- Saved (2007) – role of Sean
- By Edward Bond, directed by Jimmy Fay, Peacock Theatre, Dublin
- The Playboy of the Western World – A New Version (2007) – role of Sean
- by John Millington Synge. Adaptation by Bisi Adigun and Roddy Doyle. Directed by Jimmy Fay [Abbey Theatre]
- Christ Deliver Us! (2010) – role of Mossey Lannigan
- By Tom Kilroy, directed by Wayne Jordan, [Abbey Theatre]
- The Plough and the Stars (2010) – role of The Young Covey
- By Seán O'Casey, directed By Wayne Jordan [Abbey Theatre and international tour]
- The Cripple of Inishmaan (2011) – role of Bartley
- Written by Martin McDonagh in Druid Theatre Company production. Play directed by Garry Hynes, [Dublin Theatre Festival and UK and Irish tour, Atlantic Theater Company, New York]
- Curse of the Starving Class (2011) – role of Emerson
- By Sam Shepard [Abbey Theatre]
References
[edit]- ^ "RTÉ Television – Programmes – Drama – Love/Hate". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- ^ JOEdotie and Genna Patterson (February 2013). "Series 4 of Love/Hate is shooting in Dublin". Joe.ie. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d Maeve Quigley (5 October 2013). "Love/Hate star Laurence Kinlan has told how his father died from a heroin overdose when he was just 10 years old – Irish Mirror Online". Irishmirror.ie. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- ^ "Diplomatic Films: Soft Sand, Blue Sea". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ FM104: Elmo's A Headcase! – LOVE/HATE Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "'Citizen Charlie', Starring Aidan Gillen & Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, to Begin Production Next Week | The Irish Film & Television Network". Iftn.ie. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- ^ "Love/hate doesn't glorify violence it shows it's futile says Nidge – Irish Mirror Online". Irishmirror.ie. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- ^ Ken Sweeney and Fiona Ellis – 10 October 2013 (10 October 2013). "'Nidge' to play Haughey spin doctor Mara in new role". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Laurence Kinlan. "Laurence Kinlan [actor] : The Lisa Richards Agency". Lisarichards.ie. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- ^ "Actors Laurence Kinlan and Ashley Charles Join Jimi Hendrix Biopic | The Irish Film & Television Network". Iftn.ie. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- ^ "Laurence Kinlan". Filmbug. 9 June 2004. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- ^ Karen Fricker (15 April 2005). "Review of Poor Beast in the Rain". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ^ Helen Meany (22 February 2010). "Review of Christ Deliver Us!". Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ^ Abbey Theatre website: Laurence Kinlan page Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
External links
[edit]
Laurence Kinlan
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Laurence Kinlan (born 3 February 1983) is an Irish actor recognized for his performances in film, television, and theatre.[1] He achieved prominence portraying Elmo, a volatile gang member, in the RTÉ crime drama series Love/Hate (2010–2014).[2] Kinlan's screen credits include supporting roles in films such as Ned Kelly (2003), directed by Gregor Jordan, where he played Dan Kelly; Breakfast on Pluto (2005), directed by Neil Jordan; and The Guard (2011), a comedy-crime film directed by John Michael McDonagh.[1] On stage, he has earned multiple Irish Times Theatre Awards for Best Supporting Actor, including for his portrayal of Doc in Conor McPherson's The Night Alive (2016) and roles in productions such as Christ Deliver Us! and Poor Beast in the Rain.[3][4]
Early life
Family background and childhood
Laurence Kinlan was born on 3 February 1983 in Dublin, Ireland, and raised in a working-class neighborhood in the city's north inner city, an area marked by socioeconomic challenges and prevalent drug issues during the 1980s and 1990s.[5][6] His family circumstances were strained by his father Larry's long-term heroin addiction, which contributed to household instability and exemplified the broader disruptive effects of substance abuse in such urban settings.[7][8] Kinlan's father died in 1993 from AIDS-related complications stemming from intravenous drug use, when Kinlan was 10 years old; this loss, occurring amid open drug activity in the locality, compelled early exposure to adult hardships and a rapid adaptation to family responsibilities.[6][8][9] As a child, Kinlan encountered direct risks from the environment, including a near-abduction at age 10 while playing chase with friends near Liberty House; an unidentified man attempted to entice him into a car, highlighting the vulnerabilities to predation in inner-city Dublin at the time.[5][10]Entry into acting
Kinlan departed secondary school at age 16 to immerse himself fully in acting, forgoing additional formal education to prioritize practical involvement in the field.[11][6][12] Devoid of any institutionalized acting instruction, he drew from unmediated life experiences in Dublin's inner-city environment to hone his skills, bypassing conventional drama school pathways.[5] This approach aligned with an early opportunity secured via a local youth club, which facilitated his initial professional audition and breakthrough into on-set work.[6] By the late 1990s, following school exit, Kinlan secured his first minor roles in short-form and feature-length projects, establishing a foundation through sporadic television and film appearances that transitioned him from novice status to consistent employment in the industry.[13][11] These early engagements, commencing around age 14 prior to full commitment, underscored a pattern of on-the-job learning over academic preparation.[13]Career
Early breakthrough roles
Kinlan's early breakthrough came in 2003 with the role of Dan Kelly, the younger brother of the titular outlaw, in Gregor Jordan's biographical Western Ned Kelly, starring Heath Ledger as Ned Kelly and Orlando Bloom as Joe Byrne.[14] Released on March 13, 2003, the film depicted the historical Kelly gang's resistance against colonial authorities in 19th-century Australia, with Kinlan's portrayal contributing to the ensemble's focus on familial loyalty amid rebellion.[15] This part marked a shift from his prior child performances, such as in Angela's Ashes (1999), toward more mature supporting roles in historical dramas, though it risked pigeonholing him in Irish-accented outlaw narratives given the character's Irish immigrant roots.[16] That same year, Kinlan appeared in two Dublin-set crime dramas that highlighted gritty underclass elements: as a drug dealer in John Crowley's ensemble comedy Intermission, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2003, and interwoven stories of petty crime and dysfunction among working-class characters;[17] and as Timmy, a 14-year-old heroin addict, in Joel Schumacher's Veronica Guerin, released October 17, 2003, which chronicled journalist Veronica Guerin's real-life investigations into Ireland's drug trade in the 1990s.[18] These roles, though brief, underscored Kinlan's ability to embody raw, peripheral figures in realistic depictions of Ireland's social fringes, drawing from the era's documented heroin epidemic that claimed thousands of lives.[16] By 2005, Kinlan gained broader international exposure playing Irwin, a childhood friend of the protagonist, in Neil Jordan's Breakfast on Pluto, an adaptation of Patrick McCabe's novel set against the backdrop of the Troubles in 1970s Ireland and London.[19] Co-starring Cillian Murphy as the transgender lead Kitten and produced with a budget emphasizing period authenticity amid IRA bombings, the film premiered at the Rome Film Festival on October 14, 2005, bridging Kinlan's domestic momentum toward roles with global directors and casts.[20] These early 2000s appearances collectively built his reputation in Irish cinema, fostering career progression through consistent work in period and crime genres without yet dominating leads.[21]Film and television work
Kinlan gained prominence for his role as Elmo Creed, a dim-witted and increasingly entangled criminal underling, in the RTÉ crime drama Love/Hate, appearing in 19 episodes from 2010 to 2014 across seasons 3 through 5.[1] The series, created by Stuart Carolan, portrayed interlocking Dublin gang feuds and drug trafficking operations, drawing from documented real-world patterns of organized crime in the city, including retaliatory violence and kinship-based syndicates active in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Elmo's arc involved progression from peripheral errands to direct participation in escalating conflicts, culminating in imprisonment by the series finale.[22] In film, Kinlan played a supporting photographer in The Guard (2011), directed by John Michael McDonagh, a black comedy depicting a Galway sergeant's clashes with drug smugglers and an FBI agent, produced on a budget of approximately $6 million and released theatrically in Ireland and the UK before wider distribution.[23] He portrayed Ger, a desperate participant in a deadly fight-for-cash scheme, in the thriller Traders (2015), directed by Peter Murphy, which examined economic ruin driving ordinary individuals to violence in a controlled arena setting.[24] More recently, Kinlan appeared as Pastor Jackson in the historical miniseries The Emigrants (2021), directed by Erik Poppe and adapted from Vilhelm Moberg's novels, chronicling a Swedish family's 1840s migration to America amid famine and religious strife, with production spanning Norway, Sweden, and Ireland.[25] Kinlan took on the role of Jack Healy in season 3 of the ITV detective series Marcella (2018–2021), a family man drawn into a Liverpool crime syndicate's orbit through covert alliances and betrayals, appearing in multiple episodes centered on human trafficking and gang warfare.[26] In 2024, he played Danny, a member of a crime scene cleanup team uncovering hidden cash from a mob hit, in The Clean Up Crew, directed by Jon Keeyes, a low-budget action-comedy involving pursuits by corrupt agents and a kingpin, released directly to video-on-demand platforms.[27] These roles span crime-centric narratives, with Kinlan often embodying working-class figures navigating moral ambiguity in urban or underworld environments.[28]Theatre performances
Kinlan began his stage career with the Abbey Theatre, Ireland's national theatre, appearing as Leonard in On Such As We in 2001.[20] He continued with Irish productions there, including the role of Thomas, an active volunteer, in Defender of the Faith in 2004, and Georgie in Poor Beast in the Rain in 2005.[29] In 2007, he portrayed Sean in Saved at the same venue, contributing to early explorations of working-class Dublin life.[20] A notable breakthrough came in 2010 with the role of the Young Covey in Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars, directed by Wayne Jordan at the Abbey Theatre, where his performance highlighted themes of Irish social realism amid the Easter Rising.[30] [20] Kinlan also took on Mossy Lannigan in Christ Deliver Us! that year at the Abbey.[29] In the Ross O'Carroll-Kelly stage series by Paul Howard, produced by Landmark Productions, Kinlan played Ronan, the Northside-raised son, across multiple installments, including Breaking Dad at the Gaiety Theatre in 2014 and Between Foxrock and a Hard Place.[31] [32] These comedic satires depicted Dublin's class divides and economic fallout, with Ronan embodying outsider perspectives on affluent Foxrock society.[31] Internationally, Kinlan collaborated with director Ian Rickson on The Nest (2016) at the Young Vic, portraying Kurt, a factory worker facing poverty and impending fatherhood in Franz Xaver Kroetz's fable translated by Conor McPherson.[33] [20] He reprised themes of economic struggle as Doalty in Brian Friel's Translations (2018) at the National Theatre's Olivier Theatre, set during 19th-century Irish hedge school life and colonial mapping.[20] [34] More recently, Kinlan appeared as Muldoon, a menacing IRA figure, in Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, running from January to March 2025, emphasizing Northern Irish family tensions during the Troubles.[35] [20] His theatre work consistently features portrayals of resilient, often marginalized Irish characters, spanning Dublin's intimate venues to London stages.Awards and recognition
Nominations and wins
Kinlan has received recognition primarily in Irish theatre through the Irish Times Theatre Awards, with wins for supporting roles in two productions and a nomination for another.[20] No individual nominations or wins at the Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTA) for his television work, such as in Love/Hate, have been recorded, despite the series garnering multiple nods.[36] Similarly, no major international film or television awards, such as BAFTAs or Emmys, are documented in official records.| Year | Award | Category | Production | Role | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Irish Times Theatre Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Poor Beast in the Rain (Gate Theatre) | Georgie | Nominated[20] |
| 2010 | Irish Times Theatre Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Christ Deliver Us! (Abbey Theatre) | Mossy Lannigan | Won[20] |
| 2016 | Irish Times Theatre Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Night Alive (Dublin Theatre Festival/Lyric Theatre Belfast co-production) | Doc | Won[3][37] |