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Richard Flood
Richard Flood
from Wikipedia

Richard Flood (born 28 July 1982) is an Irish actor best known for the character Tommy McConnel in the series Crossing Lines, James McKay in the series Red Rock, Ford in the series Shameless, and starred as Dr. Cormac Hayes on Grey's Anatomy (2019-2022).

Key Information

Career

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Richard Flood portrayed the role of Samuel Johanson in an episode of the series Titanic: Blood and Steel in 2012. He joined the main cast of the television series Crossing Lines in 2013, playing detective Tommy McConnel,[1] a specialist in weapons and tactics from Ireland, until 2014. That next year, in 2015, Flood joined the main cast of the series Red Rock, where he played the police superintendent James McKay.[2][3] In 2017, it was announced that Flood would be cast as Ford in the Showtime series Shameless. He became a series regular ahead of the ninth season.[4] In 2019, Flood was cast in a recurring role as Dr. Cormac Hayes on ABC's Grey's Anatomy.[5] He was promoted to star for the 2020–21 season.

Flood appears alongside Acushla-Tara Kupe in TVNZ+'s crime drama, The Gone, released on 7 May 2023.[6]

Personal life

[edit]

In 2012, Flood began dating Italian actress Gabriella Pession, and the two became engaged in 2014. Shortly after, they announced that they were expecting their first child, Giulio Flood, born that same year.[7][8][9] On 3 September 2016, Flood married Pession in Italy.

Filmography

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Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2011 Solo Benji Short
2013 Taking the Boat Danny Short
2017 The Unseen Will Shields

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Three Wise Women Peter Television film
2012 Titanic: Blood and Steel Samuel Johanson Episode: "The Tipping Point"
2013 Killing Kennedy Kenny O'Donnell Television film (National Geographic)
2013–2014 Crossing Lines Tommy McConnell Main role (seasons 1–2)
2015–2016 Red Rock Garda Superintendent James McKay Main role (series 1)
2017–2019 Shameless Ford Kellogg Recurring role (season 8)
Main role (season 9)
2019 Made in Italy Jerry Episode #1.8
2019–2022 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Cormac Hayes Recurring role (season 16)
Main role (seasons 1718)
35 episodes
2023-2024 The Gone Theo Richter Main role

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Richard Flood (born 28 July 1982) is an Irish actor renowned for his portrayals of complex characters in international television series and films. Born in , , Flood began his professional acting career in 2010 with a role in the television movie Three Wise Women. He rose to prominence in with his debut major series role as Detective Tommy McConnel, an Irish investigator, in the multinational crime thriller , which aired on in and was filmed across Europe, including and . His performance in the series, where he shared the screen with actors like and Gabriela Pession, marked his breakthrough into global audiences. Flood continued building his career with the role of Garda Superintendent James McKay in the Irish soap opera Red Rock from 2015 to 2016, showcasing his versatility in domestic drama. In 2017, he joined the American series Shameless as Ford Kellogg, the architect love interest of Fiona Gallagher (played by Emmy Rossum), appearing in the eighth and ninth seasons. His most prominent role to date came in 2019 when he was cast as Dr. Cormac Hayes, a skilled Irish neurosurgeon and potential romantic partner for Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), on the long-running ABC series Grey's Anatomy; he recurred in season 16, was promoted to series regular for seasons 17 and 18, and departed in 2022. In film, Flood has appeared in supporting roles, including as Kenny O'Donnell in the historical drama (2013), directed by Nelson McCormick, and as in the thriller The Unseen (2017). More recently, he starred as Detective Inspector Theo Richter in the series The Gone (2023– ), with the second season premiering on in July 2025. In interviews, Flood has expressed a desire to take on more projects in Ireland while continuing international work. On a personal note, Flood met Italian actress on the set of , and the couple married on 3 September 2016; they have one son, born in 2014.

Early life

Upbringing

Richard Flood was born on July 28, 1982, in , . Flood grew up in a privileged household in the suburb of , where his father, Gerard Flood, worked as a partner at the accounting firm . His mother, Monica Flood, is known for mentoring female entrepreneurs and is the sister-in-law of fashion designer . The family environment was professional yet supportive, fostering creative interests from a young age; Flood's parents provided both financial and emotional backing as he pursued , helping him navigate early challenges in the industry. At age eight, he began boarding at Headfort School in , where he first discovered his passion for performance through school plays, including a role in . He later attended as a boarder, leaving in 2001.

Education and training

Flood began his higher education at (UCD), where he studied English, , and . After two years, he dropped out to focus on acting, influenced by a part-time course at the Gaiety School of Acting that had become a significant distraction during his studies. Following his departure from UCD, Flood enrolled at the in for intensive professional training, which he later described as a "great leveller" that brought together students from diverse backgrounds and taught him valuable lessons in humility and collaboration. His decision to shift toward was motivated by admiration for American television medical dramas, particularly the portrayals of doctors by actors such as and in shows like , which inspired him to pursue a similar path in the industry.

Career

Theatre

Following his training at the , Richard Flood transitioned to professional stage work in Ireland, where he quickly immersed himself in the vibrant scene to build his acting foundation. Flood's early breakthrough came with the Druid Theatre Company's landmark production DruidSynge in 2005, an ambitious eight-hour marathon staging of all six plays by J.M. Synge that premiered at the Galway Arts Festival and toured , , and beyond. As part of the ensemble cast, he portrayed multiple roles, including Naisi in , demonstrating his range in interpreting Synge's complex portrayals of Irish rural life and conflict. This production, directed by Garry Hynes, not only honed Flood's skills in classical ensemble performance but also elevated his profile within 's theatre community through its critical success and international exposure. He further solidified his reputation with the role of in Tennessee Williams's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Mark Brokaw at Dublin's Gate Theatre in 2011. Flood's nuanced depiction of the emotionally tormented —marked by vulnerability, , and suppressed desires—earned praise for its authenticity and intensity, contributing to the production's acclaim as a compelling revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama. Critics noted how his chemistry with co-star as Maggie amplified the play's themes of familial dysfunction and hidden truths, set against a backdrop reimagined with subtle Irish inflections. Flood also appeared in contemporary works such as The Rubenstein Kiss (2005) and (2008), along with and Vantastic, both directed by Luke Kernaghan in the late 2000s. These ensemble-driven productions at Dublin venues allowed him to explore experimental staging and modern Irish narratives, refining his adaptability in intimate, physically demanding performances that contrasted with the grandeur of classical revivals. Through these experiences at key Irish institutions like and the Gate, Flood developed a robust foundation in both traditional and theatre, emphasizing character depth and live interaction that informed his later screen career.

Television

Flood began his television career with a role in the 2010 TV movie Three Wise Women, where he portrayed Peter. In 2012, he appeared as Samuel Johanson in one episode of the miniseries Titanic: Blood and Steel. He appeared in the 2013 TV movie Killing Kennedy, playing Kenny O'Donnell. From 2013 to 2015, Flood starred as Tommy McConnell, a detective with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, in the first two seasons of Crossing Lines, appearing in 22 episodes. In 2015 and 2016, he played Garda Superintendent James McKay in the first series of the Irish Red Rock, appearing in all 40 episodes (20 double-billed). Flood recurred as Ford Kellogg, a love interest for Fiona Gallagher, in six episodes of season 8 of Shameless in 2018, and was promoted to main cast for season 9 in 2018–2019, appearing in 12 episodes. In 2019, he guest-starred as Jerry in episode 1.8 of the Italian series . From 2019 to 2022, Flood portrayed Dr. Cormac Hayes, head of at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, recurring in season 16 (4 episodes) and as a main cast member in seasons 17 and 18 (31 episodes total) of . Since 2023, he has led as Irish detective Theo Richter in The Gone, appearing in all 6 episodes of season 1 (2023) and all 6 episodes of season 2 (2025).

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Solo
2013Taking the BoatDanny
2017Amaurosis (aka The Unseen)Will

Personal life

Family

Richard Flood met Italian actress in 2012 while working together on the set of the television series . After two years of dating, the couple became engaged in 2014. They married on September 3, 2016, in an intimate ceremony in . Flood and Pession welcomed their first child, a son named Giulio, in 2014. As a bi-national couple—Flood being Irish and Pession Italian—they navigate their acting careers with mutual understanding and support, given that both are professionals in the industry. Pession has been described by Flood as a significant source of encouragement, particularly in comprehending the challenges of the entertainment business.

Residence

Richard Flood was born and raised in Rathfarnham, a suburban area of , , where he developed an affinity for urban living amid the city's cultural vibrancy. This background contrasted sharply with the transient, high-pressure lifestyle he adopted later in his career. In 2019, Flood temporarily relocated to to film his role on from 2019 to 2022, a move that required significant family adjustments. His wife, , put her Italian career on hold to join him there for three years, a decision Flood described as a major sacrifice on her part to support his professional commitments. Following the conclusion of in 2022, Flood moved with his wife and son to Rome, , seeking a more stable and rooted family life away from the demands of Hollywood. The relocation allowed the family to establish a permanent base in the Eternal City, leveraging Pession's Italian heritage to facilitate the transition. As of 2024 interviews, Flood has expressed contentment with life in , noting that the Italian aligns well with his relaxed personality and provides a welcome contrast to his upbringing. He plans to balance future work opportunities between and , aiming to spend more time in his home country while maintaining as his primary residence.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011SoloBenjiShort film
2013Taking the BoatDannyShort film
2017Amaurosis (aka The Unseen)WillFeature film

Television

Flood began his television career with a role in the 2010 TV movie Three Wise Women, where he portrayed Peter. In 2012, he appeared as Samuel Johanson in one episode of the miniseries Titanic: Blood and Steel. In 2013, he appeared in the TV movie Killing Kennedy, playing Kenny O'Donnell. From 2013 to 2015, Flood starred as Tommy McConnell, a detective with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, in the first two seasons of Crossing Lines, appearing in 22 episodes. In 2015 and 2016, he played Garda Superintendent James McKay in the first series of the Irish crime drama Red Rock, featuring in 76 episodes across the double-episode format. Flood recurred as Ford Kellogg, a love interest for Gallagher, in six episodes of season 8 of Shameless in 2018, and was promoted to main cast for season 9 in 2018–2019, appearing in 12 episodes. In 2019, he guest-starred as Jerry in episode 1.8 of the Italian series . From 2019 to 2022, Flood portrayed Dr. Cormac Hayes, head of at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, recurring in season 16 (4 episodes) and as a main cast member in seasons 17 and 18 (31 episodes total) of . Since 2023, he has led as Irish detective Theo Richter in The Gone, appearing in all 6 episodes of season 1 (2023) and all 6 episodes of season 2 (2025).

References

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