Domhnall Gleeson
An Irish actor whose quiet intensity and chameleonic range have made him a compelling presence in both blockbuster franchises and daring independent films.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Irish actor·Birthday: May 12·Millennials
Biography
Domhnall Gleeson, born into Dublin's acting royalty as the son of Brendan Gleeson, charted his own path not in front of the camera but behind it initially, studying media arts and crafting short films. His stage work, including a Tony-nominated Broadway turn, proved his serious chops before Hollywood came calling. While audiences first widely recognized him as the dependable Bill Weasley in the final Harry Potter films, Gleeson deliberately sidestepped typecasting. He became a favorite of auteurs like Alex Garland and the Coen Brothers, pivoting from a sinister First Order general in Star Wars to a vulnerable AI programmer in Ex Machina and a folk-singing drifter in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. His career is a masterclass in selective, shape-shifting performances that prioritize intriguing character work over mere celebrity.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Domhnall was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Domhnall Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Domhnall's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his Broadway debut in 'The Lieutenant of Inishmore' in 2006.
- Played General Hux in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, a key antagonist in 'The Force Awakens', 'The Last Jedi', and 'The Rise of Skywalker'.
- Delivered a critically acclaimed performance as a programmer trapped by his own creation in Alex Garland's sci-fi thriller 'Ex Machina'.
- Starred in multiple films by the Coen Brothers, including 'True Grit' and the anthology western 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs'.
Did You Know?
He wrote and directed the award-winning short film 'Noreen' in 2011, which starred his father and brother.
Before acting full-time, he worked as a freelance camera operator for Irish television.
He is a distant relative of former Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Charles Haughey.
“I'm not interested in playing the same part twice. I'm interested in people who are interested in me doing something different.”
