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Jeremy Irons

ACTOR · BORN 1948

Jeremy Irons

Born
19 September 1948, Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, UK
Known for
The Lion King (1994), Assassin's Creed (2016), Eragon (2006), The Mission (1986)

28 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026

Jeremy Irons (born 19 September 1948) is an actor best known for The Lion King, Assassin's Creed and Eragon.

Jeremy Irons over the years

Jeremy Irons in 2008 (age 60)
2008 · age 60The original uploader was Polly at English Wikipedia., CC B…
Jeremy Irons in 2019 (age 71)
2019 · age 71John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Ma…

28 Interesting Facts About Jeremy Irons

Interesting Facts (7)

  1. #001

    Jeremy Irons owns the historic Kilcoe Castle in County Cork, Ireland, which he had painted a rusty pink, a characteristically unconventional touch, and through the estate he has got involved in local politics and built close ties with the community.

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  2. #002

    In 2003, Jeremy Irons played Severus Snape in a Comic Relief sketch, 'Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan'; Snape was Alan Rickman's role in the films, and Irons and Rickman had played brothers in the 'Die Hard' films, a fun crossover for fans and a glimpse of Irons's comic side.

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  3. #003

    On Pat Kenny's Irish TV show 'The Late Late Show' (1962), Jeremy Irons admitted that one of his guilty pleasures is rummaging through rubbish for discarded 'treasures,' a candid confession that showed viewers his unconventional, down-to-earth side.

    Jeremy Irons — portrait
    Jeremy Irons: portraitImage: Wikimedia Commons · The original uploader was Polly at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0

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  4. #004

    Jeremy Irons narrated 'Spaceship Earth,' the iconic attraction at Disney's Epcot that takes visitors through the history of human communication and technology, his distinctive voice lending it depth and prestige.

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  5. #005

    Jeremy Irons was close friends with the billionaire philanthropist Paul Getty, and at one point they were neighbors in London, a friendship rooted in Getty's love of art and culture.

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  6. #006

    Daniel Handler's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' novels nod to characters Jeremy Irons has played: in 'Reversal of Fortune' (1990), Irons was Klaus von Bülow, husband of Sunny von Bülow, and two of Handler's heroes are Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire; and in 'The Carnivorous Carnival,' Klaus and his sister Violet go by Beverly and Elliot, the names of the identical twin gynecologists Irons played in 'Dead Ringers' (1988).

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  7. #007

    Besides playing Humbert Humbert in 'Lolita' (1997), Jeremy Irons recorded an audiobook of Vladimir Nabokov's complete novel, told largely in Humbert Humbert's own first-person voice, a recording prized by fans of the book.

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Behind the Scenes (4)

  1. #008

    In 2014, Jeremy Irons was nominated in the Best Narrator category of the Emmy Award, given for the first time that year, and won the award. The other nominee in the category was Whoopi Goldberg, with whom he had appeared in 'The Lion King' (1994).

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  2. #009

    Jeremy Irons won the 1984 Tony Award for Best Actor (Play) on Broadway for Tom Stoppard's play 'The Real Thing'. This award was one of the brightest moments of his theatre career. The play was a clever work dealing with themes of relationships and fidelity. Irons's performance confirmed his power and talent on stage.

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  3. #010

    Jeremy Irons served as jury president at the Sarajevo Film Festival held in 2007. The festival is regarded as one of the most important film events in the Balkans. Irons's leadership there is another indication of his contributions to cinema.

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  4. #011

    Jeremy Irons is the son-in-law of Maureen Cusack and the brother-in-law of Paul Cusack and Pádraig Cusack. These family ties show his connection to one of Ireland's long-established artistic families. The Cusack family has produced well-known names in the worlds of theatre and cinema. Irons's bond with this family reinforced his closeness to Irish culture.

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Characters & Cast (1)

  1. #012

    Jeremy Irons was first considered for Neville Chamberlain in 'A Prominent Patient' (2016), but the part went to Paul Nicholas, one of the historical roles that got away.

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Deeper Meaning (1)

  1. #013

    In 1991, Jeremy Irons was one of the first celebrities to wear the Red Ribbon in the fight against AIDS, an early gesture of support for a cause that helped turn the ribbon into a global symbol of solidarity.

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Career & Awards (9)

  1. #014

    Jeremy Irons turned down Dr. Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) because, having just played Claus Von Bulow in 'Reversal of Fortune' (1990), he didn't want to do another dark character; the role went to Anthony Hopkins, who won an Oscar for it.

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  2. #015

    Jeremy Irons speaks fluent French, which has opened up roles in international and especially French productions.

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  3. #016

    Before acting, Jeremy Irons had some unusual jobs: assistant stage manager, house cleaner, gardener and busker, playing guitar and singing outside cinemas for money, experiences that sharpened the powers of observation he brings to his characters.

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  4. #017

    When Jeremy Irons won Best Actor at the 1990 Academy Awards for 'Reversal of Fortune,' he ended his speech by thanking 'David,' meaning David Cronenberg, who had directed him the year before in 'Dead Ringers' (1988), a nod to their strong bond.

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  5. #018

    When Jeremy Irons went up to collect his Oscar in 1991, he was wearing trainers, a casual touch typical of his relaxed, unconventional attitude to award ceremonies.

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  6. #019

    Jeremy Irons paid for English character actor Stephen Manwaring's studies at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts from 1999 to 2002, a generous investment in young talent.

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  7. #020

    Jeremy Irons has played two characters whose first and last names are the same: Humbert Humbert in 'Lolita' (1997) and Valentin Valentin in 'And Now Ladies & Gentlemen' (2002).

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  8. #021

    Jeremy Irons sat on the jury of the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, helping choose the festival's top films.

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  9. #022

    Jeremy Irons was in the cast of the cult children's show 'Play Away' (1971) early in his career, and clips of him on it often turn up on 'Before They Were Famous...'-style shows.

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Life & Family (6)

  1. #023

    Jeremy Irons wears a signet ring engraved 'PDI' that belonged to his father, Paul Dugan Irons, a keepsake of great sentimental value.

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  2. #024

    Although Jeremy Irons is a heavy smoker, he says alcohol makes him ill, a contradictory detail of his lifestyle.

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  3. #025

    Jeremy Irons owns a house in The Liberties district of Dublin, Ireland, a house in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, where he was born, and a farm in Watlington, Oxfordshire, reflecting his strong ties to both Ireland and England.

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  4. #026

    On 1 June 1995 in England, Jeremy Irons was caught riding a BMW motorcycle at 97 mph; found guilty of speeding, he was fined 225 dollars and had his motorcycle license suspended for three months.

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  5. #027

    Through his wife, Sinéad Cusack, Jeremy Irons is the brother-in-law of Sorcha Cusack, Niamh Cusack, Paul Cusack, Pádraig Cusack and Catherine Cusack, members of one of Ireland's foremost artistic families.

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  6. #028

    Through his wife, Sinéad Cusack, Jeremy Irons is the son-in-law of Cyril Cusack, one of Ireland's leading stage and screen actors, and Maureen Cusack, ties that bound him closely to the Irish arts world.

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Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • Wikipedia English Wikipedia article
  • IMDb IMDb name page (biography and trivia)

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