Aidan Gillen is an acclaimed Irish actor born Aidan Murphy on April 24, 1968, in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, Ireland.
He adopted his mother’s maiden name, Gillen, professionally to avoid confusion with another actor sharing his birth name.
Known for his versatile performances and distinctive smirking style, Gillen has built a career spanning theater, television, and film, often portraying complex, charismatic, and morally ambiguous characters.
He gained international recognition through groundbreaking series and has earned praise for his work in both Irish and international productions.
Siblings
Aidan was the youngest of six children born to Patricia , a nurse, and Denis Murphy, an architect who has since passed away.
While details about all siblings remain limited due to the actor’s private approach to family life, several have been publicly noted.
His sister Fionnuala Murphy is an actress who has appeared in Irish television, including roles in productions like Fair City.
Another sister, Patricia Murphy, works as a teacher.
His brother John Paul Murphy is a playwright, and mentions of family events have highlighted connections such as nephews performing in choirs.
Some sources reference an oldest brother named Dennis Murphy.
Career
Gillen’s acting journey began in his teens with the Dublin Youth Theatre, where he performed in productions like A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
He transitioned to professional theater in the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in London and Dublin stages.
His breakthrough came with the bold British series Queer as Folk (1999–2000), where he played the confident Stuart Alan Jones, earning critical acclaim and a BAFTA nomination.
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This led to roles in films such as Circle of Friends (1995) and Some Mother’s Son (1996).
In 2003, his Broadway debut in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker brought a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor.
He then joined HBO’s The Wire (2004–2008) as ambitious politician Tommy Carcetti, a role that showcased his ability to convey layered ambition.
Returning to Irish television, he portrayed crime boss John Boy in Love/Hate (2010–2011) and later politician Charles Haughey in Charlie (2015).
Gillen achieved global fame as the scheming Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish in Game of Thrones (2011–2017).
Subsequent projects include Aberama Gold in Peaky Blinders (2017–2019), roles in the Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials sequels, and crime drama Kin (2021–2023) as Frank Kinsella.
He has also appeared in films like Calvary (2013), Sing Street (2016), and series such as Mayor of Kingstown (2021–2024).
Accolades
Gillen is a three-time winner of the Irish Film & Television Award (IFTA) for Best Actor, honored for his work in The Wire, Love/Hate, and Charlie.
Additional IFTA nominations include roles in Game of Thrones and Kin.
He earned a British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) nomination for Queer as Folk.
His stage work brought a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for The Caretaker, along with nominations from the Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle.
Other honors include a British Independent Film Award nomination for Treacle Jr. (2010) and consistent praise for his contributions to Irish and international screen acting.
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