Tommy Flanagan is a Scottish actor born on July 3, 1965, in Easterhouse, Glasgow, Scotland, to parents David and Elizabeth Flanagan.
Renowned for his rugged screen presence and distinctive facial scars, which resulted from a violent knife attack outside a nightclub where he worked as a DJ, Flanagan has carved a notable career in film and television.
Before acting, he held various jobs, including painter, decorator, and disc jockey, but a chance encounter with actor Robert Carlyle led him to the stage at Raindog Theatre Company, sparking his acting journey.
Flanagan’s personal life reflects a shift from a tumultuous youth to a stable family life in Malibu, California, where he resides with his wife, Dina Livingston, and their daughter, Aunjanue, born in 2012.
Siblings
Tommy has two siblings, namely Sue and Andrew Flanagan.
His sister, Sue Flanagan, is a nurse at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, reflecting a career in healthcare that contrasts with Tommy’s path in entertainment.
His younger brother, Andrew Flanagan, born on April 16, 1969, followed a similar creative trajectory, becoming an actor known for roles in films like Valhalla Rising and Morvern Callar.
Andrew began his career alongside Tommy in the early 1990s at Glasgow’s Raindog Theatre Company, forging a shared connection to the acting world.
The Flanagan family faced financial struggles after their father left, which influenced the siblings’ early lives, with Tommy and his siblings taking on various jobs to support the household.
Also Read: Steve Coogan Siblings: Meet the Siblings Squad Behind the British Actor
Career
Flanagan’s acting career began in the early 1990s with stage work at Raindog Theatre Company, where he performed in productions like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Macbeth.
His screen debut came with television roles in Screen One (1992) and Taggart (1993), but his breakthrough arrived with the role of Morrison in Mel Gibson’s Braveheart (1995), a part expanded due to Gibson’s appreciation of his talent.
Flanagan’s distinctive scars and intense presence led to roles in major films, including Cicero in Gladiator (2000), Brian in Sin City (2005), and Tullk in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).
His most iconic role is Filip “Chibs” Telford in the FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014), where he portrayed a loyal Scottish biker across seven seasons, earning a dedicated fanbase.
He reprised this role in the spin-off Mayans M.C. (2019) and took on other notable parts, such as Arthur Shelby Sr. in Peaky Blinders (2013) and Walter Flynn in Power Book IV: Force (2022).
Flanagan’s versatility extends to working with acclaimed directors like Ridley Scott and John Woo, with credits in Face/Off (1997), The Game (1997), and Alien vs. Predator (2004).
Beyond acting, he served as a spokesperson for the Scottish soft drink Irn-Bru in 2010, cementing his cultural presence in Scotland.
Accolades
Flanagan won a Copper Wing Award for Best Ensemble Acting at the 2002 Phoenix Film Festival for his role in Dead Dogs Lie, highlighting his ability to shine in collaborative casts.
His portrayal of Filip “Chibs” Telford in Sons of Anarchy earned him widespread acclaim from fans and critics, contributing to the show’s Emmy-nominated status.
Flanagan’s work alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Russell Crowe and Mel Gibson has solidified his reputation as a reliable character actor.
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