
Colm J. Meaney (born May 30, 1953) is an acclaimed Irish actor. Born in Dublin, Meaney discovered his passion for acting in his youth and later honed his craft at the Abbey Theatre School before joining the National Theatre of Ireland. He achieved global recognition for his iconic portrayal of Chief Miles O'Brien within the Star Trek franchise, seamlessly transitioning the character from Star Trek: The Next Generation to a leading role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine across a staggering 225 total episodes. Beyond science fiction, Meaney is deeply revered for starring as the quintessential working-class father in all three film adaptations of Roddy Doyle’s beloved Barrytown Trilogy: The Commitments, The Snapper (which earned him a Golden Globe nomination), and The Van. A highly versatile character actor, his prolific Hollywood filmography includes memorable roles in major blockbusters such as Die Hard 2, The Last of the Mohicans, Con Air, and Layer Cake. On the small screen, he delivered powerhouse performances as the ruthless railroad tycoon Thomas C. Durant in AMC's Western series Hell on Wheels and the crime boss Finn Wallace in Gangs of London. An accomplished stage veteran of Broadway and the West End, Meaney was honored with the prestigious Irish Film & Television Academy’s (IFTA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. He continues to remain a vibrant force in the industry, starring in high-profile projects such as the Netflix feature adaptation Remarkably Bright Creatures and the crime drama series The Yank, which reunited him on screen with fellow Star Trek alumnus Kate Mulgrew.

Remarkably Bright Creatures
2026 · as Ethan Mack

Law Abiding Citizen
2009 · as Detective Dunnigan

Con Air
1997 · as Agent Duncan Malloy

Under Siege
1992 · as Daumer

The Last of the Mohicans
1992 · as Major Ambrose

Die Hard 2
1990 · as Windsor Plane - Pilot

Free Birds
2013 · as Myles Standish (voice)

Far and Away
1992 · as Kelly

No Way Up
2024 · as Brandon

Dick Tracy
1990 · as Cop at Tess'

One Chance
2013 · as Roland Potts

Tolkien
2019 · as Father Francis Morgan

The Banker
2020 · as Patrick Barker

Layer Cake
2004 · as Gene

Norm of the North
2016 · as Grandfather (voice)

Pelé: Birth of a Legend
2016 · as George Raynor

Get Him to the Greek
2010 · as Jonathan Snow

Bel Ami
2012 · as Monsieur Rousset