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| {{Cast Data | | {{Star Data |
| | image= Ravishol.jpg | | | image= Ravishol.jpg |
| | character=[[Ravashol]] | | | character=Ravishol |
| | series=TOS | | | dob= 1 May 1919 |
| | born_month= 5
| | | nationality= IR |
| | born_day= 1
| | | death= 17 February 2005 |
| | born_year= 1919
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| | death_month= 2 | |
| | death_day= 17 | |
| | death_year=2005
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| | nationality= IRL
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| | site= | | | site= |
| | imdb= 0641397 | | | imdb= |
| | sortkey=O'Herlihy, Dan
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| }} | | }} |
| '''Dan O'Herlihy''' (born May 1, 1919 in Wexford, Ireland; died February 17, 2005 in Malibu, California) was an Irish actor who portrayed Dr. [[Ravashol]], the brilliant but morally conflicted creator of the [[Theta]]-class lifeforms and the [[Ravashol pulsar]] weapon, in the [[Original Series]] two-part episode "[[The Gun on Ice Planet Zero]]".
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| == Career ==
| | '''Dan O'Herlihy'''(born May 1, 1919 in Wexford, Ireland, died February 17, 2005 in Malibu, California) was an Irish-American actor. |
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| Born in Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland, O'Herlihy initially pursued architecture rather than acting. He moved with his family to Dublin as a young boy and was educated at Christian Brothers College in Dún Laoghaire.<ref group="external" name="tcm_oherlihy_obituary_2005">{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/articles/90351/dan-o-herlihy-1919-2005#:~:text=He%20was%20born%20on%20May%201%2C%201919%20in%20Wexford%2C%20Ireland|title=Dan O'Herlihy, 1919-2005|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|date=22 February 2005|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> He studied at University College Dublin, graduating in 1944 with a degree in architecture.<ref group="external" name="tcm_oherlihy_biography">{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/143398%7C35187/Dan-O-Herlihy/#:~:text=An%20architecture%20student%20who%20turned%20to%20acting%20to%20earn%20money%20for%20college|title=Dan O'Herlihy|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> While at university, O'Herlihy joined several amateur theatre groups as a bit player to earn money, and after graduating decided to pursue acting full-time.<ref group="external" name="tcm_oherlihy_obituary_2005" />
| | O'Herlihy gained notability as Brigadier General Warren A. Black in the film ''Fail-Safe'' (1964). From his film debut in the 1947 film, ''Odd Man Out'', O'Herlihy enjoyed many roles in theatrical roles throughout the 1950s and 1960s, gaining an Best Actor Oscar nomination for 1954's ''Robinson Crusoe''. |
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| O'Herlihy worked at both the Abbey Theatre and Gate Theatre in Dublin, initially as a set designer before transitioning to acting roles. His first notable acting role came in 1944 when he played the lead in the Gate Theatre's production of ''Red Roses For Me'', written and directed by Seán O'Casey. He appeared in approximately fifty plays at the Gate before moving into film and radio work.<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_biography_section">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/bio/#:~:text=After%20graduating%2C%20he%20decided%20to%20pursue%20acting%20full-time|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> | | As television came to pass, O'Herlihy took on roles in television theatre programming such as ''Cavalcade America'' and ''Screen Directors Theatre'', but soon enjoyed episodic TV series such as ''Dr. Kildare'', ''The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters'', ''The Untouchables'', and ''The Big Valley''. |
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| O'Herlihy made his film debut in 1947 with British director Carol Reed's ''[[w:Odd Man Out|Odd Man Out]]'', shot on location in Belfast.<ref group="external" name="findagrave_oherlihy_memorial">{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10495815/dan-o%27herlihy#:~:text=His%20other%20films%20include%20%22Odd%20Man%20Out%22%20(1947)|title=Dan O'Herlihy (1919-2005)|publisher=Find a Grave Memorial|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> His first American film role was as Macduff in [[w:Orson Welles|Orson Welles]]' version of ''[[w:Macbeth (1948 film)|Macbeth]]'' (1948), followed by supporting roles in films such as the Red Scare thriller ''[[w:Invasion, U.S.A. (1952 film)|Invasion, U.S.A.]]'' (1952), ''[[w:Soldiers Three (film)|Soldiers Three]]'' (1951), and the swashbuckler ''[[w:The Black Shield of Falworth|The Black Shield of Falworth]]'' (1954).<ref group="external" name="tcm_oherlihy_biography" /> | | Television content became less serious (and with more available work) than feature films that O'Herlihy had done in the past, but O'Herlihy tried to keep his interests in both films and television, moving from serious to comedic and parody with roles in ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'', ''Mission: Impossible'', ''Ironside'' and ''Hawaii Five-O'' while performing in notable epic television series such as ''QB VII''. |
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| O'Herlihy's career took a significant turn in 1954 when he was cast in the title role of Luis Buñuel's ''[[w:The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (film)|Robinson Crusoe]]'', earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. According to O'Herlihy, the film's producers initially wanted Buñuel to cast Orson Welles in the role, but Buñuel refused, saying Welles was too large for the part. After viewing O'Herlihy's performance as Macduff in Welles' ''Macbeth'', Buñuel cast O'Herlihy instead.<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_biography_robinson_crusoe">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/bio/#:~:text=His%20best%20known-roles%20include%20an%20Oscar-nominated%20portrayal%20of%20Robinson%20Crusoe%20(1954)|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> | | By the 1970s, O'Herlihy become more of a character actor with guest-starring roles in many notable shows such as ''Serpico'', ''The Bionic Woman'', ''The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries'' and ''Barnaby Jones''. |
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| Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, O'Herlihy appeared in notable films including Douglas Sirk's ''[[w:Imitation of Life (1959 film)|Imitation of Life]]'' (1959), ''[[w:The Young Land|The Young Land]]'' (1959), and ''[[w:One Foot in Hell|One Foot in Hell]]'' (1960).<ref group="external" name="tcm_oherlihy_filmography_1950s">{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/143398%7C35187/Dan-O-Herlihy/#:~:text=Imitation%20of%20Life%22%20(1959)|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Filmography|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> He gained particular recognition for his portrayal of Brigadier General Warren A. Black in Sidney Lumet's Cold War thriller ''[[w:Fail Safe (1964 film)|Fail Safe]]'' (1964), playing an anguished U.S. Air Force general contemplating catastrophic orders.<ref group="external" name="findagrave_oherlihy_fail_safe">{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10495815/dan-o%27herlihy#:~:text=%22Fail%20Safe%22%20(1964)|title=Dan O'Herlihy (1919-2005)|publisher=Find a Grave Memorial|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> Other significant film roles included Marshal Ney in the epic ''[[w:Waterloo (1970 film)|Waterloo]]'' (1970) and a dual role as Dr. Caligari in Robert Bloch's psychological thriller ''[[w:The Cabinet of Caligari (1962 film)|The Cabinet of Caligari]]'' (1962).<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_1960s_roles">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/bio/#:~:text=a%20memorable%20dual%20role%20as%20the%20sinister%2C%20voyeuristic%20Dr.Caligari|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref>
| | In the 1980s and 1990s, O'Herlihy found roles in more TV films such as ''Mark Twain: Beneath the Laughter'' and shows such as ''Murder, She Wrote'' and ''Remington Steele''. Some feature films gave him renewed stardom for younger audiences with ''The Dead'' (1987) and as the kind-spirited alien mentor, Grig, in 1984's ''The Last Starfighter''. O'Herlihy also became part of the TV cult classic, ''Twin Peaks'' in several episodes. |
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| === Television Career ===
| | Towards the end of his life, O'Herlihy took on voice acting roles for animated series such as ''The Pirates of Dark Water'' and ''Batman''. |
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| O'Herlihy developed an extensive television career beginning in the 1950s with appearances in anthology programs including ''[[w:General Electric Theater|General Electric Theater]]'', ''[[w:Playhouse 90|Playhouse 90]]'', ''[[w:The United States Steel Hour|The United States Steel Hour]]'', ''[[w:Cavalcade of America|Cavalcade of America]]'', and ''Screen Directors Theatre''.<ref group="external" name="tcm_oherlihy_television_anthology">{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/articles/90351/dan-o-herlihy-1919-2005#:~:text=appeared%20on%20acclaimed%20anthology%20programs%20in%20the%20'50s%20(General%20Electric%20Theater%2C%20Playhouse%2090%2C%20The%20United%20States%20Steel%20Hour)|title=Dan O'Herlihy, 1919-2005|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|date=22 February 2005|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> | | O'Herlihy played Dr. [[Ravashol]] the brilliant creator of the [[Theta]]-class androids and a very dangerous weapon in the [[Original Series]] two-part episode, "[[The Gun on Ice Planet Zero]]". |
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| His episodic television work spanned decades and included appearances on ''[[w:Dr. Kildare (TV series)|Dr. Kildare]]'', ''[[w:The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'' (as Larry "Ace" Banner in "The Big Squeeze"), ''[[w:The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (TV series)|The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters]]'' (1963-1964), ''[[w:Bonanza|Bonanza]]'' (in the episode "The Artist" with [[w:Lorne Greene|Lorne Greene]]), ''[[w:The Big Valley|The Big Valley]]'', ''[[w:The Man from U.N.C.L.E.|The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]]'', ''[[w:Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|Mission: Impossible]]'', ''[[w:Ironside (1967 TV series)|Ironside]]'', and ''[[w:Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_television_credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/bio/#:~:text=Having%20appeared%20on%20Rawhide|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> He appeared in the miniseries ''[[w:QB VII|QB VII]]'' and took on the lead role in ''[[w:The Long, Hot Summer (TV series)|The Long, Hot Summer]]'' series, replacing Edmond O'Brien as Will Varner midway through the program's single-season run in 1965.<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_long_hot_summer">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/trivia/#:~:text=In%20the%20fall%20of%201965%20O'Herlihy%20took%20over%20for%20Edmond%20O'Brien|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Trivia|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref>
| | O'Herlihy was married to Elsa Bennett from 1945 to his death of natural causes in 2005. They had five children, including ''Star Trek: Voyager'' guest star [[imdb:nm0641398|Gavan O'Herlihy]]. |
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| By the 1970s and 1980s, O'Herlihy continued with guest-starring roles on series including ''[[w:Serpico (TV series)|Serpico]]'', ''[[w:The Bionic Woman|The Bionic Woman]]'', ''[[w:The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries|The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries]]'', ''[[w:Barnaby Jones|Barnaby Jones]]'', ''[[w:Murder, She Wrote|Murder, She Wrote]]'', ''[[w:Remington Steele|Remington Steele]]'', and ''[[w:Charlie's Angels|Charlie's Angels]]''.<ref group="external" name="tcm_oherlihy_1970s_television">{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/articles/90351/dan-o-herlihy-1919-2005#:~:text='70s%20(Charlie's%20Angels%2C%20The%20Bionic%20Woman)|title=Dan O'Herlihy, 1919-2005|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|date=22 February 2005|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> He also worked in television films such as ''Mark Twain: Beneath the Laughter''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_tv_films">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/|title=Dan O'Herlihy|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref>
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| === Later Career ===
| | [[Category:A to Z|O'Herlihy, Dan]] |
| | | [[Category:Cast|O'Herlihy, Dan]] |
| In the 1980s and 1990s, O'Herlihy experienced a career resurgence with roles that introduced him to younger audiences. He portrayed the kind-spirited alien mentor Grig in the science fiction film ''[[w:The Last Starfighter|The Last Starfighter]]'' (1984), appearing unrecognizable in elaborate makeup and prosthetics.<ref group="external" name="tcm_oherlihy_last_starfighter">{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/articles/90351/dan-o-herlihy-1919-2005#:~:text=the%20lizard-like%20alien%20in%20The%20Last%20Starfighter%20(1984)|title=Dan O'Herlihy, 1919-2005|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|date=22 February 2005|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> He achieved renewed recognition playing villainous roles, including the homicidal toymaker Conal Cochran in ''[[w:Halloween III: Season of the Witch|Halloween III: Season of the Witch]]'' (1982) and "The Old Man," the ruthless CEO of Omni Consumer Products, in ''[[w:RoboCop|RoboCop]]'' (1987) and ''[[w:RoboCop 2|RoboCop 2]]'' (1990), roles that made him a favorite among science fiction and fantasy fans.<ref group="external" name="findagrave_oherlihy_robocop_roles">{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10495815/dan-o%27herlihy#:~:text=Science%20Fiction%20fans%20will%20remember%20him%20as%20%22The%20Old%20Man%2C%22%20the%20evil%20corporate%20executive%20in%20%22RoboCop%22%20(1987)%20and%20%22RoboCop%202%22%20(1990)|title=Dan O'Herlihy (1919-2005)|publisher=Find a Grave Memorial|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref>
| | [[Category:Cast (TOS)|O'Herlihy, Dan]] |
| | | [[Category:TOS|O'Herlihy, Dan]] |
| O'Herlihy received critical acclaim for his performance as Mr. Browne in director [[w:John Huston|John Huston]]'s final film, ''[[w:The Dead (1987 film)|The Dead]]'' (1987), an adaptation of [[w:James Joyce|James Joyce]]'s short story.<ref group="external" name="tcm_oherlihy_the_dead_1987">{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/143398%7C35187/Dan-O-Herlihy/#:~:text=the%20lead%20character%20Mr.%20Browne%20in%20John%20Huston's%20film%20version%20of%20the%20James%20Joyce%20story%20%22The%20Dead%22%20(1987)|title=Dan O'Herlihy|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> He also became part of the cult television series ''[[w:Twin Peaks|Twin Peaks]]'' (1990-1991), portraying the inscrutable lumber tycoon Andrew Packard in several episodes.<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_twin_peaks">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/bio/#:~:text=the%20inscrutable%20Andrew%20Packard%20in%20Twin%20Peaks%20(1990)%20on%20television|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref>
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| === Voice Acting ===
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| Towards the end of his career, O'Herlihy took on voice acting roles for animated series. He provided voice work for ''[[w:The Pirates of Dark Water|The Pirates of Dark Water]]'' and voiced Mr. Freeze in the ''[[w:Batman: The Animated Series|Batman: The Animated Series]]'' episode "Deep Freeze".<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_voice_acting">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/|title=Dan O'Herlihy|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> His final on-screen role was portraying Joe Kennedy in the 1998 television film ''[[w:The Rat Pack (film)|The Rat Pack]]''.<ref group="external" name="findagrave_oherlihy_final_role">{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10495815/dan-o%27herlihy#:~:text=His%20last%20role%20was%20as%20Joe%20Kennedy%20in%20the%201998%20TV%20movie%20%22The%20Rat%20Pack.%22|title=Dan O'Herlihy (1919-2005)|publisher=Find a Grave Memorial|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref>
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| == Personal Life ==
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| O'Herlihy married Elsie Bennett in 1945, and they remained married until his death sixty years later.<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_family_1959_move">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/bio/#:~:text=In%201959%20Dan%20and%20Elsie%20O'Herlihy%20and%20children%20Olwen%2C%20Patricia%2C%20Gavan%2C%20Cormac%20and%20Lorcan%20moved%20from%20their%20Los%20Angeles%20home%20to%20Malibu|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> In 1959, the O'Herlihys moved from Los Angeles to Malibu, California, where they resided for the remainder of their lives.<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_family_1959_move" /> The couple had five children: Olwen (a visual artist and theatrical producer), Patricia, [[imdb:nm0641398|Gavan]] (an actor), Cormac, and Lorcan (an architect).<ref group="external" name="playbill_oherlihy_obituary_family">{{cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/veteran-actor-of-film-and-stage-dan-oherlihy-is-dead-at-85-com-124302#:~:text=He%20is%20also%20survived%20by%20son%20Gavin%2C%20also%20an%20actor|title=Veteran Actor of Film and Stage Dan O'Herlihy Is Dead at 85|publisher=Playbill|date=3 December 2021|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> His son Gavan appeared in numerous television series including ''[[w:Happy Days|Happy Days]]'', ''[[w:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]]'', and ''Twin Peaks'' (where he worked alongside his father).<ref group="external" name="emmys_gavan_oherlihy_biography">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/gavan-oherlihy#:~:text=He%20relocated%20to%20England%20to%20star%20on%20the%201982%20ITV%20series%20We'll%20Meet%20Again%20and%20worked%20with%20his%20father%2C%20actor%20Dan%20O'Herlihy%2C%20on%20ABC's%20Twin%20Peaks%20in%201990-91|title=Gavan O'Herlihy|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> One of O'Herlihy's granddaughters, Micaela O'Herlihy, became a filmmaker whose work has been shown at the [[w:Sundance Film Festival|Sundance Film Festival]].<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_trivia_grandchildren">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/trivia/#:~:text=One%20grandchild%2C%20Micaela%20O'Herlihy%2C%20is%20a%20filmmaker%20whose%20work%20has%20been%20shown%20at%20the%20Sundance%20Film%20Festival|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Trivia|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref>
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| O'Herlihy was the brother of television and film director [[w:Michael O'Herlihy|Michael O'Herlihy]], who directed numerous episodes of popular series including ''[[w:Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'', ''[[w:Gunsmoke|Gunsmoke]]'', and ''[[w:Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]''.<ref group="external" name="findagrave_oherlihy_brother_michael">{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10495815/dan-o%27herlihy#:~:text=O'Herlihy%20was%20the%20brother%20of%20film%20and%20TV%20director%20Michael%20O'Herlihy|title=Dan O'Herlihy (1919-2005)|publisher=Find a Grave Memorial|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> O'Herlihy became a naturalized United States citizen in 1983.<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_naturalization_1983">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/trivia/#:~:text=Dan%20became%20a%20naturalized%20U.S.%20citizen%20in%201983|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Trivia|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref>
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| In a 1988 interview, O'Herlihy expressed his ongoing passion for acting: "I'm not excessively 'theater' or excessively an actor, but if I stay away for more than six months, I get edgy. I like to work and I don't really see a time when I would retire."<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_1988_interview_quote">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/bio/#:~:text=%5B1988%20interview%5D%20I'm%20not%20excessively%20%22theater%22%20or%20excessively%20an%20actor%2C%20but%20if%20I%20stay%20away%20for%20more%20than%20six%20months%2C%20I%20get%20edgy|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref>
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| O'Herlihy died of natural causes at his Malibu home on February 17, 2005, less than three months before what would have been his 86th birthday. He was 85 years old.<ref group="external" name="tcm_oherlihy_death_2005">{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/articles/90351/dan-o-herlihy-1919-2005#:~:text=has%20died%20of%20natural%20causes%20at%20his%20Malibu%2C%20California%20home.%20He%20was%2085|title=Dan O'Herlihy, 1919-2005|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|date=22 February 2005|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref> His widow, Elsie, continued to reside in Malibu until moving to Camarillo, California, where she died at age 95 on June 2, 2019.<ref group="external" name="imdb_oherlihy_elsie_death_2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641397/bio/#:~:text=His%20widow%20died%20at%2095%20on%20June%202%2C%202019%20in%20her%20Camarilo%2C%20California%20home|title=Dan O'Herlihy - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=22 January 2026}}</ref>
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| == References ==
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| === External Sources ===
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| {{reflist|group=external}}
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