Gavan John O'Herlihy (29 July 1951 – 15 September 2021) was an Irish actor. He was known for playing Chuck Cunningham in the first episodes of the television sitcom Happy Days, as well as his appearances in films such as Never Say Never Again, Superman III, Death Wish 3, and Willow. He was the son of actor Dan O'Herlihy.
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Early life
O'Herlihy was born 29 July 1951 in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Irish parents, actor Dan O'Herlihy and his wife, Sandymount native Elsie Bennett. He was raised in Malibu, California and Dublin.
After graduating from Phillips Academy in Massachusetts, he attended Trinity College, Dublin and as an avid tennis player, he became Irish national tennis champion.
Career
O'Herlihy's highest-profile role was as Jack Petachi, brother of Domino in the 1983 James Bond movie Never Say Never Again. He has over thirty screen credits to his name, most of them in villainous or antagonistic roles such as Superman III, Death Wish 3 and The Last Outlaw. His role as Airk Thaughbaer in the 1988 fantasy Willow is one of the few heroic roles that he has portrayed, as well as that of the dashing American Loyalist officer from Virginia Captain Leroy in Sharpe's Eagle.
He appeared in Rich Man, Poor Man and Tales From The Crypt. In 1994, he starred as John Garrideb in "The Mazarin Stone" from Granada TV's Sherlock Holmes series. The events of the story were rewritten and merged with The Adventure of the Three Garridebs.
