Ray McBride (1952 – 27 July 2021[1]) was an Irish dancer and stage, film and television actor.
Ray McBride | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 Bohermore, Galway, Ireland |
| Died | 27 July 2021 (aged 69) Claddagh, Galway, Ireland |
Born in Bohermore, Galway, McBride was educated at Claddagh national school and St Mary's College. He trained as an Irish dancer and won several All-Ireland medals at various feiseanna. It was during his secondary schooling that McBride developed an interest in athletics and was awarded a scholarship to East Tennessee State University. He won a gold medal in the 3,000 metres steeplechase in the Catholic Student Games in Madrid, and later won gold medals in the 800 metres and the 1,500 metres in the Tailteann Games in Dublin. While in Tennessee, McBride studied speech and drama and first became interested in acting. His first major part was taking the lead in a production of The Playboy of the Western World in the Barton Theatre. McBride returned to Galway in 1978 and joined the new Druid Theatre Company. Over the course of the following 20 years he enjoyed an extensive career in theatre, film, and television.[2]
McBride's career was severely curtailed when he was diagnosed with a cancer that affected his speech and balance in 1999.[3] He died on 27 July 2021.