An American character actor with a long list of authority-figure roles, Michael O'Neill built a steady career in film and television. The Alabama native is remembered for a wrenching arc as the shooter in the medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy' (2005) and appeared in films such as 'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013), 'Seabiscuit' (2003) and 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' (2011). A familiar face often cast as officials, agents and fathers, he brought understated conviction to supporting parts across decades of steady, unshowy work.
Michael O'Neill
79 years (May 29, 1947)Montgomery, USAMontgomery, Alabama, USA
34 Movies · 54 Series
An American character actor with a long list of authority-figure roles, Michael O'Neill built a steady career in film and television. The Alabama native is remembered for a wrenching arc as the shooter in the medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy' (2005) and appeared in films such as 'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013), 'Seabiscuit' (2003) and 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' (2011). A familiar face often cast as officials, agents and fathers, he brought understated conviction to supporting parts across decades of steady, unshowy work.
1947-05-29 · Montgomery, USAMontgomery, Alabama, USA
Michael O'Neill (born May 29, 1951) is an American actor. With a career stretching through three decades, he usually portrays senior law enforcement or military officers. He is perhaps best known for his role as Special agent Ron Butterfield, the head of President Josiah Bartlet's Secret Service detail, on The West Wing. He played CTU Administrative Director Richard Walsh in the first two episodes of 24. He played Sgt. Maj. Ron Cheals in the CBS action-drama series The Unit. He starred in the Season Six 2 part Finale of Grey's Anatomy as the broken widower who holds the hospital hostage with a 9mm while pursuing the doctors responsible for unplugging his wife. His most notable film performances occur in Seabiscuit, Secondhand Lions, Transformers, Dancer, Texas Pop 81, Traffic, Sea of Love, A Quiet Little Marriage, Nothing But the Truth, and Green Zone. O'Neill graduated from Auburn University in 1974. After attending Auburn he spent time under the tutelage of actor Will Geer and his daughter, Ellen, at Theatricum Botanicum in Los Angeles before moving to New York to pursue his career there.