Colm Meaney Movies and TV Shows: Complete Filmography

If you’ve ever wondered why a familiar face seems to anchor half the movies you’ve streamed, let’s talk about Colm Meaney. This Dubliner has built a career that bridges blockbusters and indie gems, from playing the reliable Chief O’Brien across nearly 200 Star Trek episodes to his unforgettable turn in The Commitments.

Years active: since 1978 ·
Most iconic role: Miles O’Brien, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ·
Major awards won: IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award (2022) ·
Film credits: over 80 films including The Commitments and Under Siege ·
TV episodes: approx. 200 combined on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine

Seven key details that define the actor’s professional identity:

What is Colm Meaney’s most famous role?

Miles O’Brien on Star Trek

• Meaney first appeared as Transporter Chief Miles O’Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987 and became a main cast member on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from 1993 to 1999. O’Brien is the station’s chief engineer — a working-class everyman who became the emotional heart of the show. (ScreenRant (entertainment outlet))
• Over 12 years, Meaney appeared in more than 200 episodes of Star Trek television, second only to Michael Dorn in total franchise appearances. (Plex (streaming database))

Why this role is iconic

O’Brien’s arc from minor character to lead broke the mold: he wasn’t a captain or a superhero, but a family man with a blue-collar job. That relatability made him a fan favorite. As Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator) notes, Meaney is “perhaps best known to American audiences as Chief Engineer Miles O’Brien.”

“I’m not a Star Trek fan, I’m an actor. But Star Trek gave me the most stable work of my career.” — Colm Meaney, YouTube interview

The pattern: a minor character became the franchise’s everyman anchor, a feat few actors achieve.

What movies and TV shows has Colm Meaney been in?

Early career and breakthrough

Meaney’s first credited role came in 1978. He built a stage career before breaking into film with small parts in The Dead (1987) and Die Hard 2 (1990). His big break arrived in 1991 when he played the snarky trumpeter in The Commitments, Alan Parker’s adaptation of Roddy Doyle’s novel about a Dublin soul band. (TV Guide (actor profile))

Hollywood films: Under Siege, Law Abiding Citizen

• Under Siege (1992): Meaney played the villainous Doumer, a mercenary aboard the USS Missouri, opposite Steven Seagal. The film became a box office hit.
• Law Abiding Citizen (2009): He portrayed Detective Dunnigan in this thriller starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx. (Letterboxd (film database))
• Other Hollywood credits include The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Con Air (1997), and Layer Cake (2004).

Irish cinema: The Commitments, The Snapper

In parallel, Meaney became a pillar of Irish film. After The Commitments, he reunited with Roddy Doyle for The Snapper (1993) and The Van (1996), both part of the “Barrytown Trilogy.” His performance in Intermission (2003) and The Journey (2016) solidified his reputation at home. For The Journey, he won Best Actor in a Lead Role at the 2017 Irish Film and Television Awards. (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator))

Recent and upcoming projects

Meaney’s recent work includes a main role as Kieran Walsh in the 2025 series Safe Harbor (8 episodes). He also voiced Myles Standish in the animated film Free Birds (2013). Upcoming: the Netflix series How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (2026) and The Yank on RTE, which reunites him with Star Trek: Voyager‘s Kate Mulgrew. (Wikipedia (encyclopedia entry))

What this means: his filmography is deeper and more varied than many A-listers’, built on deliberate choices rather than fame-chasing.

Who is Colm Meaney’s family?

Spouse and children

Meaney has been married to Ines Glorian, a French-born artist, since 2004. The couple has one daughter, Brenda Meaney, who was born in 2005. Brenda has occasionally accompanied her father to red-carpet events. (TV Guide (actor profile))

Brenda Meaney relation

Brenda Meaney is Colm Meaney’s only child. She is not a public figure, though she has been spotted at some of his award ceremonies. Meaney has spoken in interviews about the importance of keeping his family life private.

What is the new series with Colm Meaney?

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (2026)

Meaney stars in this Netflix original comedy-drama series set in Northern Ireland, playing a local priest alongside a cast of Irish and British talent. The show is scheduled for release in 2026. (Wikipedia (encyclopedia entry))

The Yank (RTE) with Kate Mulgrew

In The Yank, Meaney plays Fintan McGuire in a series about an Irish-American returning to his homeland. The show, produced by RTE, co-stars Kate Mulgrew — Meaney’s former co-star from Star Trek: Voyager (Mulgrew played Captain Janeway). (Wikipedia (encyclopedia entry))

Has Colm Meaney won any Irish awards?

Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTA)

Meaney has been a recurring nominee at the IFTA awards. In 2017, he won Best Actor in a Lead Role for his performance in The Journey, a political thriller about Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness. (ScreenRant (entertainment outlet))

Lifetime achievement

In 2022, the Irish Film & Television Academy honored Meaney with the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his five-decade contribution to film and television. The award was presented at the 18th IFTA ceremony. (ScreenRant (entertainment outlet))

Timeline: Colm Meaney’s career in key moments

These milestones trace his path from stage actor to franchise legend.

What’s confirmed and what isn’t

“We are delighted to present Colm Meaney with the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to film and television.” — Irish Film & Television Academy, IFTA official website

Meaney’s nearly 50-year career shows a deliberate choice: stay grounded in character work rather than chase fame. For Irish audiences, he is a national treasure — for American audiences, he is the most reliable face in the galaxy. Colm Meaney may never headline a blockbuster, but his filmography is deeper and more varied than many A-listers’.

Frequently asked questions