Kevin James O'Connor (born November 15, 1963) is an American actor, known for portraying character roles in major studio films such as '' F/X2'', '' Lord of Illusions'', '' The Mummy'', ''

Van Helsing Professor Abraham Van Helsing () is a fictional character from the 1897 gothic horror novel ''Dracula'' written by Bram Stoker. Van Helsing is a Dutch polymath doctor with a wide range of interests and accomplishments, partly attested by the P ...

'', ''

There Will Be Blood ''There Will Be Blood'' is a 2007 American epic film, epic historical drama, period drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, loosely based on the 1927 novel ''Oil!'' by Upton Sinclair. It stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kev ...

'' and '' G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra''. He is a favorite of writer/directors

Stephen Sommers Stephen Sommers (born March 20, 1962) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer, best known for big-budget action films, such as ''The Mummy (1999 film), The Mummy'' (1999), its sequel, ''The Mummy Returns'' (2001), ''Van Helsing ( ...

and

Paul Thomas Anderson Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26, 1970), also known by his initials PTA, is an American filmmaker. Often described as one of the most preeminent writer-directors of his generation, List of awards and nominations received by Paul Thomas Anders ...

, who often cast him in their films.

Life and career

O'Connor trained for the stage at

The Theatre School at DePaul University The Theatre School at DePaul University, previously the Goodman School of Drama (also known as TTS and GSD, respectively) is the drama school of DePaul University. Originally associated with the Goodman Theatre, its first class was conducted at ...

in Chicago, before making his big-screen debut as high school rebel and

beatnik Beatniks were members of a social movement in the mid-20th century, who subscribed to an anti- materialistic lifestyle. They rejected the conformity and consumerism of mainstream American culture and expressed themselves through various forms ...

poet Michael Fitzsimmons in

Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola ( ; born April 7, 1939) is an American filmmaker. He is considered one of the leading figures of the New Hollywood and one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. List of awards and nominations received by Francis Ford Coppo ...

's ''

Peggy Sue Got Married ''Peggy Sue Got Married'' is a 1986 American fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola starring Kathleen Turner as a woman on the verge of a divorce, who finds herself transported back to the days of her senior year in high s ...

'' (1986). His next major part was quizzical newspaper reporter Taggerty Hayes in the HBO miniseries ''

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''. He portrayed a young

Ernest Hemingway Ernest Miller Hemingway ( ; July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer and journalist. Known for an economical, understated style that influenced later 20th-century writers, he has been romanticized fo ...

in the 1988 film '' The Moderns'', had a small role in 1989's ''

Steel Magnolias ''Steel Magnolias'' is a 1989 American comedy drama film directed by Herbert Ross and starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts. The screenplay by Robert Harling is based on hi ...

'', and a featured role in 1994's erotic thriller ''

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'', which starred

Bruce Willis Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a retired American actor. He achieved fame with a leading role on the comedy-drama series ''Moonlighting (TV series), Moonlighting'' (1985–1989) and has appeared in over one hundred films, gaining ...

and

Jane March Jane March Horwood (born 1973) is an English film actress and former model. Early life and education March's father, Bernard Horwood, was a design and technology secondary school teacher of English and Spanish ancestry. Her mother, Jean, a news ...

. O'Connor worked with writer/director

on the 1998 science-fiction adventure '' Deep Rising''. He subsequently appeared in Sommers' projects '' The Mummy'', in which he played the not-to-be-trusted and materialistic Beni; ''

'', in which he played Count Dracula's devious servant (and Dr. Frankenstein's former assistant) Igor; and '' G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'', in which he portrayed

Doctor Mindbender Doctor Mindbender, also known as Doctor Bender, is a fictional character from the '' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' toyline, comic books and animated series. He is a scientist who works for the terrorist organization Cobra; like other character ...

. O'Connor had a key supporting role in ''

'' as Henry, the "brother" of

Daniel Day-Lewis Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis (born 29 April 1957) is an English actor. Often described as one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema, he is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Daniel Day-Lewis, numerous a ...

's oil man, Daniel Plainview. O'Connor also starred in John Candy's last film, '' Canadian Bacon''; he portrayed Roy Boy, a suicidal, eccentric American intent on sabotaging Canada. He reunited with ''There Will Be Blood'' director

for a small role in '' The Master''.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Oconnor, Kevin J. 1963 births Living people Male actors from Chicago American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors