Glenn Quinn

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Glenn Martin Christopher Francis Quinn (28 May 1970^[1] – 3 December 2002) was an Irish actor in television and film, best known for playing Mark Healy in the American sitcom Roseanne and the half-demon Doyle during the first season of Angel.^[2]

Early life

Glenn Martin Christopher Francis Quinn was born in Dublin, Ireland, and raised in Cabinteely, County Dublin. As a teenager, he played drums in a band and acted in productions at small local theatres. Quinn attended Clonkeen College and moved to the Long Beach area of California in 1988 with his mother, Bernadette, and two sisters Sonya and Louisa. His older brother Ciaran, who lives in Dublin Ireland was recently reunited with his mother and two sisters. Glenn worked odd jobs at power plants, restaurants, and more before deciding to pursue an acting career.

Career

Quinn did commercials for Pepsi and Ray-Ban, appeared in the music video for the Richard Marx song "Satisfied," and his first speaking line was in the pilot of Beverly Hills, 90210 after having endured eight separate auditions for the roles of both "Brandon Walsh" and then "Steve Sanders". Having lost out to Jason Priestley and Ian Ziering, respectively, the Casting Director, Johanna Ray gave him a small role with two lines in the Pilot, but Glenn was barely visible in the final broadcast version. His first substantial speaking part was as a guest-star in an episode of the short-lived The Outsiders.

In 1991, Quinn had his first major role in a movie, Shout, which starred John Travolta and in which he shared an on-screen kiss with Gwyneth Paltrow. Later, one of Quinn's more visible roles was that of Mark Healy, Becky Conner's boyfriend, and later, husband in Roseanne. While working on that show, Quinn took on the role as youngest son Cedric on the US & UK TV series Covington Cross, while shooting the series in England, Glenn suffered a serious injury to his back falling from his horse while shooting a scene, this lead to years of back pain, and might have been the origin of later troubles.^{[citation needed]} In 1992 he starred alongside Holly Marie Combs in Dr. Giggles.^[1] Also in 1992, Glenn's Management was approached by Robert Redford who was then casting "A River Runs through It" and expressed interest in Glenn reading for the role opposite Brad Pitt. At the time Glenn was tired from working non-stop for over a year, and had planned to a fishing trip with his Uncle, and nothing could dissuade his intention to take that short break, and the role went to Craig Sheffer.

Although he spent years doing an American accent on Roseanne, Quinn was pleased producers made Doyle on Angel Irish because it would allow him to use his native accent. In an interview with The Irish Times, Quinn said of his accent, "I've been hiding it for so long that it's amazing to have some freedom. It was like putting on an old pair of shoes. It's bringing my soul back to life." ^[3] His last film work was in 2002 R.S.V.P.

Personal life and death

In addition to acting, he also co-owned a nightclub called "Goldfingers" in Los Angeles, California.

Quinn was found dead on December 3, 2002.^[4] He was 32 years old. Police and autopsy reports revealed the cause of death to be a heroin overdose. His body was found on the couch of a friend he was visiting in North Hollywood, California.

During his time on Angel, he became close to co-stars David Boreanaz, Charisma Carpenter, and Christian Kane. Later, during DVD commentary for the show's fifth season, Kane recalled how much they all still miss him and talked about the emotions during Angel's fifth season, where he was supposed to impersonate Quinn's character Doyle. He remarks in the commentary of "You're Welcome" that he, Charisma Carpenter, and David Boreanaz would at times tear up during shooting.

Quotes

Glenn Quinn: When you get to speak Irish, you become more at one with yourself, you kind of have a spark when you use it, and I think it's a great dialect. When they first cast me, I was a pretty avid fan of vampire movies and Celtic mythology, so I was excited to get a chance to walk in Doyle's shoes and have fun with it.

Glenn Quinn: "I've been hiding (my Irish accent) for so long that it's amazing to have some freedom. It was like putting on an old pair of shoes, it's bringing my soul back to life."

Glenn Quinn: "There's a lot of Doyle in me. I don't know where I begin and Doyle ends or where Doyle begins and I end."

Filmography

Video games

• Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter (1996)
• Outlaws (1997) as 'Rattlesnake' Dick Farmer
• The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) as Pirate #118

References

External links

• Glenn Quinn at the Internet Movie Database
• Glenn Quinn at TV.com
• Glenn Quinn at Find a Grave