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Brendan Gleeson: Net Worth, Marriage, Family & Acting Career

Published August 21, 2026In People6 min read

If you’ve seen a Harry Potter movie, you’ve seen Brendan Gleeson’s face — even if you didn’t know his name. Born in Dublin in , the Irish actor has built a career spanning four decades, from schoolteacher to Oscar nominee. Here’s what the public records actually say about his wealth, his marriage, and the family he’s kept largely out of the spotlight.

Born: 29 March 1955, Dublin, Ireland · Notable Awards: Primetime Emmy Award, 2 British Independent Film Awards · Oscar Nominations: 1 (The Banshees of Inisherin, 2023) · Known For: Harry Potter, In Bruges, The Banshees of Inisherin

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth (estimates range from $4M to $8M) (VoxHour)
  • Exact marriage date in 1982 (day/month not confirmed) (VoxHour)
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Continues to work in film and television (Wikipedia)

Seven verified facts, one takeaway: Brendan Gleeson’s public life is well-documented, but his private wealth remains a guess.

Before the table, here is the biographical baseline.

Attribute Detail
Full Name Brendan Gleeson
Date of Birth
Place of Birth Dublin, Ireland
Spouse Mary Gleeson (née Weldon, married 1982)
Children 4 sons (including Domhnall Gleeson)
Profession Actor, Film Director
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)

The pattern: Gleeson’s personal details are consistent across sources, but financial figures require caveats.

Is Brendan Gleeson a millionaire?

Estimated net worth of Brendan Gleeson

  • Multiple entertainment finance outlets estimate Gleeson’s net worth at approximately $8 million as of 2024 (ClutchPoints, citing Celebrity Net Worth).
  • Another biography lists a lower figure of $4 million as of February 2024 (VoxHour).
  • No official financial disclosure exists, so all net worth figures are public estimates, not audited statements.

The catch: without an audited disclosure, a $4 million swing remains unresolved.

Sources of income: acting, directing, awards

Gleeson has earned from decades of film, television, and stage work, including his Emmy-winning portrayal of Winston Churchill in Into the Storm (2009) (The Famous People). After his breakout in Braveheart (1995), he appeared in major franchises like Harry Potter (Portuguese Wikipedia).

Bottom line: The range — $4 million to $8 million — reflects the absence of hard numbers. For fans wanting a definitive answer, there isn’t one.

Is Brendan Gleeson still married?

Who is Brendan Gleeson’s wife?

Brendan Gleeson married Mary Weldon in 1982 (Wikipedia). She worked as a psychiatric nurse and has been his only spouse, according to multiple sources (Morning Times (biography)).

How many times has Brendan Gleeson been married?

There is no public record of any marriage before or after Mary. All encyclopedic and editorial profiles — including Wikipedia, The Famous People, and People magazine — consistently describe Mary as his sole partner (People magazine).

Why this matters

For readers searching “Brendan Gleeson wife” or “divorce”, the answer is clear: a stable marriage of over 40 years, with no public separations.

Does Brendan Gleeson speak Irish?

Brendan Gleeson’s connection to Irish language

According to biographical summaries, Gleeson is reportedly a native Irish speaker (Gaeilge) (Morning Times). He studied English and Irish at University College Dublin (Screendollars (film industry profile)).

Role in ‘The Field’ and use of Irish

He has used Irish in several stage and screen roles, including the 1990 film The Field. Direct interview footage of him speaking Irish conversationally is limited.

Bottom line: The actor almost certainly knows Irish, but the claim of native fluency comes primarily from secondary sources rather than primary recordings.

Is Brendan Gleeson a friend of Liam Neeson?

Liam Neeson’s relationship with Brendan Gleeson

Both are Dublin-born actors and, according to interviews, have been friends for years (The Famous People).

Collaborations in film

They co-starred in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022), which earned Gleeson an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor (Wikipedia). Their on-screen chemistry reflects a real‑life rapport.

The catch

Their friendship is also contextual: both are part of a small circle of Irish actors who regularly work together, so the bond may be professional as much as personal.

Brendan Gleeson’s Career and Family

Brendan Gleeson’s films and television shows

  • Harry Potter series (2005–2011): Played Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody (The Famous People).
  • In Bruges (2008): Acclaimed dark comedy with Colin Farrell.
  • The Banshees of Inisherin (2022): Oscar nomination.

Brendan Gleeson’s children

He has four sons: Domhnall (born 12 May 1983), Brían, Fergus, and Rory (French Wikipedia). Two sons — Domhnall and Brían — are actors and have appeared alongside their father (German Wikipedia).

Brendan Gleeson’s height

His height is recorded as 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) (Wikipedia).

Timeline signal

  • 29 March 1955: Born in Dublin, Ireland (Wikipedia).
  • 1982: Married Mary Weldon (German Wikipedia).
  • 12 May 1983: Birth of eldest son Domhnall (People magazine).
  • 1995: Breakout role in Braveheart (Portuguese Wikipedia).
  • 2009: Emmy Award for Into the Storm (The Famous People).
  • 2023: Oscar nomination for The Banshees of Inisherin.

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

  • Married to Mary Weldon since 1982.
  • Four sons: Domhnall, Brían, Fergus, Rory.
  • Native Irish speaker (by biographical consensus).
  • Friend of Liam Neeson.

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth — estimates range from $4M to $8M.
  • Exact wedding date (day/month) in 1982.
  • Precise timeline of his teaching career.

“Brendan Gleeson has been married to his wife Mary Weldon since 1982 and together they have four sons, Domhnall, Fergus, Brían, and Rory.”

— People editors, summarizing family life (People magazine (celebrity family profile))

“Brendan Gleeson is one of the most revered Irish-born actors, and part of a great tradition of Irish theater-trained actors who have achieved great success in American and European-made cinema.”

— Screendollars profile (Screendollars (film industry biography))

For fans curious about the private life of one of Ireland’s most respected actors, the public record is remarkably thin — and that’s exactly how Gleeson seems to want it. The pattern is consistent: a long marriage, a close-knit family, and a career built on craft rather than celebrity. For anyone searching “Brendan Gleeson wife” or “Brendan Gleeson net worth true number”, there is no scandal to uncover — only a steady, private life behind the characters.

Additional sources

imdb.com, ebsco.com, schweizfokus.ch

Frequently asked questions

What is Brendan Gleeson’s most famous role?

The role most widely recognized internationally is Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody in the Harry Potter film series (The Famous People).

Does Brendan Gleeson have a son who is also an actor?

Yes, his eldest son Domhnall Gleeson is a successful actor, and his second son Brían Gleeson also acts (German Wikipedia).

What awards has Brendan Gleeson won?

He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Into the Storm (2009) and two British Independent Film Awards (The Famous People).

How old is Brendan Gleeson?

Born 29 March 1955, he is 70 years old as of 2025 (Wikipedia).

Is Brendan Gleeson from Ireland?

Yes, he was born in Dublin, Ireland and holds Irish nationality (Portuguese Wikipedia).

What is Brendan Gleeson’s height?

He is 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) tall (Wikipedia).

Did Brendan Gleeson play in ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’?

Yes, he played Colm Doherty opposite Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson, earning an Oscar nomination (Wikipedia).



Information is compiled from publicly available sources and reviewed by our editorial team in line with our editorial and fact-checking policies. Spotted an error? Report a correction or email corrections@virepedia.org.

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