Joseph Tomelty, the renowned Northern Irish novelist, playwright, and character actor, was born as the eldest of seven children in the quaint fishing village of Portaferry, County Down. Initially, he followed in his father's footsteps as a house painter, a career path that seemed far removed from the stage due to his noticeable stutter.
However, a transformative experience watching a performance of "Juno and the Paycock" by the Abbey Theatre Company inspired him to pursue a career in the performing arts. He joined the St. Peter's Players in 1937, marking the beginning of his journey on the stage. The following year, he wrote a comedic radio play, "Barnum is Right," and in 1940, he became a founding member of the Belfast Group Theatre.
As the company's General Manager from 1942 to 1951, Tomelty's responsibilities extended far beyond his role as an actor. He was also the booking clerk, ticket collector, cloak room attendant, sweeper, scene painter, programme seller, chucker out, and actor, a testament to his versatility and dedication to the craft.
In addition to his work on the stage, Tomelty was a prolific writer, penning eight plays, including the classic "All Souls' Night," which explores themes of greed, ambition, and the effects of poverty. He also wrote two novels and acted in "The McCooey's," a popular weekly radio serial about working-class life, broadcast by BBC Northern Ireland between 1948 and 1954.
As a character actor, Tomelty appeared in numerous British and American films, including "Odd Man Out" (1947),"Hobson's Choice" (1954),"Moby Dick" (1956),and "A Night to Remember" (1958). His writing career came to an abrupt end after he sustained injuries in a car crash in England while filming "Bhowani Junction" (1956),although he continued to act in occasional films until 1964 and remained a fixture in Northern Irish theatre.
