Fair City’s Bryan Murray receives IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award

Fair City actor Bryan Murray will be awarded the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Lifetime Achievement Award this evening, Wednesday 13th December in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the world of film and television.

One of Ireland’s most respected actors, Bryan has been a household name on Fair City, playing the role of Bob Charles since 2005. His acting career spans over five decades and began at the Abbey Theatre, where he went on to feature in over 50 productions. He has also performed at London’s Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Bryan has appeared in films including A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, The Disturbance at Dinner, Boy Eats Girl, Vita & Virginia and The Professor and the Madman. He also hosted shows such as Encore and The Tenements, which received critical acclaim and an IFTA nomination. Bryan has worked with many Irish and international actors over the years, including Judi Dench, Peter O’Toole, Anna Friel, and Sean Penn among others.

On Fair City, Bryan’s Bob Charles has been a much-loved cast member for many years. He ran and managed Fair City’s landmark McCoy’s pub, but a series of tumultuous events led to him being homeless for a period. In another series of dramatic events, a romantic relationship with Judith led to Bob being shot when Judith was being stalked by Tommy Dillon. Throughout his time in Carrigstown, Bob has actively been involved in charity, community and philanthropic work. He now runs and operates the Hungry Pig, which after Covid, he attempted to burn down for insurance money.

Bob eventually fell in love with and married his on-screen partner Renee Phelan, who is played by Bryan’s wife Una Crawford O’Brien. Bryan has been widely praised in recent years for speaking candidly and frankly about his diagnosis of Alzheimers, while continuing to appear on Fair City.

Fair City’s Executive Producer, Brigie de Courcy, commented: “I am delighted for Bryan, who is hugely deserving of this prestigious award for his exceptional contribution to stage and screen. When Bryan joined Fair City, he brought a freshness and humour to the role that made an immediate impact. Nearly 20 years later, he is just as fresh and just as funny. Bryan is from the first generation of actors to grow up watching drama on RTÉ. Although he went on to have a stellar career, he remains a television actor to the core. This is where his heart is, and he shows it in every scene. We are lucky to have him.”