The death of the celebrated Irish theatre actor Vincent O'Neill in Buffalo, New York on Tuesday night (June 17th) was confirmed by his niece, Fair City's Aisling O'Neill.
Born and raised in Sandycove in Dublin, Mr O'Neill studied at both UCD and Trinity College Dublin and he went on to study acting at the Abbey Theatre school.
He later travelled to Paris to study mime under the master Marcel Marceau at his international academy.
As a member of the Abbey Theatre company Mr O'Neill toured internationally, and his one-man show based on the life of James Joyce called Joyicity debuted at the National Theatre as part of Dublin's Theatre Festival.
Mr O'Neill moved to New York in his 30's where he was co-founder of the Irish Classical Theatre company there.
He joined the the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Buffalo, described as New York's top public university. He rose through the faculty to become Chair of the department.
In later years, he and his brother, actor Chris O'Neill were acclaimed for their contribution to promoting Irish theatre in New York and as a mark of the community's esteem for their work, there is a 'O'Neill Brothers Street' named afer them in the area.
He is survived by his wife Teja, his children, Laura and Jamie, their mother Josephine Hogan and his sister Margaret.
