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Steve Wall

Steve Wall
Steve Wall in April 2021[1][2][3]
Born
Stephen Patrick Wall

Kingsbury, London, England
Occupations
  • Actor
  • musician
Years active1984–present
Children1

Steve Wall is a musician, singer, songwriter and actor. He is a founder member of the multi-platinum selling Irish band The Stunning and also The Walls.

As an actor, Wall is known for his roles in Moone Boy (2012–2015), Vikings (2014–2016), Rebellion (2016), Raised by Wolves (2020), The Witcher (2020), and The English (2022). He played the jazz musician Chet Baker in My Foolish Heart (2018), a Dutch feature film about the trumpeter's last days in Amsterdam.

Early life and education

Stephen Patrick Wall was born in Kingsbury Hospital, Honeypot Lane,[4] the first of five children of Patricia (née Keogh) of the Liberties, Dublin, and Vincent Wall of Ennistymon, County Clare.[5] Four of the children were born in London and while still young, the family moved back to Ireland, living first with the Keogh family in Harolds Cross.[6][7] He has two brothers, Joseph and Vincent (born in County Clare), and two sisters, Anna and Helen. His mother's family home was full of records and sing-songs were regular, with uncles and aunts singing everything from Cole Porter to The Beatles and Ella Fitzgerald. This is where Wall says he discovered his love of music.[7][8][9]

Wall attended several schools in Dublin - St. Louis Junior School, Rathmines; St. Joseph's National School, Terenure; and Templeogue College, where he left after the first year as the family moved to Ennistymon, County Clare, when he was thirteen.[7][8] He spent his teenage years in Ennistymon and attended the Christian Brothers school there.[10] Following that he went to the Galway Regional Technical College,[7] where he joined a new wave band called New Testament as guitarist.[7]

Career

Taking a break between takes on the set of 'My Foolish Heart'. Filmed on location around Amsterdam in 2016, the film was released in early 2018. A lot of prosthetic make-up was involved to age Steve, as Chet looked much older than his 58 years when he died in 1988.
Steve Wall as Chet Baker on the set of My Foolish Heart.

Acting

While still at school in the west of Ireland, Wall developed an interest in acting and applied unsuccessfully to the main London drama schools.[9][11] When college band New Testament went their separate ways in 1984,[12] Wall approached the Druid Theatre Company, Galway for work.[13] He had a small walk-on part in the 1984 production of Tom Murphy's On the Outside directed by Paul Brennan.[14] He spent two years at Druid working as a trainee actor, stage assistant and sound operator, working on shows Conversations on a Homecoming and 'Tis Pity She's a Whore.[15][7][16] He then moved to Dublin to pursue an acting career but after an unsuccessful year of finding work he decided to turn back to music and formed The Stunning in 1987.[13][16][11] He still performs today with The Stunning and The Walls.[9][7]

He returned to acting in 2010 by attending acting workshops in The Factory, Dublin, now known as Bow Street Acting Academy.[13] He scored his first role as Uncle Danny in the series Moone Boy for Sky TV and then went on to land parts in other TV series such as Vikings, Warrior, The Witcher, Raised by Wolves, Tin Star, and The South Westerlies.[7][13] He landed the role of Chet Baker in the Dutch arthouse feature film My Foolish Heart about the jazz legend's final days in Amsterdam where he died in 1988.[17] He featured in the 2022 western miniseries The English (BBC/Amazon) featuring Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer, in which he plays the cowboy Thin Kelly.[18]

Denis Villeneuve cast him as Bashar, a Colonel-General of the Sardaukar in Dune: Part Two which premiered on 1 March 2024.[19]

Wall was offered the role of Pats Bocock in the Gaiety Theatre's production of the John B. Keane play Sive. It was his first stage performance. It opened on 27 January 2024 and ran until 16 March 2024.[20]

He has also done voiceover work.[21]

Music

Wall formed The Stunning in Galway in 1987.[22] The band was hugely successful in Ireland with number one albums and top ten singles.[22][23][24] Frustrated at not getting their music released internationally despite success at home, the band broke up in 1994.[7][24][23] The following year, Wall and his brother Joe formed The Walls. They signed to Columbia Records in 1996 and relocated to London,[25] spending two years there before moving to Dublin in 1998 and starting their own label Earshot Records, later changing it to Dirtbird Records.[26][27] They released three albums on their own label -  Hi-Lo (2000),[27] New Dawn Breaking (2005), Stop the Lights (2012) as well as EPs and singles including the top ten hit "To the Bright and Shining Sun" and "Drowning Pool",[28][23] which featured in the film Begin Again.[29] The band toured extensively and opened for acts such as U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Dylan, and Crowded House.[26][23]

In 2003 The Stunning reformed in order to promote the re-issue of the band's debut album Paradise in the Picturehouse on their own Dirtbird Records label. The resulting tour was a success, sending the album to the top of the charts again almost ten years later.[22][23] In 2017 they released "Brighten up my Life", their first new single in 24 years.[25][30] This was followed by the album Twice Around the World, which peaked at number ten in the Irish mainstream album charts [31][25] and number one in the independent charts on 23 March 2018.[32] The Stunning continue to play live today, while Wall and Joe sometimes perform as a two-piece as The Walls.[23]

In April 2021, Wall collaborated with Clare-based musician Simon O'Reilly on the song "Rise with the Sun". It was during the pandemic, so the two collaborated by sharing files online, with O'Reilly recording the music and mixing the song in his studio near Lahinch, County Clare and Wall recording vocals and some extra instrumentation in Dublin.[33][2]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2000 Country Showband Singer
2013 Dark Touch Matthew Collins Credited as Stephen Wall [34]
2015 You're Ugly Too Lawyer
2016 Minutes Past Midnight Peter Segment: "Ghost Train"
2017 Nails Steve Milgrom [35]
2018 My Foolish Heart Chet Baker [36]
2019 The Hole in the Ground Rob [37]
2020 Fried Barry Little Beast [38]
Here Are the Young Men Police Sergeant
2023 Barber Eddie Quinn [39]
Dead Shot Quinn [40]
2024 Dune: Part Two Bashar [19]
Oddity Ivan [41]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2012–2015 Moone Boy Uncle Danny / Daniel /
Danny Moone		 4 episodes [7]
2014–2016 Vikings Uncle Einar 7 episodes [42]
2015 Silent Witness D.C.S Robert Drake 2 episodes [43]
Crossing Lines Dominic Fitzroy 2 episodes [44]
2015–2017 An Klondike Same Steele a.k.a. Dominion Creek; 8 episodes [45]
2016 Rebellion Detective Coleman 5 episodes [46]
2019 Warrior Gresham 2 episodes [47]
The Witcher Boholt Episode: "Rare Species" [48]
2020 Raised by Wolves Ambrose 2 episodes [7]
The South Westerlies Baz 6 episodes [49]
Tin Star Sean McGrath Episode: "Commitment" [50]
Rig 45 James 6 episodes
2022 The English Thin Kelly 5 episodes [49]
2024 Harry Wild Vincent 'Dutch' Holland Episode: "Too Many Harrys Spoil the Murder"
Signora Volpe Nick Wallis / Graham Conway Episode: "Death of a Ghost"
Black Doves Frank Young 2 episodes [51]

Stage

Sive by John B.Keane. Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. 27 January – 16 March 2024[52]

Narration

  • The Irish Mob (2000) TV miniseries

References

  1. ^ "Steve Wall and Simon O'Reilly Release Brand New Single". The Journal of Music. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Steve Wall and Simon O'Reilly 'Rise with the Sun'". Indie Buddie. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  3. ^ "JOE's Song Of The Day #896 – Steve Wall & Simon O'Reilly 'Rise With The Sun'". JOE.ie. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  4. ^ "The National Archives | Search the archives | Hospital Records| Details".
  5. ^ "Steve Wall: 'When I was 15, I placed my guitar amp in the bedroom window, turned the volume up full, and banged out Led Zeppelin'". Irish Independent. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  6. ^ Wall, Steve (23 March 2018). "Steve Wall: Episode 236" (podcast). An Irishman Abroad (Interview). No. 236. Interviewed by Jarlath Regan – via Podbeam.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Steve Wall on his family's tragedy: 'It was a year from hell'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Life lessons with Steve Wall: 'Moving to the west of Ireland completely changed me as a person'". Irish Independent. 24 April 2016.
  9. ^ a b c "Steve Wall: Episode 236". An Irishman Abroad. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Steve Wall Promotes CBS Ennistymon Open Night". 5 November 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Talking music and acting with Steve Wall of The Stunning". Listen Notes. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Irish Rock Discography: New Testament". Irish Rock. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d "Steve Wall on 30 years of 'Paradise in the Picturehouse'". GoldenPlec. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  14. ^ "On the Outside by Tom Murphy with Noel O'Donoghue – An Educational Resource for Secondary School Students and Teachers" (PDF). Druid. 2020.
  15. ^ McBride, Charlie (4 July 2019). "'The acting muscle is very different to being onstage with a band'". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Life lessons with Steve Wall: 'Moving to the west of Ireland completely changed me as a person'". Irish Independent. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  17. ^ Hutton, Brian. "Steve Wall's blowing his own trumpet". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Ciarán Hinds, Stephen Rea, Steve Wall to join Emily Blunt for BBC western series The English". Hot Press. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  19. ^ a b Masterson, Eugene (8 March 2024). "Dune 'n' dusted: The Stunning's Steve Wall on how he landed dream role in Hollywood blockbuster Dune 2". The Sunday World. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  20. ^ Rowley, Eddie (19 January 2024). "Acting a Storm | The Stunning's Steve Wall says his first dream was to be an actor ahead of stage debut". The Sunday World.
  21. ^ Barry, Aoife (19 November 2017). "The truth about being a musician: 'They see you on the Late Late and think you're making a fortune'". TheJournal.ie.
  22. ^ a b c "Live Report: The Stunning, A Galway Shindig at Leisureland, Galway". Hot Press Magazine.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "The Walls". Irish Independent. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Irish Rock Discography: The Stunning". Irish Rock. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  25. ^ a b c "The craic was '90". The Irish World. 19 October 2021.
  26. ^ a b "The Walls". Irish Rockers. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  27. ^ a b Cummins, Steve (22 September 2020). "The Walls - taking the Hi with the Lo". Steve Cummins. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  28. ^ "The Walls". Discogs. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  29. ^ "Soundtrack: Begin Again - listen to all 29 songs with scene description". Soundtrack Radar. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  30. ^ "JOE's New Song of the Day #417: The Stunning – 'Brighten Up My Life'". JOE.ie. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  31. ^ "The biggest singles and albums of 2018 by Irish acts". Official Charts. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  32. ^ "IRMA – Irish Recorded Music Association". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Listen: Composer/musician duo Steve Wall and Simon O'Reilly share '70s-tinged track 'Rise with the Sun'". Hot Press. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  34. ^ McBride, Charlie (4 July 2019). "'The acting muscle is very different to being onstage with a band'". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  35. ^ Newman, Kim (7 June 2017). "Nails (2017) Review". Empire. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  36. ^ D'Arcy, Ray (15 February 2019). "My Foolish Heart" (radio). The Ray D'Arcy Show.
  37. ^ Dray, Kayleigh (2020). "The Hole in the Ground aims to reinvent the classic horror film". Stylist. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  38. ^ "Fried Barry". Torino Film Festival. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  39. ^ "Irish film Barber, starring Aidan Gillen, is in cinemas Friday 14th April". Screen Ireland. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  40. ^ Lloyd, Brian. "'Dead Shot' is a stylish action-thriller set in bloody history". Entertainment.ie. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  41. ^ Brady, Tara (28 August 2024). "Oddity: Nifty old-school horror from one of Ireland's most exciting film-makers". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  42. ^ Murphy, Eoin (23 April 2019). "Vikings actor Steve Wall's new Netflix series stars Hollywood royalty". Extra.
  43. ^ "The Stunning in session, new material, early days & a tribute to Bowie!". Today FM. 13 January 2016.
  44. ^ Corr, Alan (1 February 2016). "The Stunning's Steve Wall enjoys his 'despicable' role on Rebellion". RTÉ. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  45. ^ Fitzpatrick, Richard. "An Klondike is a golden opportunity for Irish actors". Irish Examiner.
  46. ^ "Watch Rebellion | Netflix Official Site". Netflix.
  47. ^ McGoran, Peter (10 April 2019). "The Stunning's Steve Wall to star in major new American drama". Hot Press. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  48. ^ Butler, Mary Anne (28 March 2019). "'The Witcher' Adds Steve Wall as Boholt, Crinfrid Reavers Leader". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  49. ^ a b Rowley, Eddie (13 May 2021). "Wall's good: Singer Steve Wall says role in new BBC western alongside Emily Blunt is 'biggest I've ever played'". Sunday World. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  50. ^ "Something for the Weekend - Steve Wall's Cultural Picks". RTÉ. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  51. ^ Power, Ed (5 December 2024). "Black Doves review: Keira Knightley is delightfully sweary as a devoted wife by day and deadly assassin by night". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  52. ^ Cunningham, Joseph (3 November 2023). "Sade Malone to star in the Gaiety's re-imagining of John B. Keane's play Sive". Hot Press.
Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Wall_(actor)