Bio

Ronan O’Leary began his career as a producer-director for PBS in Los Angeles in 1984, making drama-documentaries on the philosophers Thoreau and Emerson, and profile-interviews with the filmmakers Oliver Stone and Sir David Puttnam.

He returned to his native Ireland in 1986 to film the Abbey Theatre classic play RIDERS TO THE SEA for PBS, starring Oscar-winner Geraldine Page and Amanda Plummer.  He subsequently filmed the Pulitzer-nominated book FRAGMENTS OF ISABELLA, based on the memoirs of Auschwitz survivor Isabella Leitner.  He then filmed DIARY OF A MADMAN based on the classic Russian novella by Nicolai Gogol, and filmed HELLO, STRANGER for PBS, based on a screenplay by the legendary Truman Capote.

More recently, Ronan directed and co-scripted the psychological film drama DRIFTWOOD starring James Spader, for Goldcrest Films.

As a screenwriter, his credits also include FRANKIE STARLIGHT for New Line Films, starring Matt Dillon and Gabriel Byrne, and the animated Bible series THE SIGN OF THE FISH featuring Sir Ben Kingsley and Suzannah York.  Ronan’s credits as a film editor include the war drama THE SHELTERING DESERT starring Jason Connery and Joss Ackland, shot on location in Namibia, Africa.

Ronan has lectured at Britain’s National Film School, the London Film School, and was the first Irish filmmaker invited to lecture at the European Film School in Berlin.  He has guest lectured at the national film schools in Morocco and Croatia, and served on Film Festival Juries in Berlin, Bosnia and Croatia.

Ronan’s work as a documentary maker includes the feature-length documentary HOLD THE PASSION, in which actor Gabriel Byrne returns to his artistic roots in Dublin, and THE ROAD FROM CALCUTTA, about Irish children raising funds and building schools for orphans in West Bengal, India.

Ronan’s extensive credits as a second unit director include TARA ROAD starring Andi McDowall, shooting in South Africa, THE DAWNING starring Anthony Hopkins and Trevor Howard, THE SHELTERING DESERT shot in Namibia, and the thriller PLAYED starring Val Kilmer and Gabriel Byrne, shot in Los Angeles, New York and London, for Oscar-winning producer John Daly. He recently worked as Creative Consultant on John Boorman “Queen & Country”.

Ronan has shot 34 commercials in Ireland, Morocco and the UK, on subjects as varied as hair shampoo, laser eye surgery, dog food, and supermarket chains.  He brings over 25 years of experience, knowledge and business acumen to every project that he undertakes.