
Person
Des Walsh
Acting
Biography
Desmond Walsh is a veritable cultural icon in Newfoundland, with six books of poetry published, including the acclaimed Love and Savagery, which was adapted for a motion picture by Morag Films in 2009. Talonbooks released the second edition of Love and Savagery concurrent with the film’s release. Walsh is also a noted screenwriter, playwright and musician. He was the 2001 and 2003 playwright-in-residence at the Playwright’s Workshop in Montreal and at Memorial University’s Grenfell College in Corner Brook, respectively. He also scripted the mini-series adaptation of Bernice Morgan’s Random Passage and Waiting for Time, which aired on the CBC in 2002, commenting that: “Morgan’s works are sacred material because they are, finally, our story.” Along with John Smith and Sam Grana, he co-wrote the intensely popular and critically acclaimed miniseries The Boys of St. Vincent. Having encountered the public education system in Placentia and St. John’s, he left school in grade ten, famously claiming it did nothing for him. His awards include a Gemini, a New York Festival Award, Italy’s Umbria Fiction Award, and Best Series (Cannes International TV Festival), all for co-writing The Boys of St. Vincent. Walsh currently divides his time between New Bonaventure, Trinity Bay and St. John’s.
Known for

The Boys of St. Vincent: 15 Years Later
Writer

The Boys of St. Vincent
Writer

Hunting Pignut
Larry

Love & Savagery
Writer

Down to the Dirt
Officer Bowden

Random Passage
Captain Brennan

Cast No Shadow
Ricky's Father

Riverhead
Burt
Mum's the Word
Carl

Rain, Drizzle, and Fog
Himself
Filmography
- 2023Close to the Bone: The Film
- 2020Under the WeatherPhil
- 2020Little OrphansUncle Billy
- 2017Hunting PignutLarry
- 2016RiverheadBurt
- 2016KeystoneJack
- 2015The TourMarried Man
- 2014Clipper GoldMan
- 2014Cast No ShadowRicky's Father
- 2014SadieMr. Snow
- 2013Hold FastGranddad (Jack)
- 2011Still Rowdy After All These Years
- 2010SnarbuckledFather O'Higgins
- 2010Four SistersNish Feehan
- 2009Mum's the WordCarl
- 2009Down to the WoodDelph
- 2009Love & SavageryWriter
- 2008Down to the DirtOfficer Bowden
- 2008SpoiledDad
- 2007To Dublin with LoveSelf
- 2002Random PassageCaptain Brennan
- 1998Rain, Drizzle, and FogHimself
- 1994The Boys of St. VincentWriter
- 1992The Boys of St. Vincent: 15 Years LaterWriter
- 1991When Women Are CrazyMusic
- 1989Welcome to CanadaMusic Consultant
- 1988Finding Mary March
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