B.J. Hogg

BJ Hogg, a true Ulsterman, was born in Lisburn, Co. Antrim. His father William was a plater in Harland and Woolfe shipyard in Belfast, and his mother May ran a general store in their home town. BJ travelled the world as an actor, writer and now director. He was a true all-rounder, a classically trained musician who started his career whilst in his teens, touring with the Big Bands, all over his native Ireland. His acting career took him from theatre roles in Belfast Art's and Lyric Theatres to London's Royal Court, including the Moscow Arts Theatre and the National Theatre of Belarus in Minsk. In Russia, BJ was the only European actor to be invited to play with an all Russian cast in the Russian stage play, Threshold, in Moscow Arts Theatre and The National ByloRussian State Theatre (Yanka Kupala) Minsk. Directed by Shivaun O'Casey, he played Corporal Brennan in major US and Irish tours of her father Sean's play "The Plough and the Stars." Starring in numerous television series, he became a household name and face in the comic role of "Big Mervyn" in the long-running BBC NI comedy series "Give My Head Peace," aired across the UK and Ireland. BJ, passionate about his native Northern Ireland, successfully based his career from his home territory, playing in movies internationally and indeed closer to home. BJ co-starred with Tim Robbins and Bill Murray in City Of Ember, and appeared in Richard Attenborough's Closing The Ring and Steve McQueen's acclaimed Cannes 2008 award winning Hunger. He worked extensively when he can in the theatre, and had the principle role, Robert, in the inaugural tour of the huge new musical On Eagles Wing, which had major European and US tours and then Broadway in 2010. BJ worked extensively with acclaimed directors including Richard Attenborough, Jim Sheridan, Thaddeus O'Sullivan, Mike Leigh and Alan Pakula. Turning to directing himself, he helmed the UK documentary Richard Attenborough: Master At Work. As a writer, BJ's second screenplay Promises, Promises, which he also directed, was filmed in the UK, with Ed Burns, Claire Forlani and Rosemary Harris. Integrally involved in the production of 'Dance Lexi Dance', he also played the eponymous 'Lexi Hamilton' in the Oscar-nominated short film 'Dance Lexi Dance,' which won several awards, including Special Jury award at the Aspen film festival.