# Eoin Macken
**Eoin Macken** (born 1983) is an Irish actor, model, director, writer, and producer known for playing Sir Gwaine in the [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) series *Merlin*, Dr. TC Callahan in NBC's *The Night Shift*, and Gavin Harris in NBC's *La Brea*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Dublin, Ireland; grew up in Howth[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken) • [2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html) |
| Full name | Eoin Christopher Macken[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/eoin-macken/bio/3000023560/) |
| Education | Honors degree in psychology, University College Dublin[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/eoin-macken/bio/3000023560/) |
| Breakthrough role | Sir Gwaine in BBC One's *Merlin* (2010–2012)[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken) |
| Leading TV roles | Dr. TC Callahan in *The Night Shift* (2014–2017); Karl D'Branin in *Nightflyers* (2018); Gavin Harris in *La Brea* (2021–2024); Davis Collins in *Ransom Canyon*[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2151126/) |
| Films directed | Christian Blake (2008), Dreaming for You (2009), The Inside (2012), Cold (2013), Here Are the Young Men (2020), Grey Elephant (2022)[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken) |
| Writing | Novel *Kingdom of Scars*, about a young boy growing up in Ireland[5](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/irish-highs) |
## Early life and education
Macken grew up in Howth, County Dublin, the son of a barrister, James Macken, and a nurse, Maeve[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html) • [6](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/09/15/the-talented-eoin-macken-has-come-a-long-way-an-actor-on-the-way-up/). He entered [University College Dublin](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-college-dublin) to study science, moved into psychology, and completed an honors degree[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/eoin-macken/bio/3000023560/) • [6](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/09/15/the-talented-eoin-macken-has-come-a-long-way-an-actor-on-the-way-up/). His acting began by accident in September 2002, when he and a friend, unable to play football through injury, auditioned for the university drama society Dramsoc's production of [Roddy Doyle](https://www.edgepedia.org/roddy-doyle)'s *The Snapper*; he was cast as Bertie[7](https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/the-making-of-macken-1.1194781) • [6](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/09/15/the-talented-eoin-macken-has-come-a-long-way-an-actor-on-the-way-up/).
**Modeling.** The UCD fashion show of 2002 and 2003 led the agent Rebecca Morgan to sign him to Morgan the Agency[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/eoin-macken/bio/3000023560/) • [2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html). Modeling took him to New York and Los Angeles, where he worked with photographers including [Peter Lindbergh](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-lindbergh) and Bruce Weber and appeared alongside the model and actor [Lauren Hutton](https://www.edgepedia.org/lauren-hutton)[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html). In 2003 he was the face of the [Abercrombie & Fitch](https://www.edgepedia.org/abercrombie-and-fitch) campaign, and he also modeled for Ralph Lauren, GQ, and Braun[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html). Through Bruce Weber he met the New York acting coach Nina Murano and completed an eight-week course with her[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html).
## Acting career
His first major film role came in the 2005 feature *Studs*, an adaptation of Paul Mercier's play, alongside [Brendan Gleeson](https://www.edgepedia.org/brendan-gleeson) and Emmett J. Scanlan[5](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/irish-highs) • [2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html). After his father's death from cancer in 2007 he took a break from acting, returning in 2008 to play the drug dealer Gavin Cluxton in RTÉ One's *Fair City*[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html).
**Television.** The breakthrough came as Sir Gwaine, a member of Arthur's Round Table, in BBC One's *Merlin* from 2010 to 2012[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken) • [2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html). *Merlin* led to his casting in NBC's medical drama *The Night Shift* (2014–2017), in which he played Dr. TC Callahan, a US Army medic recently returned from Afghanistan and struggling with PTSD; the series was watched by more than 8.5 million viewers at its peak[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken) • [2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html) • [6](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/09/15/the-talented-eoin-macken-has-come-a-long-way-an-actor-on-the-way-up/). He then led the cast of Syfy/Netflix's *Nightflyers* (2018) as Karl D'Branin, a series from the makers of *Game of Thrones* that was canceled after one season[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken) • [6](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/09/15/the-talented-eoin-macken-has-come-a-long-way-an-actor-on-the-way-up/). He played Gavin Harris in NBC's *La Brea* from 2021 to 2024, a role for which he quarantined in Australia before filming began[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken) • [2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html). He also appeared as [Herod Antipas](https://www.edgepedia.org/herod-antipas) in National Geographic Channel's *Killing Jesus* (2015), had a recurring role in Showtime's *The Tudors*, and played DCI Philip Boyd in MGM+/Roku's *Borderline* (2024)[5](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/irish-highs) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2151126/) • [1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken). He stars as Davis Collins, a ranch owner vying for Quinn's heart, in Netflix's *Ransom Canyon*, alongside [Minka Kelly](https://www.edgepedia.org/minka-kelly) and [Josh Duhamel](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-duhamel)[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2151126/) • [8](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/ransom-canyon-cast/). He is also cast as Teddy Lynch in Prime Video's adaptation of the *Boys of Tommen* books[9](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/boys-of-tommen-prime-video-tv-show/).
**Film.** His film credits include *Centurion* (2010), [Focus Features](https://www.edgepedia.org/focus-features)' horror *The Forest* (2016) with [Natalie Dormer](https://www.edgepedia.org/natalie-dormer), Paul W. S. Anderson's *Resident Evil: The Final Chapter* (2016) with [Milla Jovovich](https://www.edgepedia.org/milla-jovovich), *Close* (2019) with Noomi Rapace, Lee Cronin's *The Hole in the Ground* (2019), which premiered at Sundance, the Netflix thriller *Till Death* (2021) with Megan Fox, *The Cellar* (2022) with Elisha Cuthbert, which premiered at SXSW 2022, and the Netflix film *I Used to Be Famous* (2022) with Ed Skrein[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2151126/).
## Writing and directing
Macken has worked on both sides of the camera, with credits as editor, stills photographer, and cinematographer[6](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/09/15/the-talented-eoin-macken-has-come-a-long-way-an-actor-on-the-way-up/). He learned filmmaking on the job, editing, shooting, and working as a gaffer and sound recordist[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html). His debut feature as writer and director was the psychological thriller *Christian Blake* (2008)[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html). He directed the documentary *The Fashion of Modelling* (2009), a look at the fashion industry featuring designer Helen Cody and agency heads Eddie Shanahan and Rebecca Morgan[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken) • [2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html).
**Cold.** During the making of *Merlin*, he promised fellow actor [Tom Hopper](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-hopper) he would create a role for him; the result was *Cold* (2013), issued in certain markets under the title *Leopard*. Macken both scripted and helmed this picture, which centers on English brothers living as outsiders in a western Irish village, and it stars [Mike Figgis](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-figgis) alongside a young Jack Reynor.[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html) It screened at the Galway Film Fleadh[10](https://entertainment.ie/amp/movies/movie-news/interview-eoin-macken-243468/).
**Here Are the Young Men.** Macken adapted Rob Doyle's 2014 novel *Here Are the Young Men* for the screen and directed it; the coming-of-age story, set in Celtic Tiger era Dublin, premiered to warm reviews at the Galway Film Festival and was released on digital platforms in April 2021[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html). Anya Taylor-Joy appeared in the film[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html).
**Grey Elephant.** In 2022 he completed *Grey Elephant*, a relationship drama about couples separated during the pandemic[6](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/09/15/the-talented-eoin-macken-has-come-a-long-way-an-actor-on-the-way-up/).
## Writing
Macken has published two novels, both coming-of-age stories about young men in Ireland. *Kingdom of Scars*, about a young boy growing up in Ireland, was published in 2014[5](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/irish-highs) • [2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html). A character in *Here Are the Young Men* takes elements from a character in *Kingdom of Scars*[2](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html).
## References
1. [Eoin Macken, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/38712/eoin-macken)
2. [Dónal Lynch (2021). How to make friends, make movies, and make it big in Hollywood… Renaissance man Eoin Macken on his movie career. Irish Independent.](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/how-to-make-friends-make-movies-and-make-it-big-in-hollywood-renaissance-man-eoin-macken-on-his-movie-career/40345433.html)
3. [Eoin Macken Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/eoin-macken/bio/3000023560/)
4. [Eoin Macken, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2151126/)
5. [Hillary Atkin (2015). Irish Highs. Television Academy.](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/irish-highs)
6. [Tara Brady (2022). The talented Eoin Macken has come a long way: an actor on the way up. The Irish Times.](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/09/15/the-talented-eoin-macken-has-come-a-long-way-an-actor-on-the-way-up/)
7. [Deirdre McQuillan (2007). The making of Macken. The Irish Times.](https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/the-making-of-macken-1.1194781)
8. [What to Know About the 'Ransom Canyon' Cast. Marie Claire.](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/ransom-canyon-cast/)
9. [Everything We Know About Prime Video's 'Boys of Tommen' TV Series Adaptation. Marie Claire.](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/boys-of-tommen-prime-video-tv-show/)
10. [Interview: Eoin Macken. entertainment.ie.](https://entertainment.ie/amp/movies/movie-news/interview-eoin-macken-243468/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Irish actors › Surnames G to M*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license