[1] Born in 1948 in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland, Murphy began his career on stage with the Glasgow Citizens Theatre, and went on to have a long association with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he was an Associate Artist, appearing in many productions, including playing Hal in Henry IV, which opened the Barbican Theatre.
He branched out into television work with roles in Z-Cars, Doctor Who, Minder, Heartbeat, Father Ted, Dalziel and Pascoe and The Bill.
His film roles include the pirate and spy "The Nord" in Waterworld, and as the corrupt High Court Judge Faden in Batman Begins.
Onstage, Murphy portrayed Hector in Alan Bennett's The History Boys, a role previously played by Richard Griffiths, in a national tour co-produced by the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Theatre Royal, Bath and directed by Christopher Luscombe.
[3] His final Shakespearean lead, having played so many, was King Lear in a production by Ireland's Second Age Theatre, which opened at the Wexford Opera House, directed by Donnacadh O'Briain.