[1][2] Donaghy's stage roles include Jesus Christ in The Nativity/The Passion (1980) and Clytemnestra in The Oresteia (1981–1982), Sir Lucius O'Trigger in The Rivals (1983–1984), Napoleon in Animal Farm (1986–1987), Creon in The Oedipus Cycle (1996), Aslaksen in An Enemy of the People (1998), Dr. Sartorius in Widowers' Houses (2000), Dr. Todt/Rabbi Geis in Albert Speer (2000), and Weinand in Luther (2001) at the National Theatre.
With the Royal Shakespeare Company he played Mr. Freeman in The Plain Dealer (1988–1989), Sir Henry Wildair in The Constant Couple (1988–1989), Mr. Medley in The Man of Mode (1988–1989), and Raymond in Hess is Dead (1989) at the Almeida Theatre.
[2] In 1984 he played the lead role in the BBC production of The Invisible Man His television roles include Shaun Burns/Sid in Z-Cars (1971–1973), PC Hartley/Prison Officer Robinson in Softly, Softly: Task Force (1972–1973), Store manager/Policeman in Scene (1972 and 1978), Maxie/ Bill Bailey/Man in car in Play for Today (1977–1981), PC Ted Palmer in Juliet Bravo (1982), Frank Breakspear/Bernard Crabtree in Crown Court (1982–1984), and Brian in One by One (1984).
[1] Donaghy played the lead role in The Invisible Man (1984), Richard Lister in Screen Two (1985), Job Trotter in The Pickwick Papers (1985), Monks in Oliver Twist (1985), the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland (1986), Jack Whitly in The Campbells (1988), Sir Walter Pistol in T-Bag and the Rings of Olympus (1991), Marcellin in Maigret (1992), Tom Peterlee in The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1992), Neville in Boon (1992), Don Nicols in Between the Lines (1992), Geoff Welland in Peak Practice (1995), Len Sheldon in Prime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness (1995), Eddie Baines in Coronation Street (1996),[6] Det.
Wilf Brooks in This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper (2000), Victor Murch in Holby City (2007), Jack Colby in Midsomer Murders (2007), Jim Mayer/Pat Brown in Casualty (1995 and 2011), and Cyril Richardson in Foyle's War (2015).