Aidan Gillen is an Irish actor who became internationally recognized for portraying the role of Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish in the HBO series Game of Thrones and Tommy Carcetti in HBO’s The Wire.
He first gained recognition for playing Stuart Alan Jones in the Channel 4 series Queer as Folk and went on to star as John Boy in the RTÉ series Love/Hate. In films, he played CIA Agent Bill Wilson in The Dark Knight Rises, Janson in the Maze Runner film series, and John Reid in Bohemian Rhapsody. As of 2025, Aidan Gillen has a net worth of $8 million. So, who is Aidan Gillen? Here’s everything you need to know about the actor.
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Aidan Gillen Biography
Aidan Gillen was born on the 24th of April 1968, in Dublin, Ireland. He’s currently 57 years old.
Birth Name | Aidan Murphy |
Nickname | Aidan Gillen |
Date of Birth | 24 April 1968 |
Place of Birth | Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland |
Age | 57 |
Sun Sign | Taurus |
Profession | Actor |
Nationality | Irish |
Ethnicity | White |
Marital Status | Divorced, but presently in a relationship |
Spouse | Olivia O’Flanagan (Ex) |
Partner | Camille O’Sullivan |
Children | 2 |
Family Background
Aidan Gillen was born and raised in a middle-class Irish Catholic family. His father worked as an architect, and his mother was a nurse. He has five older siblings, including his sister Fionnuala Murphy, an actress, John Paul Murphy, a playwright, and Patricia Murphy, a teacher.
Education
Aidan attended St. Vincent’s C.B.S., a Christian Brothers School in Dublin. He developed a passion for theater and joined local youth drama groups and was involved with the Dublin Youth Theatre, where he honed his acting skills.
Aidan Gillen Wife
Aidan Gillen married Olivia O’Flanagan in 2001. Together, they have two children, Betty and Joe. The couple separated in 2014.
He’s currently in a relationship with singer Camille O’Sullivan.
Physical Statistics
Height | Feet – 5 feet 9 inches Centimeters – 175 cm Meters – 1.75 m |
Weight | Kilograms – 68 kg Pounds – 150 lbs |
Body Build | Athletic |
Eye Color | Blue |
Hair Color | Black |
Sexuality | Straight |
Career Overview
Aidan Gillen’s career began on stage and with guest roles in television. He made his on-screen debut in 1987 with the film The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, where he played the role of a youth at a liquor store. He was credited as Aidan Murphy in the film.
His first major breakout role was as Alan Jones in Queer as Folk (1999–2000), where he portrayed a bold and charismatic character on Channel 4. The role earned him widespread recognition and critical acclaim.
He gained global fame for playing Tommy Carcetti, a rising politician in HBO’s The Wire (2004–2008), one of the most acclaimed TV shows in history. Aidan reached a new level of international stardom as Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish in Game of Thrones (2011–2017). His portrayal of the cunning, manipulative nobleman became one of the show’s most memorable performances.
Some of his critically acclaimed performances include Milo Sunter alongside Jeremy Renner and Emma Laird in Mayor of Kingstown (2021–2024), Frank Kinsella in Kin (2021–2023) opposite Charlie Cox and Clare Dunne, J. Allen Hynek in Project Blue Book (2019–2020), and Aberama Gold in Peaky Blinders (2017–2019).
In addition to television, Gillen has appeared in several notable films, including The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Calvary (2014), Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Maze Runner film series, and London Calling (2024).
Favorite Things
- Movies – Jaws (1975), Taxi Driver (1976), The Exorcist (1973), The Wicker Man (1973), Badlands (1973), Performance (1970), Scarecrow (1973), Day for Night (1973)
- Music Artist – Sun Kil Moon (aka Mark Kozelek)
- Book – The Bandini Quartet by John Fante
- Word – Unhalfbricking
- Greatest Fear – Tickled to death by large spiders
- Guiltiest Pleasure – Too Shy (By Kajagoogoo)
Aidan Gillen’s Net Worth
As of 2025, Aidan Gillen has a net worth of $8 million, which he has earned through a successful career in television, film, theater, and voice work.
Facts
Aidan began his acting career as a teenager with the Dublin Youth Theatre, where he played Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Project Arts Centre.
He moved to London at the age of 18 to pursue his acting career.
His first breakout role was in Channel 4 television series Queer as Folk, for which he received a British Academy Television Award nomination for Best Actor.
He won his first Irish Film & Television Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role in Television for his role as Tommy Carcetti in the acclaimed HBO series The Wire.
He has won a total of three Irish Film & Television Awards throughout his acting career.
Besides acting, Gillen has narrated a handful of audiobooks, including Roddy Doyle’s ‘The Barrytown Trilogy: The Commitments’.
He has appeared in several short films, including ‘The Drip’, ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘The Second Death’, ‘Burning the Bed’, ‘The Note’, and ‘Ambition’.
FAQs
Who is Aidan Gillen?
Aidan Gillen is an Irish actor best known for his roles as Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish in Game of Thrones and Tommy Carcetti in HBO’s The Wire.
What is Aidan Gillen’s real name?
Aidan Gillen was born Aidan Murphy.
How old is Aidan Gillen?
Aidan Gillen is 57 years old as of 2025.
Is Aidan Gillen married?
Aidan Gillen was previously married to Olivia O’Flanagan, with whom he has two children. The couple separated in the mid-2010s. He has since been linked to Irish singer Camille O’Sullivan.
What is Aidan Gillen’s net worth?
Aidan Gillen’s net worth is estimated at around $8 million.