Brian Friel dies at 86; 'Irish Chekhov' won Tony for 'Dancing at Lughnasa' - Los Angeles Times

Brian Friel was never a household name, but within the theater world, and especially among Irish actors, the playwright was a beloved figure whose poetically loquacious dramas provided juicy roles and plum character parts for many notable performers, including a young Liam Neeson and Stephen Rea.

Friel, whose death at 86 was announced Friday by Ireland's Arts Council, was often referred to as the Irish Chekhov, a label that spoke to his gift for capturing the messy, often humorous foibles of family life.

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