Tom Kerrisk

Birthplace

County Clare, Ireland

Biography

Tom Kerrisk is an award-winning Irish actor from County Clare in southwest Ireland, known for his method acting approach and physically transformative performances. He gained widespread attention for his portrayal of Éamon in An Taibhse (The Ghost)—the first-ever Irish-language horror film—directed by John Farrelly. This role earned Kerrisk a Best Actor Award at the 2025 South African Horror Film Festival following the film’s sold-out premiere at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square. Before An Taibhse, Kerrisk received critical acclaim for his role as Christopher Sampson in the psychological thriller The Sleep Experiment (2022). That performance won him a Best Actor Award at the LA Crime & Horror Film Festival and further solidified his reputation in genre cinema. In addition to his on-screen work, Kerrisk served as Executive Producer on both An Taibhse and The Sleep Experiment, showcasing his creative range behind the camera. Kerrisk’s diverse filmography includes The Lost Jedi (2022), where he portrayed Jedi Master Hikomori, and A Hollow Tree (2023), a post-apocalyptic thriller directed by Cathal Fitzpatrick. His other screen credits feature The House That Was Not (2024), Pooka (2023), Antlers (2022), and A Walk on the Beach (2022). On television, he has appeared in Podge and Rodge: A Scare at Bedtime (1997) and the Hallmark movie Christmas at Castle Hart (2021). Outside of acting, Kerrisk is an accomplished musician, having co-composed the soundtracks for An Taibhse and The Sleep Experiment alongside collaborator Ally Donald. He is the founding member of Daft Pop, a high-energy musical act, and previously released original music with Mystic Tears, a three-piece cosmic rock band. Earlier in his career, he founded and fronted the Irish rock band The Spikes, releasing two critically acclaimed albums—Urges & Purges and Joylist. Kerrisk also produces music videos, explores musical poetry, and writes lyrics for artists working with German music producer Sven Bünger—who signed him following a successful solo venture in Germany—underscoring his wide-ranging versatility.