Fred O'Donovan

Fred O'Donovan
Born	1929 Fairview, Dublin, Ireland
Died	14 May 2010 age 80
Spouse(s)	Sally

Fred O'Donovan (1930 – 14 May 2010) was an Irish theatre producer and businessman. He worked and associated with, Seán O'Casey, George Bernard Shaw, Peter O'Toole, Maureen Potter and Siobhán McKenna, amongst others.

O'Donovan served as Chairman of the RTÉ Authority between 1981 and 1985. He was a co-founder of the Irish Cancer Society with Austin Darragh, an achievement he expressed his fondness for before he died.

O'Donovan was born in Fairview, Dublin. In 1948 he was working for the Royal Air Force when he caught tuberculosis and was told by Swiss medical professionals that he would be dead within the year. He survived. Whilst working with the RAF he developed his first taste for showbiz after producing a Paul Robeson show at Long Kesh, intended to entertain the military personnel. "It made me realise what a wonderful business it was", he later recalled.

Back in Ireland, he took up jobs in radio and theatre, beginning his new career as an assistant stage manager in the theatre, a position he described as "the lowest form of life". Whilst working on a 1955 production of The Bishop's Bonfire he commenced a close personal relationship with Seán O'Casey over the telephone, recalling in later life that "I learned more from O'Casey on the phone than anybody". O'Donovan embarked on a trip to London to meet George Bernard Shaw with the intention of having his royalty fee decreased; he was refused. He produced The Ed Sullivan Show when it visited Ireland, insisting on the use of Irish artists, including Maureen Potter, who received a career boost from the experience.

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