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Vincent O'Neill, professor emeritus in the Department of Theatre and Dance, College of Arts and Sciences, died June 17 at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center after a lengthy illness, surrounded by family and friends. He was 75.

A former chair of theatre and dance and co-founder of Buffalo’s Irish Classical Theatre Company, O’Neill was a leading light in Buffalo's theater community. He is being remembered not only as a masterful actor and mime, but as a visionary director and a trusted colleague. He was a deeply beloved teacher and mentor.

“Vincent was an uncommonly gifted artist and a visionary champion of the arts whose devotion to theater had a profound impact on our university community and the cultural fabric of our city. He was also a wonderful friend who will be deeply missed,” says President Satish K. Tripathi. 

“Generations of UB students benefitted from his skillful teaching and supportive mentorship as he inspired them to take creative risks, extend themselves outside their comfort zone and explore the transcendent power of the performing arts.

“Like many of the characters he inhabited, Vincent was larger than life, and I, along with all of us at UB who were fortunate to have known him, worked with him or been touched by his artistry, mourn his passing.”

O’Neill’s career began to blossom while an honors graduate of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin in his native Ireland. He trained at the Abbey Theatre School of Acting and under the legendary mime Marcel Marceau in Paris.

O’Neill first landed in Buffalo in 1985 with his older brother, Chris, to perform Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot.” The siblings found a love for Buffalo and co‑founded the Irish Classical Theatre Company (ICTC) in 1989, which quickly became a cornerstone of Buffalo’s performing arts scene. For more than 30 years, his artistic leadership shaped ICTC’s mission: to bring contemporary and classical theatre — especially Irish works — to Western New York audiences. Under O’Neill’s direction, ICTC mounted 67 unforgettable performances across more than 30 productions.

His tenure at UB began in 1990 as director of theatre performance in the Department of Theatre and Dance. In January 2001, he was appointed department chair. The dual appointment recognized his unique ability to unite rigorous academic standards with real‑world, artistic practice — enhancing opportunities for students and enriching the arts both on campus and in the city.

O’Neill's presence on campus was transformative. For two decades, he guided UB’s students in acting, directing and design, leaving an indelible mark on the campus community.

“He had a rare gift for recognizing and nurturing talent,” says Lynne Koscielniak, professor and associate chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. “His legacy lives on in the many theater practitioners he inspired — many of whom are now leaders in the arts across Western New York. Vincent will be profoundly missed, but his spirit endures in the artistry of those he taught, the productions he shaped and the vibrant community he helped build.”

Among his many accolades, O’Neill won Artie Awards as an actor, director and playwright, and for career achievement, as well as being named the Buffalo News’ outstanding citizen in 2015. In 2022, O’Neill was honored as the Buffalo Theatre District’s Plaza of Stars inductee for his work as co-founder and artistic director emeritus of ICTC. O’Neill’s star was officially unveiled in a special ceremony in the Plaza of Stars at Main and West Tupper streets in downtown Buffalo.

On Broadway, dimming the lights is a time-honored tradition used to honor those who have made profound contributions to the world of theater. UB’s Center for the Arts dimmed the skylights on June 23 in recognition of O’Neill’s enduring legacy and many contributions to the theater arts and the university community. The atrium lights were lit in UB colors to acknowledge his years in teaching and academic leadership.

Funeral arrangements will be announced.