Dermot Mulroney Enthrals Audience With Enchanting Solo Cello Performance Of ‘The Swan’

Apr 25, 2023 by apost team

Dermot Mulroney is known for his exceptional talent and versatile range in the entertainment industry. He was born on Oct. 31, 1963, in Alexandria, Virginia, in a family of five siblings, with his father having Irish roots and his mother being of German descent.

Mulroney's interest in acting began during his childhood days when he performed in school plays and local theater productions. After completing high school, Mulroney moved to Chicago to study at the Northwestern University School of Communication. While at Northwestern, he continued to perform in plays and also studied music.

Mulroney went on to make his mark in Hollywood with his excellent acting skills and handsome looks and became a sought-after actor. Among his early films are "Young Guns" and "Angels In The Outfield." Other notable roles include his portrayal of the romantic interest in the hit romantic comedy "My Best Friend's Wedding" alongside Julia Roberts, a charming pianist in "About Schmidt" and a detective in 2023's "Scream VI."

Mulroney's acting career spans over three decades, and he has worked with some of the most renowned directors and actors in Hollywood. He has been nominated for several awards for his performances, including a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his part in "August: Osage County."

Mulroney's personal life has been kept out of the public eye for the most part. He was married to actress Catherine Keener from 1990 to 2007, and the couple has one son together. Mulroney later married Tharita Cesaroni-Catullè, a producer and director, in 2008, and they have two daughters.

However, what many don't know is that Mulroney is also a classically trained cellist, whom you may even have heard play in movie soundtracks without even realizing it!

Apart from acting, Mulroney is also a talented musician. He is a skilled cellist and has played the instrument since he was a child. In 1996, he released an album with the band he was a part of called the Low and Sweet Orchestra, which had a cult following in Los Angeles.  

Mulroney's dedication to both music and acting has led to several projects that combine both talents. He played the cello in the 2012 comedy-drama film "Stoker" directed by Park Chan-wook. He also played a cellist in the series "Mozart in the Jungle."

Mulroney has also put his skills to good use behind the scenes and was part of the orchestra that recorded the soundtrack for films such as "Mission: Impossible III," "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" and "Star Trek Into Darkness." Mulroney often collaborates with renowned film composer Michael Giacchino, such as for the score for movies such as "Spiderman: Homecoming." Giacchino told Cinemablend:

"He's an amazing guy. I met him on 'The Family Stone,' he's an incredible player, and I was like, 'You play cello. Can you read music?' He goes, 'Yeah,' and I was like, 'Alright, come in. Play on 'Mission: Impossible III,' and he did. … If he's in town, whenever we're recording, he's always in on the session. He plays on almost everything, you know, as long as he's not working on some film somewhere."

Giacchino even shared a clip of Mulroney playing the cello during a film score recording session for "The Incredibles 2" soundtrack. He captioned the post:

"When I met Dermot Mulroney on 'The Family Stone in 2005, he said he played the cello – years later he still sits on my sessions when he is available. From Incredibles 2 in 2018."

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Another clip that showed off Mulroney's incredible skills is one of the accomplished star performing a solo on the cello. The piece he performed was called "The Swan" from "The Carnival of the Animals" by 19th-century French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. The clip was taken from Mulroney's special appearance at the 33rd Annual Citizens Bank Pops by the Sea Concert on the Hyannis Village Green in Massachusetts in August 2018. Mulroney played with the prolific Boston Pops Orchestra and thrilled fans with his stunning artistry. 

"Wow...like I need another reason to love him even more 😂 Performing with Boston Pops is no joke!" one amazed fan wrote, while another said, "Wow... just beautifully played!! I had no idea he was just an accomplished musician!"

In January 2016, Mulroney revealed to Today he, too, is sometimes taken aback by his unexpected talent. 

"I'm an expert cellist. It's one of the most bizarre things you can think of," he remarked. He added:

"It's taken me 45 years to be cool with the cello... It's hard, carrying that thing around on the school bus... But now, I'm on the Today show, now it's cool."

It appears that, if ever in the unlikely event Mulroney's star fades on the big screen, he'll always have music to fall back on. Although Giacchino is of the belief acting isn't necessarily Mulroney's first love. He explained:

"Honestly, I think if he had his choice, he would rather do that than the whole acting gig. He loves music so much, and he's really in it, and he's really a beautiful player; along with being one of the best humans you've ever met. He's just such a good guy. I love him."

Did you know about Dermot Mulroney's talent for the cello? Don't you think he plays beautifully? If so, be sure to pass this along to friends and family so they can enjoy his performances, too.