Terry O' Quinn, aged 54, portrays the mysterious character Locke on Lost. He is Irish-American, and was born and raised in Michigan. He attended Michigan University and the University of Iowa, and has been in the acting business for over 30 years.
O' Quinn has starred in such films as The Stepfather and Tombstone, as well as appearing in popular tv shows such as Miami Vice and Star Trek: The Next Generation. AFter appearing recurrantly in Alias, J.J. Abrams already had knowledge of his acting skills. He was asked by Abrams to take part in Lost, and was one of few actors who wasn't made to audition for a role.
O' Quinn's family includes his wife, Lori, and two children, Oliver (who is 23) and Hunter (who is 21). Previously living in Maryland, they moved to Hawaii to be closer to set when production of Lost began. O' Quinn was originally named Terry Quinn; he changed his name to prevent confusion between himself and an already established actor, also named Terry Quinn.
In his role as John Locke, O' Quinn plays the character in a similar way to other characters he has played, such as his role in The Stepfather. Locke is a quiet, mysterious character, who'd beliefs lead him more than his head. Locke's faith in (and sometimes lack thereof) the island has led him into dangerous situations many times. It is possible that the anger displayed in these situations could be attributed to the rocky relationship he had with his father, a con man.
