Pierce Brosnan

Profile

Name:Pierce Brosnan

Birth Name: Pierce Brendan Brosnan
Height: 6' 1''
Sex: M
Nationality: Irish
Birth Date: May 16, 1953
Birth Place: Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
Profession: Actor, Producer
Education: The Drama Centre, London (majored in Acting)
Husband/Wife: Keely Shaye Smith (former model, TV reporter; b. September 25, 1964; engaged October 1999; married August 4, 2001), Cassandra Harris (actress; b. 15 December 1952; married 1977; died in 1991 at age 39, after a 4-year battle with ovarian cancer)
Relationship: Philip Smith
Father: Thomas Brosnan
Mother: May (nurse)

Grand Father: Kathleen Smith

Step Father: Bill Carmichael
Son: Dylan Thomas (born on January 13, 1997; mother: Keely Shaye Smith), Sean William (born in 1984; mother: Cassandra Harris)
Step son: Christopher Harris (born in 1973; mother: Cassandra Harris; father: Dermot Harris)
Step daughter: Charlotte Harris (born in 1972; mother: Cassandra Harris; father: Dermot Harris)
Claim to fame: As Remington Steele in TV series: Remington Steele (1982)

Biography

Pierce Brosnan, known much better as 007 or James Bond, was born in Navan, County Meath, Ireland on May 16, 1953. His father, Thomas Brosnan, left him and his mother so lived with his grandparents until he was 11 years old, when he was reunited with his mother in England. Here Brosnan experienced something that would change his life he saw his first movie, a James Bond film, Goldfinger. Brosnan's reunion with his mother was short lived. He dropped out of school at 15 to start his life. He tried his luck as a fire-eater, then trained as a commercial illustrator, and finally an actor. He studied for three years at the Drama Center of London. Once trained he went on to work behind the scenes in various productions and then to triumph on the London stage, most notably in Filumena and Tennessee William's The Red Devil Battery Sign. In 1981, Brosnan got his big break: starring in the miniseries The Manions of America. Even though the movie didn't earn big reviews, it was a hit in America. In 1981, Brosnan packed up and headed to the US, where he had heard about auditions for detective-drama TV series. He quickly won the role, and was cast as the title character in NBC's Remington Steele. The series became a hit and Brosnan a star. During its fourth season, ratings for the show dropped. NBC canceled the show, only to renew it when he was offered the much-coveted role of James Bond, killing Brosnan's chances at playing one of the most famous secret agents. Six episodes later the series was cancelled yet again, but the actor's chances to play Bond had already been shot. As Brosnan pursued a career in movies, first with Nomad's in 1986 and then 1987's the Fourth Protocol, his first Bond film, GoldenEye, grossed over $350 million worldwide, more than any other Bond film to that point. His 2nd Bond film, 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies, grossed more money in the US than GoldenEye. Together, his first 4 Bond films have grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide. Aside from the Bond and Steele roles, Pierce has had a varied and extensive film and TV career, playing roles ranging from archeologists to assassins, from Chris Columbus' comedies to Merchant Ivory's costume dramas. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1984 for his portrayal of Robert Gould Shaw in the BBC/Masterpiece Theatre production of Nancy Astor. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 1997 (star #2099), which can be found at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. In his spare time, he is an painter. He has 3 children with Cassandra (his 1st wife, a "Bond girl" herself), Sean (b. 1983) and stepchildren Charlotte (b. 1971) and Christopher (b. 1972); and 2 sons, Dylan Thomas (b. 1997) and Paris Beckett (b. 2001), with his 2nd wife, former TV correspondent/soap actress Keely Shaye Smith, whom he married in August 2001. He has also been active in cancer fund-raising and supporting environmental causes. He was awarded an honorary OBE by the British government for his film and charitable work in July 2003.

Filmography

2008 The Big Biazarro Actor / Producer

2008 Mamma Mia! Actor: Sam
2007 Butterfly on Wheel Actor / Executive Producer
2007 In Bloom Actor
2007 Marriage Actor: Richard
2006 Seraphim Falls Actor: Gideon
2006 The 2006 FIFA World Cup Film: The Grand Finale Actor: Narrator
2005 The Matador Producer / Actor: Julian Noble
2005 Instant karma Actor
2004 Laws of Attraction Actor: Daniel Rafferty / Executive Producer
2004 After the Sunset Actor: Max Burdett
2003 The Dream (American Ballet Theatre) Actor: Host
2003 Banylon: City of the Magi Actor: Narrator
2002 Die Another Day Actor: James Bond, Agent 007
2002 Evelyn Actor: Desmond Doyle / Producer
2001 The Directors: Barbra Steisand Actor
2001 The Tailor of Panama Actor: Andy Osnard
2000 Dolphins Actor: Narrator
1999 The World is Not Enough Actor: James Bond
1999 The Thomas Crown Affair Actor: Thomas Crown / Producer
1999 Grey Owl Actor: Archibald Belaney/Grey Owl
1998 Quest For Camelot Actor: King Arthur
1998 The Nephew Actor: Joe Brady / Producer
1998 The Match Actor / Executive Producer
1997 Dante's Peak Actor: Harry Dalton
1997 The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson Actor: Himself
1997 Tomorrow Never Dies Actor: James Bond
1996 Mars Attacks! Actor: Donald Kessler
1996 The Mirror Has Two Faces Actor: Alex
1996 Robinson Crusoe Actor: Robinson Crusoe
1995 Detonator II: Night Watch Actor: Mike Graham
1995 Golden Eye Actor: James Bond
1995 Nightwatch Actor: Mike Graham
1994 The Broken Chain Actor: Sir William Johnson
1994 Love Affair Actor: Ken Allen
1994 Don't Talk to Strangers Actor
1993 Detonator Actor: Mike Graham
1993 Mrs. Doubtfire Actor: Stu
1993 Entangled Actor: Garavan
1992 The Lawnmower Man Actor: Dr. Lawrence Angelo
1992 Live Wire Actor: Danny O'Neill
1991 Great Golf Course of the World: Ireland Actor
1991 Mister Johnson Actor: Harry Rudbeck
1991 Murder 101 Actor: Charles Lattimore
1991 Victim of Love Actor: Paul Tomlinson
1990 Happy Birthday, Bugs: 50 Looney Years Actor
1988 James Clavell's Noble House Actor: Ian Dunross
1988 The Heist Actor: Neil Skinner
1988 The Deceivers Actor: William Savage
1988 Taffin Actor: Mark Taffin
1987 The Fourth Protocol Actor: Maj. Valeri Petrofsky
1986 Nomads Actor: Pommier
1982 Nancy Astor Actor
1981 The Manions of America Actor
1981 The Carpathain Eagle Actor
1980 The Mirror Crack'd Actor: An actor
1980 The Long Good Friday Actor: 1st Irishman

Awards

Chicago International Film Festival

Year : 2002

Category : Career Achievement Award

Won

Women in Film Crystal Awards

Year : 2001

Category : Humanitarian Award

Won

Blockbuster Entertainment Award

Year : 2000

Category : Favorite Actor - Action

For : The World Is Not Enough

Won

Saturn Award

Year : 1998

Category : Best ActorFor : Tomorrow Never Dies

Won

Blockbuster Entertainment Award

Category : Favorite Actor - Drama/Romance

For : The Thomas Crown Affair

Won

Trivia

Is in final negotiations to join Meryl Streep in the movie version of the popular ABBA musical MAMMA MIA! (March 8, 2007)

Brosnan and other celebrities protested plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal off the coast of Southern California. (September 15, 2006)

Criticized US President George W Bush for the way he has handled the Hurricane Katrina disaster in America's Deep South. (September 5, 2005)

Said he was told that he would no longer play James Bond with a single phone call. (August 18, 2005)

Admitted he had a feud Teri Hatcher on the set of TOMORROW NEVER DIES because, he claimed, she kept him waiting for hours.

Was dropped from playing James Bond because he demanded $42 million to reprise his role as the superspy for a fifth time. (February 17, 2005)

His secret passion is painting. Now he is selling his artwork to raise money for his favorite charities. Most of his works were designed as presents for his wife, Keely Shaye Smith, on Valentine’s Day or at Christmas. (November 30, 2004)

Was so riddled with doubts over the script for AFTER THE SUNSET, he lost faith in the movie days before cameras were due to roll. (2004)

Was awarded a grey Aston Martin Vanquish as a gift for starring in an advertising campaign for Aston Martin riding on the back of DIE ANOTHER DAY. (2004)

Entered show business as a teen runaway, working with the circus as a fire eater.

Would like to see Keira Knightley or Monica Bellucci the role of next Bond girl. (March 23, 2004)

Won control of the Internet name www.piercebrosnan.com in a ruling by a United Nations panel -- Arbitrators from the World Intellectual Property Organization ordered the transfer of the domain name to the actor, who had complained that it was being used illegally. (September 2, 2003)

An honorary OBE or officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Asked who he would like to see as the next James Bond, he mentions Colin Salmon, who plays Robinson in the Bond movies – he thinks Salmon is a great actor. (December 28, 2002)

South Korea's largest Buddhist order protested Brosnan’s James Bond movie DIE ANOTHER DAY as profaning the ancient religion and inciting inter-Korean conflict -- in the movie, Bond is up against an evil North Korean officer, Col. Moon, feared to be planning an invasion of South Korea and then Japan. (December 19, 2002)

North Korea attacks Brosnan’s movie -- in a challenge to Hollywood, North Korea's Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland called on the United States to stop screening DIE ANOTHER DAY, saying the 20th James Bond feature proves that the United States is an empire of evil and the headquarters that spreads abnormality, degeneration, violence and corrupt sex culture. (December 16, 2002)

The premiere of DIE ANOTHER DAY was attended by Queen Elizabeth who wanted to see her most famous secret agent James Bond celebrate 40 years as the silver screen's top spy. (November 19, 2002)

Unintentionally offended co-star Madonna on the set of new Bond movie DIE ANOTHER DAY by singing her breakthrough pop hit Like A Virgin – Madonna thought Brosnan was pulling her chain. (November 15, 2002)

Ddmitted he learned how to play James Bond by watching the original screen spy hero -- Sean Connery. (October 25, 2002)

He admits that the opportunity to film a love scene with Halle Berry in DIE ANOTHER DAY wasn't as great as most men would envision it to be. He says that the idea of stripping down with Halle was highly appealing - until it was put to practice.

Brosnan scored high marks with viewers in the role of the sophisticated super sleuth Remington Steele, and it wasn't long before critics began touting Brosnan as the Bond apparent.

Brosnan was chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. (1996)

Brosnan was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. (1991)

He purchased the typewriter of the James Bond creator, Ian Fleming, for £52,800.

The very first film he claims to have seen is the 007 movie GOLDFINGER (1964).

Was considered for the lead role in BATMAN (1989).

Brosnan was voted Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine in 2001.

Brosnan was a member of the International Fund For Animal Welfare

Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith prepared for their marriage by meditating together at a monument to Brosnan's late wife Cassandra.

Although it is alleged that his contract to play James Bond specifically prohibited him from appearing in other movies wearing a tuxedo, he nevertheless appears in a tuxedo in THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES, which followed Brosnan's first James Bond appearance in GOLDENEYE by more than a year.

He was the hot favorite to replace Roger Moore in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1987) but was ruled out because of his contractual obligations to REMINGTON STEELE (1982). 'Neill, Sam' was also considered.

His first appearance as James Bond was featured in GOLDENEYE (1995).

In THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, when Crown sees Catherine off after they meet at the museum (when he donates the painting) he gives the limo two taps on the hood to signal the driver. This was Pierce Brosnan's trademark sendoff to 'Fred' (Blake Clark) the driver in his breakthrough role, REMINGTON STEELE (1982)

On the airplane scene in THE TAILOR OF PANAMA (2001), Osnard scrolls down a list of names on his computer. Pierce Brosnan is among the listed names.

There are rumors that Pierce Brosnan wanted Brett Ratner, the director of RUSH HOUR 2, to direct DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002). However, Lee Tamahori was hired.

Brosnan has mentioned that he would like to make two more Bond films after DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002).

Nominated for Best Fight at MTV Movie Awards for Goldeneye (1996) - shared with Famke Janssen

Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV at Golden Globe Awards for NANCY ASTOR (1985)