Pierce Brosnan's James Bond Movies
Born: May 16, 1953 in County Meath, Ireland.
Pierce Brosnan took the helm of the Bond series in GoldenEye which catapulted 007 back to the top of the box office after a six-year hiatus from the public.
Brosnan moved to London as a teenager. He attended drama school and later starred in British theater productions such productions as Zeffirelli's "Filumena," and "Wait Until Dark."
Brosnan got his first break in the 1981 mini-series “The Manions of America,” a mini-series about – of all things – a poor Irish family that rises to power in America. Following this, Brosnan got the part of Remington Steele in the prime-time TV show of the same name. The show ran for five years and earned respectable ratings, but ironically, it was the success of this show that kept Brosnan away from Bond for a decade.
Back in 1981, Brosnan visited his wife, Cassandra Harris, on the set of For Your Eyes Only (she played Countess Lisl). Cubby Broccoli noticed him and thought he’d be great for the part of Bond one day. In 1986, Remington Steele went on hiatus and was due to be cancelled. Cubby immediately signed Brosnan to play Bond in The Living Daylights. But with all the publicity the announcement produced, Remington Steele's ratings pulled the series back from hiatus and the show's producers opted to sign Brosnan for a few more episodes. Brosnan was contractually obligated to Remington, so he was forced to give up the role. Timothy Dalton stepped in.
After Remington Steele finally ended in 1987, Brosnan cut back on filming when his wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Cassandra Harris Brosnan died on December 29, 1991, leaving two children from her first marriage and a third from her marriage with Pierce. Since her death, Brosnan has lent his support to several different cancer charities.
In the early '90s, Brosnan forged a career on the big screen with appearances in films like The Lawnmower Man, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Love Affair. Then, in 1994, when Dalton announced his desire to leave the role, Brosnan was waiting it the wings. He was named as James Bond shortly after, and filming for GoldenEye began early in 1995.
Brosnan’s portrayal of Bond in his first film was greeted by critics with a nearly unanimous comment: 'He’s the best Bond since Sean Connery.' 'His interpretation is pure cinema: impossible good looks, utterly unflappable demeanor, and a witty line for any occasion.' With this, he defined Bond for a generation of fans too young to have seen Connery play the part.
Brosnan has been active in other films while playing 007. Between his three Bond films, Brosnan has starred in almost a dozen productions, including Dante’s Peak, The Mirror Has Two Faces, and a very Bond-like remake of The Thomas Crown Affair.
Brosnan lives in Malibu, California with his fiance Keely Shaye Smith, with whom he recently had a child.
