Pierce Brosnan
Just The Facts
Pierce Brendan Brosnan was born in Navan, County Meath, Ireland on May 16, 1953. He moved with his family to London in 1964. Pierce Brosnan entered show business as a teen runaway, working with the circus as a fire eater. He also worked as a cab driver and a commercial artist after leaving school. He gained somewhat more conventional experience as a member of an experimental London theater workshop before making his stage debut in a 1976 production of Wait Until Dark. Pierce studied for 3 years at the Drama Centre in London. Pierce Brosnan's theatrical breakthrough came from playwright Tennessee Williams who chose the handsome young actor to create the role of McCabe in the British premiere of his Red Devil Battery Sign. Pierce appeared in many more stage productions before his film debut, the critically acclaimed Brit gangster flick, The Long Good Friday in 1980.
North American audiences first saw Pierce in the 1981 ABC miniseries The Manions of America. Pierce played Rory O'Manion, an Irish immigrant who makes it big in 19th century America.
In 1982, Pierce Brosnan was cast as the charismatic, adventurous hero of the TV series Remington Steele. He settled with his family in Los Angeles where he worked on Steele, which was quite successful. The series ran for more than 4 seasons and 92 episodes, and it catapulted Brosnan to major stardom in the U.S. During this time, Pierce attempted to seque into feature films. Originally he was unsuccessful, Nomads and The Decievers were poorly recieved. However, he appeared in numerous miniseries and made-for-TV movies, such as Around the World in 80 Days and Noble House.
In 1984 the rumours began that Brosnan would replace Roger Moore as the next James Bond. However, at the last moment, the cancelled Remington Steele was renewed, and Pierce was contractually obligated to continue with Remington Steele, prevented him from accepting the role when it was offered to him in 1986, so the role went to Timothy Dalton.
But fate intervened and Pierce was bound to be Bond. On June 8, 1994, Pierce recieved his license to kill as he was unveiled at a huge press conference in London as the 5th James Bond. His first Bond film - GoldenEye - grossed over $350 million worldwide, more than any other Bond film ever. His 2nd Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies opened at Christmas 1997. His third Bond film, The World Is Not Enough opened November 1999.
In his spare time, he is an accomplished painter. He is also very active in cancer fund-raising and supports several environmental causes.
Film and Television Appearances
Family Life
Pierce married Australian actress Cassandra Harris in 1976. Cassandra was a former "Bond Girl". She portrayed Countess Lisl in For Your Eyes Only. Pierce and Cassandra had 3 children during their 15 year marriage - Charlotte, Christopher, and Sean. Cassandra died an untimely death on December 28, 1991 from ovarian cancer. There is a whale watch memorial dedicated to her in Malibu, California.
Pierce lived with Keely Shaye-Smith, a television correspondent and former "General Hospital" star for several years. Pierce and Keely became first time parents when Keely gave birth to a baby boy in January 1997. Pierce attended and assisted during the birth of his son, Dylan Thomas.
On February 27, 2001 Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith had a boy, Paris Beckett Brosnan. It was the second son for the couple.
Pierce and Keely wed on August 4, 2001. They married in Ballintubber Abbey in Mayo County, Ireland. Pierce and Keely spent the night before the big day in separate suites in plush Ashford Castle, where the reception was later held. Brosnan arrived at the abbey nearly half-an-hour before Keely, who was driven in a vintage car. Several hundred fans and well-wishers gathered outside the abbey to wish the couple well. Police and hired security men controlled the traffic, with no parking allowed in the vicinity of the ancient church.
If any of you Pierce fans out there have any awesome photos of him, I would appreciate you sending them to me. Just go to my main page and E-Mail the photo to me. Thanks, much. The Kat.
In case anyone wants to get in touch with Pierce through one of his two snail mail addresses:
You can also contact Pierce through the Pierce Brosnan International Fan Club:
Membership costs $30. The renewal fees are $15.00 for U.S. and Canada and $20.00 for Foreign. Canada and Foreign are payable in U.S. funds only. (Canandian Postal Money orders, $15.00; U.S. International Money Orders $20.00 U.S.)
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