Pierce Brosnan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pierce Brosnan OBE
Brosnan in 2017
Born	Pierce Brendan Brosnan (1953-05-16) 16 May 1953 (age 72) Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
Citizenship	Ireland United States
Alma mater	Drama Centre London
Occupation	Actor film producer
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	Cassandra Harris ​ ​ (m. 1980; died 1991)​ Keely Shaye Smith ​ (m. 2001)​
Children	5
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Pierce Brendan Brosnan (born 16 May 1953) is an Irish actor and film producer. He is famous for playing the secret agent James Bond in four films from 1995 to 2002. These movies include GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day. He also appeared as James Bond in several video games, like GoldenEye 007.

After school, Brosnan first trained in art. Then, he studied acting in London for three years. He became well-known from the TV show Remington Steele (1982–1987). After that, he starred in movies like Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). After his time as James Bond, Brosnan continued to act in many popular films. These include Dante's Peak (1997), Mamma Mia! (2008), and Black Adam (2022). In Black Adam, he played the superhero Doctor Fate.

Brosnan has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards for his acting. He also co-founded a film production company called Irish DreamTime. Besides acting, he is known for his charity work and for protecting the environment. In 1997, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This was to honor his important work in movies.

Early Life and Education

Pierce Brosnan was born on 16 May 1953 in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. He was the only child of May and Thomas Brosnan. His father left the family when Pierce was a baby. When he was four, his mother moved to London to work as a nurse. Pierce was mostly raised by his grandparents. After they passed away, he lived with other relatives and then in a boarding house. He later said his childhood felt "fairly solitary."

He grew up in a Catholic family and went to a local school. On 12 August 1964, he moved to Scotland to live with his mother and her new husband. His stepfather took him to see his first James Bond film, Goldfinger, when he was 11. Later, they moved back to London. Brosnan felt like an outsider when he first moved to the big city. His nickname at school was "Irish."

At 16, Brosnan left school and wanted to be a painter. He started training in commercial art in London. One day, he saw a fire eater at a workshop and decided to try it. This led him to acting. He then trained for three years at the Drama Centre London. He felt that acting was a "liberation" and helped him find a new path in life.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Roles and TV Fame

After finishing drama school in 1975, Brosnan started working in theater. He made his acting debut in a play called Wait Until Dark. Soon after, a famous playwright, Tennessee Williams, chose him for a role in a play. Brosnan's performance was well-received in London.

He also appeared in a few early films like The Long Good Friday (1980). He became a TV star in the United States with his main role in the miniseries Manions of America (1981). In 1982, he starred in the BBC miniseries Nancy Astor. His role earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination.

In 1982, Brosnan moved to California. He became very popular playing the main character in the detective TV series Remington Steele. The show was a big hit. After Remington Steele ended in 1987, Brosnan appeared in films like The Fourth Protocol (1987) and the comedy Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). In 2003, he received a special award for his contributions to Irish film.

Becoming James Bond

Brosnan at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival

Pierce Brosnan first met the James Bond film producer, Albert R. Broccoli, on the set of For Your Eyes Only in 1981. Brosnan's first wife, Cassandra Harris, was acting in that film. Broccoli thought Brosnan would be a good choice to play Bond after Roger Moore.

In 1986, Brosnan was offered the role of James Bond. However, his TV show Remington Steele was suddenly renewed. This meant he had to return to the show because of his contract. So, he couldn't play Bond at that time. The role then went to Timothy Dalton.

His Time as 007

Later, after some legal issues with the Bond films were solved, Timothy Dalton decided not to return. On 7 June 1994, Pierce Brosnan was finally announced as the fifth actor to play James Bond.

Brosnan signed a deal to make three Bond films, with an option for a fourth. His first Bond film, GoldenEye (1995), was a huge success. It earned $350 million worldwide and was one of the most successful Bond films ever. Critics generally liked his performance, saying he brought a new feeling to the character.

Wax figure of Brosnan as James Bond at Madame Tussauds, London

In 1996, Brosnan started his own film production company called Irish DreamTime. He made films like The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) through this company.

He continued to play Bond in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and The World Is Not Enough (1999), which were also very popular. In 2002, he starred in his fourth Bond film, Die Another Day. Brosnan wanted to make more Bond movies, but the producers decided to go in a new direction. In 2004, he was told he would no longer play the role. Daniel Craig took over as James Bond in 2005. Brosnan supported Craig, saying he was a "great actor."

During his time as Bond, Brosnan also lent his voice and likeness to James Bond video games, including James Bond 007: Nightfire (2002) and James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (2004).

After James Bond

Brosnan at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival

After his Bond films, Brosnan continued to take on many different roles. In 2005, he starred in The Matador, playing a unique assassin. Critics praised his performance in this film. He was even nominated for a Golden Globe Award for it.

In 2008, Brosnan joined Meryl Streep in the musical film Mamma Mia!. He played Sam Carmichael, one of three men who might be the father of the main character, Sophie. He also appeared in the sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).

Brosnan at the 2010 Berlin Film Festival

He starred in the political thriller The Ghost Writer (2010) and played Chiron in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010). In 2014, he starred in the action film The November Man.

From 2017 to 2019, Brosnan played Eli McCullough in the TV series The Son. In 2017, he also starred with Jackie Chan in The Foreigner.

More recently, Brosnan played Doctor Fate in the superhero film Black Adam (2022). He also appeared in the comedy film The Out-Laws (2023) and played King Louis XIV in The King's Daughter (2022).

Philanthropy and Activism

Brosnan during his time as an environmental spokesman for Pacific Green in the late 1990s

Pierce Brosnan has done a lot of work for charity and the environment. Since 2001, he has been an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland. He helps raise awareness for children's causes, like the "Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS" campaign. He also supports equal rights for all people.

Brosnan became interested in stopping nuclear weapons tests when he was nine years old. In the 1990s, he worked with Greenpeace to help end nuclear testing. He even skipped the French premiere of his Bond film GoldenEye to support protests against French nuclear tests.

From 1997 to 2000, Brosnan and his wife, Keely Shaye Smith, worked to stop a salt factory from being built in a sensitive natural area. They also successfully fought against a plan to build a gas facility off the coast of Malibu, California. In 2007, they donated $100,000 to help rebuild a playground in Hawaii. Brosnan is also on the board of advisors for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which protects marine life.

Brosnan also raises money for good causes by selling his paintings. He always wanted to be an artist and started as a trainee artist. He began painting again in the late 1980s because he found it helpful during a difficult time in his life. He continues to paint and gives the money from his art sales to charities that help the environment, children, and women's health. He has also been a spokesperson for breast cancer awareness.

Personal Life

Brosnan at the LBJ Presidential Library in 2017

Pierce Brosnan has been married twice and has five children and four grandchildren. He met his first wife, Australian actress Cassandra Harris, in 1980. They had one son together, Sean. Brosnan also adopted Cassandra's two children from a previous marriage, Charlotte and Chris, after their father passed away. They all took his last name. Cassandra Harris sadly passed away in 1991 due to illness. His adopted daughter Charlotte also passed away in 2013 due to a similar illness.

In 1994, Brosnan met American journalist Keely Shaye Smith. They married in 2001 in Ireland. They have two sons, Dylan and Paris. They live mostly in Malibu, California, and also have homes in Hawaii and Ireland.

In July 2003, Queen Elizabeth II honored Brosnan for his great work in the British film industry. He became an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2004, he also became an American citizen, but he kept his Irish citizenship. He has said that his Irish background is a very important part of who he is.

Brosnan was raised Catholic and still finds comfort in his faith. He also enjoys the teachings of Buddhist philosophy, which he calls his "own private faith."

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

See also

In Spanish: Pierce Brosnan para niños