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Pierce Brosnan

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Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival
Born
Pierce Brendan Brosnan
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Spouse(s)Cassandra Harris (1980–1991)
Keely Shaye Smith (2001 – present)
WebsitePierceBrosnan.com

Pierce Brendan Brosnan OBE[1] (born May 16, 1953) is an Irish actor and producer who now holds American citizenship and is best known for portraying James Bond in four films: GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002).

Early life

Born an only child to Thomas and May (née Smith)[2] in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland Brosnan was brought up in nearby Navan, County Meath.[3] He was educated in the local school, which was run by the De La Salle Brothers. Brosnan's mother moved to London, England for work after his father abandoned the family; in 1964, at the age of eleven, he joined her. His mother subsequently divorced his father and married a British World War II veteran (William Charmichael) who was quickly embraced as a father figure by his young stepson. It was Charmichael who took Brosnan to see his first Bond film, Goldfinger.[4] He was educated at Elliott School, a state secondary modern school in Putney, West London. Brosnan would have his first 'crush' on his geography teacher during his time at school. "She wore these very tight skirts...a great arse and a great pair of tits."[5] When he attended high school, his nickname was 'Irish'.[6] After school, Brosnan desired to be an artist and started training in commercial illustration at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.[7] When he was 16 a circus agent saw him busking as a fire eater[2] and hired him. He trained for three years as an actor at the Drama Centre, London.[8]

Career

Early career (1975 - 1993)

After graduating, Brosnan got a job in 1975 as an acting assistant stage manager at York Theatre Royal, making his first stage appearance in Wait Until Dark. Within six months, he was selected by playwright Tennessee Williams to play the role of McCabe in the British première of The Red Devil Battery Sign.[9] His performance caused a stir in London and Brosnan still has the telegram sent by Williams, stating only "Thank God for you, my dear boy".[10] He continued his career making brief appearances in films such as The Long Good Friday (1980), The Mirror Crack'd (1980) and in television series such as The Professionals and Play for Today. He became a television star in the United States with his leading role in the popular miniseries Manions of America starring with Kate Mulgrew, David Soul and Linda Purl.[3] He followed this with his 1982 portrayal of Robert Gould Shaw II in the Masterpiece Theatre documentary that chronicled the life of Virginia-born Lady Nancy Astor - the first woman to sit in British Parliament. His portrayal of the love deprived Shaw garnered Brosnan a 1985 Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor[11]

In 1982, Brosnan shot to popularity in the United States playing the ruggedly handsome title role in the popular NBC romantic detective series Remington Steele, starring opposite Stephanie Zimbalist as agency creator Laura Holt. The Washington Post noted that same year that "Pierce Brosnan could make it as a young James Bond."[12] In 1986 Brosnan was actually offered the role of James Bond before the Remington Steele series could be completed, but he was unable to break the contract with the producers. In 1987 he starred alongside Michael Caine in the film The Fourth Protocol. In 1992, he shot a pilot for NBC called Running Wilde, playing a reporter for Auto World magazine whose stories cover his own wild auto adventures. Jennifer Love Hewitt played his daughter, but the series wasn't picked up and the pilot never aired. That same year he starred in the science-fiction film The Lawnmower Man and the following year he appeared in the comedy film Mrs Doubtfire. In early 1995, he appeared in the made-for-televison film, Night Watch, a Hong Kong-set spy thriller, starring alongside actress Alexandra Paul.

James Bond (1995 - 2002)

File:007Brosnan.jpg
Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in 1999's The World Is Not Enough.

Brosnan was first related to the James Bond role when he visited his wife Cassandra Harris on the set of For Your Eyes Only. According to a 1986 report, Albert "Cubby" Broccoli said "if he [Brosnan] can act...he's my guy" to replace then-Bond Roger Moore.[12][3] It was reported around this time, by both Entertainment Tonight and the National Enquirer, that Brosnan was up for inheriting another role of Moore's; that of The Saint, Simon Templar.[12] He verified the rumours in a 1993 issue of Orange Coast magazine but said "it's still languishing there on someone's desk in Hollywood."[13] The film was finally made in 1997 with Val Kilmer in the title role.

In 1986, after Roger Moore's retirement from the Bond role, Timothy Dalton was approached once again, after previously having turned it down in 1967, 1969, 1980, and the 1986 film adaptation of Brenda Starr kept Dalton from being able immediately to accept it again. A number of actors were then screen-tested for the role - notably Sam Neill - but ultimately passed over by Albert Broccoli.[14] Brosnan, whose television series Remington Steele had just ended, was offered the role, but publicity revived Remington Steele and forced Brosnan to back out of the role of James Bond, due to his contract with the show.[12] Dalton then became available and accepted the role for The Living Daylights (1987), which was a box-office success; his second turn as 007, Licence to Kill (1989) was a disappointment at the American box office, and legal squabbles about ownership of the film franchise resulted in the cancellation of a proposed third Dalton film in 1991 (rumoured title: The Property of a Lady).[15] It would put the series on a six-year hiatus. GoldenEye was originally written with Dalton as Bond, but he turned it down, which left the door open for Brosnan in 1994.[16] On June 7, 1994, Brosnan was officially announced to be the fifth actor to play James Bond.[12]

Brosnan's appointment as Bond brought things full circle for the actor, who stated in interviews that the very first movie he ever saw was Goldfinger[4] and that Sean Connery's performance as Bond had inspired him to enter show business.[17]

Brosnan was signed for a three film deal with an option of a fourth, and first appeared as agent 007 in 1995's GoldenEye, to much critical praise. James Berardinelli described Brosnan as "a decided improvement over his immediate predecessor" with a "flair for wit to go along with his natural charm", but added that "fully one-quarter of Goldeneye is momentum-killing padding."[18] GoldenEye made over $26 million during its opening weekend in the USA, and during its release made around $350 million worldwide.[19] It had the 4th highest worldwide gross of any film in 1995[20] and, taking inflation into account, was the most successful Bond film since Moonraker.[21] Brosnan returned in 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies and 1999's The World Is Not Enough, to virtually the same success. In 2002, Brosnan appeared for his fourth and final time as Bond in Die Another Day.

I'd like to do another, sure. Connery did six. Six would be a number, then never come back.

— Brosnan, on continuing playing James Bond, during promotion for Die Another Day.[22]
File:PB wof.JPG
Pierce Brosnan receives his "star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997.

Shortly after the film's release, the media began questioning whether or not Brosnan would reprise the role for a fifth and final time, (in the later titled Casino Royale). Brosnan kept in mind that both aficionados and critics were unhappy with Roger Moore playing the role until he was 58, but here he received popular support from both critics and the franchise fanbase for a fifth installment. For this reason, he remained enthusiastic about reprising his role after his initial contract expired, despite earlier reservations about doing so.[23]

Throughout 2004, it was rumored that negotiations had broken down between Brosnan and the producers, to make way for a new and younger actor.[24] This was denied by MGM and EON Productions. In July 2004 Brosnan announced to Entertainment Weekly that he was quitting the role, stating "Bond is another lifetime, behind me.", though this is thought to be a failed negotiating ploy.[25] In October 2004, Brosnan had been quoted as considered fired from the role.[26] Although Brosnan had been rumoured frequently as still being in the running to play 007, he had denied it several times, and in February 2005 he posted on his website that he was finished with the role.[27] In spite of this, rumours continued to circulate that he was in negotiations with the producers[28], up until Daniel Craig was signed and announced on October 14, 2005.[29] Brosnan has given his support to Craig in the role. In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Brosnan was asked "What do you think of the new James Bond, Daniel Craig, and will you be watching Casino Royale?", he replied "I'm looking forward to it like we're all looking forward to it. Daniel Craig is a great actor and he's going to do a fantastic job".[30] He later reaffirmed his comments while giving an interview to the International Herald Tribune, stating "[Craig's] on his way to becoming a memorable Bond."[31]

During his tenure on the James Bond films, Brosnan also took part in James Bond video games. In 2002, Brosnan's likeness was used as the face of Bond in the James Bond video game Nightfire (Bond was voiced by Maxwell Caulfield). In early 2004, Brosnan starred in the James Bond video game Everything or Nothing, again allowing his likeness to be used as well as doing the voice-work for the character[32]; it was his last performance as James Bond.

Brosnan is the second-longest serving actor after Roger Moore (since his conformation for the role in June 8, 1994 to his retirement in around mid-2004).

Other work (1994 - present)

Aware of the danger of being typecast as James Bond, Brosnan asked EON Productions, when accepting the role, to be allowed to work in other projects between Bond films. The request was granted, and for every Bond film, Brosnan appeared in at least two other mainstream films, including several he had produced.[33] Brosnan, along with producing partner Beau St. Clair, also formed a film production company in 1996, entitled 'Irish DreamTime'. For a time, rumour was that his Bond contract forbade him from wearing a dinner suit in any non-Bond film; that rumour was false.[34] Brosnan played a wide range of roles in-between his Bond film appearances, ranging from a nerdy scientist in Tim Burton's Mars Attacks!, a vulcanologist in Dante's Peak and the title role in Grey Owl, a biopic about the eponymous Canadian conservationist.

File:SeraphimFallsPierceBrosnan.JPG
Brosnan as Gideon in 2007's Seraphim Falls.

Brosnan's first post-Bond role was that of Daniel Rafferty in 2004's Laws of Attraction in which Garreth Murphy of entertainment.ie described Brosnan's performance as "surprisingly effective, gently riffing off his James Bond persona and supplementing it with a raffish energy".[35] In the same year, Brosnan starred in After the Sunset alongside Salma Hayek and Woody Harrelson. The film opened to generally negative reviews; it currently holds a 17% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes website.[36] Brosnan's next film was 2005's The Matador. Shaking off the sophisticated secret agent image, Brosnan starred as Julian Noble, a jaded assassin who meets a travelling salesman (Greg Kinnear) in a Mexican bar. The film was better received than After the Sunset and garnered positive reviews.[37] Roger Ebert for the Chicago Sun-Times called Brosnan's performance the best of his career.[38] Brosnan was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, for his work in the film but lost out to Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line).[11][39]

Brosnan's first film of 2007 was Seraphim Falls, in which he starred alongside Liam Neeson. The film was released for limited screenings on January 26, 2007. The film gained average reviews with several praising both Brosnan and Neeson's acting. Kevin Crust of the Los Angeles Times noted that the two "make fine adversaries"[40]; however, Michael Rechtshaffen of the New York Times thought that they were "hard-pressed to inject some much-needed vitality into their sparse lines."[41]

Brosnan's upcoming projects include Butterfly on a Wheel and Married Life.[42] Pre-production has started on The Topkapi Affair, the sequel to 1999's The Thomas Crown Affair. The sequel will use Eric Ambler's novel The Light of Day and the 1964 adaption, Topkapi, as a basis.[43] In December, 2005 Brosnan was reported to be attached to star in The November Man, an adaption of Bill Grainger's novel, There Are No Spies.[44] Since then, no further details have been announced and it is unknown whether the project is still going ahead. Brosnan will also be financially backing Caitlin, a film about Caitlin MacNamara, wife of poet Dylan Thomas.[45] The title role will be played by Miranda Richardson and Brosnan will have a small part as Thomas' literary agent, John Brinnin. Brosnan's co-star in Die Another Day, Rosamund Pike, will also appear.[46] Also in 2008, Brosnan will join Meryl Streep in a film adaption of the ABBA musical Mamma Mia!.[47] He will play Sam Charmichael, one of three men rumoured to be the father of lead Amanda Seyfried. Streep will play her mother.[48] Judy Craymer, producer to the film, said "Pierce brings a certain smooch factor, and we think he'll have great chemistry with Meryl in a romantic comedy."[49]

In 2009 Brosnan will star in The Big Biazarro, directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall. The film is an adaption of the Leonard Wise novel of the same name. He plays a card player who mentors a headstrong protégé. [50] Brosnan has also spoke recently of making a Western film with fellow Irishmen Gabriel Byrne and Colm Meaney.[51]

Personal life

Family

Brosnan at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival.

Brosnan married the Australian actress Cassandra Harris in 1980 and adopted her two children, Charlotte (b. 1971) and Christopher (b. 1972), after their father died in 1986.[52] Brosnan and Harris had one son together, Sean (b. 1984). Harris died of ovarian cancer in 1991, after eleven years of marriage.[53] In 2001, Brosnan married American journalist Keely Shaye Smith,[54] and they have two sons, Dylan Thomas (b. 1997) and Paris Beckett (b. 2001).[2] In February, 2007, Brosnan pulled out of attending of the IFTA Awards ceremony in Dublin due to his stepfather battling a serious illness.[55]

On September 23, 2004, Brosnan became a naturalized citizen of the United States, but he has retained his Irish citizenship. Brosnan has said on being Irish that "My Irishness is in everything I do. It's the spirit of who I am, as a man, an actor, a father. It's where I come from."[22]Brosnan was asked by a fan if it annoyed him when people get his nationality confused. He said: "It amuses me in some respects that they should confuse me with an Englishman when I'm dyed-in-the-wool, born and bred Irishman...I don't necessarily fly under any flag. But no, it doesn't bother me."[56] He currently resides in Malibu, California and has a home in Hawaii. He also has a house in North Dublin.

Causes

Brosnan supported John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential election, and is a vocal supporter of gun control and same-sex marriage.[57] An outspoken environmentalist[58], Brosnan was named 'Best-dressed Environmentalist' in 2004 by the Sustainable Style Foundation.[59] Brosnan first became aware of nuclear disarmament when he was nine years old.[60] During the 1990s, he participated in news conferences in Washington DC to help Greenpeace draw attention to the issue.[60] From 1997 to 2000, Brosnan and wife Smith worked with the NRDC and IFAW to stop a proposed salt factory from being built at Laguna San Ignacio.[61] The couple had also been fighting the Cabrillo Port Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility that was proposed off the coast of Malibu; the State Lands Commission denied the lease to build the terminal.[62]

During Harris' illness, Brosnan took to painting again in his spare time, producing colorful landscapes and family portraits. Profits from sales of giclée prints of his works are given to a trust to benefit some of his favourite charitable causes.[63] Since her death, Brosnan has been an advocate for awareness and in 2006, he was announced as a spokesperson for Lee National Denim Day, a breast cancer fundraiser which raises millions of dollars and raises more money in a single day than any other breast cancer fundraiser.[64]

In May 2007, Brosnan and Smith donated $100,000 to help replace a playground on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, where they own a home.[65]

Awards

In July 2003, Queen Elizabeth II awarded Brosnan an honorary OBE for his 'outstanding contribution to the British film industry'. As an Irish citizen, he is ineligible to receive the full OBE honour, which is awarded only to a citizen of Britain or of one of the Commonwealth of Nations member countries. In 2002, Brosnan was also awarded an Honorary degree from the Dublin Institute of Technology and, two years later, the University College Cork.[66]

He was also honoured in Berlin with the Golden Camera award for both artistic achievement and environmental activism.[67]

Filmography

Template:Brosnan movies

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pierce Brosnan.

References

  1. ^ As an Irishman, Brosnan is ineligible for a full honour and so holds an honorary OBE.
  2. ^ a b c "HELLO". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  3. ^ a b c "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang!". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  4. ^ a b "ShowbizIreland". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  5. ^ Nathan, Ian (1997-10). "The Empire 100 Interview". Empire (100): 116. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Butler, Karen (2007-02). "Irish Echo Online". Retrieved 2007-02-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Alumni". St Martins College. Retrieved 2007-04-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "Drama Centre London". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  9. ^ "Pierce Brosnan". MI6.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-04-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Pierce Brosnan biography". Tiscali. Retrieved 2007-04-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ a b "Internet Movie Database". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  12. ^ a b c d e Last, Kimberly (1996). "Pierce Brosnan's Long and Winding Road To Bond". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  13. ^ Belson, Eve (1993-07). "Pierce Brosnan: Urbane Leading Man". Retrieved 2007-02-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ McDonagh, Maitland (2006-04-19). "The James Bonds who might have been". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  15. ^ "Bond 17: History". 2006-07-16. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  16. ^ "Biography for Timothy Dalton". IMDB. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  17. ^ Morris, Clint (2006-06-12). "Movehole.net". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  18. ^ "GoldenEye". www.reelviews.net. 1995. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  19. ^ "GoldenEye". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2006-11-15.
  20. ^ "1995 Worldwide Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
  21. ^ "bondmovies.com". Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  22. ^ a b Nathon, Ian (2002-12). "Numero Uno (Die Another Day cover story)". Empire (162): 103. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  23. ^ "Brosnan uncertain over more Bond". 2004-04-02. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  24. ^ "Is Brosnan too old to be 007?". 2004-02-09. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  25. ^ Rich, Joshua (2004-07-27). "Bond No More". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  26. ^ "Brosnan: No More 007". 2004-10-14. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  27. ^ Brosnan, Pierce (2005-02). "The Official Pierce Brosnan site". Retrieved 2006-09-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "BROSNAN BACK AS BOND?". 2005-04-04. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  29. ^ "Daniel Craig takes on 007 mantle". 2005-10-14. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  30. ^ "Pierce Brosnan answers". The Globe and Mail. 2006-09-14. Retrieved 2006-09-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "International Herald Tribune". A grittier Brosnan takes on riskier roles. Retrieved February 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "Everything or Nothing". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  33. ^ Butler, Karen (2007-02). "Irish Echo Online". Retrieved 2007-02-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ Drees, Rich (2005-10-14). "Craig, Daniel Craig:Speculation Ends As New James Bond Named". Retrieved 2006-11-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ Murphy, Garreth (2004-05-10). "Laws of Attraction". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  36. ^ "After the Sunset". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  37. ^ "The Matador". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  38. ^ Ebert, Roger (2006-01-06). "The Matador (2005)". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  39. ^ "'Brokeback Mountain' leads Golden Globe nominations". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  40. ^ Crust, Kevin (2007-01-26). "Seraphim Falls". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  41. ^ Rechtshaffen, Michael (2006-09-18). "Seraphim Falls". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  42. ^ Roberts, Sheila (2006). "Pierce Brosnan Interview, Seraphim Falls". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  43. ^ Martindale, Stone (2007-01-26). "Pierce Brosnan: Thomas Crown in The Topkapi Affair". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  44. ^ Guider, Elizabeth (2005-12-13). "Duo plant a Wildflower". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  45. ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (2006-11-26). "The Observer". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  46. ^ Turner, Robin (2007-02-19). "Latest Dylan film based on Milk Wood". Retrieved 2007-02-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  47. ^ "Pierce Brosnan to Romance Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia! Movie". Theatre.com. 2007-03-07. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  48. ^ Kit, Borys (2007-03-07). "Brosnan joining Streep in "Mamma Mia!"". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  49. ^ "Brosnan set for Abba show movie". BBC News Online. 2007-03-07. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  50. ^ Fleming, Michael (2007-01-17). "Brosnan to turn Wise novel into film". Variety. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  51. ^ "Pierce Brosnan Plans All-Irish Western". StarPulse News Blog. 2007-03-17. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  52. ^ Lipworth, Elaine (2006-02-17). "Independant Online Edition". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  53. ^ "Cassandra Harris, Actress, 39". 1991-12-31. Retrieved 2007-02-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  54. ^ "HELLO". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  55. ^ "MI6: Home of James Bond". 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  56. ^ Nathan, Ian. "Public Access: Pierce Brosnan". Empire (135): 10. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  57. ^ "Metro.co.uk". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  58. ^ "The Official Pierce Brosnan". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  59. ^ "Sustainable Style Foundation". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  60. ^ a b "PEACE AND NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT: PIERCE ON THE RECORD". 2007-04-17. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  61. ^ "Brosnan: Activist". 2007-04-17. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  62. ^ "Pierce Brosnan and Co Win Battle Against Natural Gas Terminal". 2007-04-11. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  63. ^ "The Official Pierce Brosnan website". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
  64. ^ "The Business Journal". Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  65. ^ "Brosnan, Wife Help School Kids in Hawaii". The Associated Press. 2007-05-31. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
  66. ^ "Brosnan awarded honorary degree". UTV. 2004-06-04. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  67. ^ "Pierce Brosnan Honored For Eco-Activism". 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2007-02-19. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
Preceded by
Timothy Dalton
1987–1989 		James Bond actor
1995—2002 		Succeeded by
Daniel Craig
2006 —

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