Brosnan, Pierce

▪ 2001

      Although the James Bond film franchise was approaching 40 years of age, the adventures of the suave Agent 007 were more popular than ever in 2000, thanks to Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, the most recent Bond incarnation in a long line of handsome leading men. The latest Bond film, The World Is Not Enough (1999), was the 19th in the series, and it did more than $30 million in business during its first weekend, the most for any Bond film.

      Pierce Brendan Brosnan was born May 16, 1953, in County Meath, Ire. His father left home shortly thereafter, so he was raised by relatives after his mother left to work in England. At age 15 Brosnan set out on his own in London to be an actor. He joined a theatre group and later studied at the Drama Centre of London. He married actress Cassandra Harris, and when the two moved to the U.S., Harris landed a role in the 1981 Bond film For Your Eyes Only. Brosnan became a rising star with his role in the NBC television detective series Remington Steele, but when he was chosen as the successor to Roger Moore as Agent 007 in 1986, his NBC contract prevented him from accepting, and Timothy Dalton took the role instead. Brosnan continued to take on television and film roles and in 1991 dealt with the loss of his wife, who died after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.

      Meanwhile, Dalton's two Bond films were seen as relative failures, and the series was in need of a saviour. In 1994 Brosnan finally had his chance—he was signed to a contract as the fifth James Bond for three films, with an option for a fourth. His first film, GoldenEye, made more than $350 million worldwide, the most ever for a Bond film. The second, Tomorrow Never Dies, scored record grosses for a Bond film in the U.S. Brosnan brought out the human side of the Bond character, and the series producers sought to emphasize that in The World Is Not Enough. Brosnan's Bond was vulnerable, almost fallible.

      Although he might have been tiring of the role after making the second film, Brosnan seemed to be hinting in early 2000 that he would stick around to make a fourth. Still, he sought to expand his repertoire and took advantage of his popularity to choose new projects. In 1999 he produced and starred in a remake of the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair, and he had plans to produce more of his own films.

Anthony G. Craine

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▪ Irish American actor

in full  Pierce Brendan Brosnan  

born May 16, 1953, County Meath, Ire.

      Irish American actor who was perhaps best known for playing James Bond in a series of films.

      Brosnan, whose father left home shortly after his birth, was raised by relatives after his mother left to work in England. At age 15 he set out on his own in London to be an actor. He joined a theatre group and later studied at the Drama Centre of London. He married actress Cassandra Harris, and the two subsequently moved to the United States; he became a U.S. citizen in 2004. Brosnan was soon cast as a charming con man in the NBC television detective series Remington Steele. The show, which premiered in 1982, was a success, and in 1986 he was chosen as the successor to Roger Moore as James Bond—the suave British secret service agent 007 created by novelist Ian Fleming (Fleming, Ian). His NBC contract, however, prevented him from accepting, and Timothy Dalton took the role instead. Remington Steele ended in 1987, and Brosnan continued to take on television and film roles. In 1991 he dealt with the loss of his wife, who died after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.

      Meanwhile, Dalton's two Bond films were seen as relative failures, and in 1994 Brosnan was finally able to accept the role. His first film in the series, GoldenEye (1995), made more than $350 million worldwide, the most ever for a Bond film at that time. The second, Tomorrow Never Dies (1999), scored record grosses for a Bond film in the United States. Brosnan brought out the human side of the Bond character, and the series producers sought to emphasize that in The World Is Not Enough (1999). Brosnan made his final appearance as James Bond in Die Another Day (2002).

      While making the Bond films, Brosnan expanded his repertoire and took advantage of his popularity to choose new projects. In 1999 he produced and starred in a remake of the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair. He later appeared in the espionage-thriller The Tailor of Panama (2001), a film adaptation of John le Carré (le Carré, John)'s novel, the romantic comedy Laws of Attraction (2004), and The Matador (2005), in which he played a weary hitman. In 2007 Brosnan starred opposite Liam Neeson in the Civil War film Seraphim Falls. The following year he appeared with Meryl Streep (Streep, Meryl) and Colin Firth in Mamma Mia!, a musical featuring songs by the Swedish pop group Abba.

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