Pierce Brosnan

He married actress Cassandra Harris in 1980 and adopted her two children from a previous marriage. The couple also had a son together. Their happy married life was cut short by Cassandra’s untimely death from cancer in 1991.

He married Keely Shaye Smith in 2001. They have two children together.

He has been an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland since 2001. He is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage.

He was born to a carpenter father, Thomas and his wife Mary May Smith in Ireland. His father abandoned the family when Pierce was just a baby.

His mother left him in the care of her parents and went to London to train as a nurse.

He spent his childhood being shuttled between the homes of different relatives after the death of his grandparents.

He was reunited with his mother when he was 11. His mother, now remarried to William Carmichael took her son to London.

He attended Elliot School. After leaving school he went to Saint Martin’s School of Art to study commercial illustration.

He found employment as an acting assistant stage manager at the York Theatre Royal in 1975. He was chosen by playwright Tennessee Williams for the role of McCabe in ‘The Red Devil Battery Sign’. His performance was critically appreciated.

All through the 1970s and early 1980s he made minor appearances in television and films.

After moving to the U.S., he was cast in the television series ‘Remington Steele’ in 1982. The series was very successful and ran for five seasons till 1987. Pierce Brosnan’s good looks and sophistication earned him considerable attention.

In 1987, he appeared in the Cold War spy film ‘The Fourth Protocol’ which also featured Michael Caine. The story focused on a clause of the 1968 East-West agreement to halt nuclear proliferation.

He portrayed Phileas Fogg in the 1989 three-part television miniseries ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. The series was loved by the audience and got three Emmy nominations.

He is best known for portraying James Bond in four movies of the James Bond films franchise. With his polished good looks, sophistication and charming personality, he was regarded as the best fit for playing the legendary fictional character.