Pierce Brosnan Biography:

A charismatic and stead-fast comic timing were two of the traits this fashionable Irish born leading man brought to his portrayal of the stylish, often clumsy, con man or private investigator Remington Steele on the television series (NBC, 1982-87). Brosnan, a past commercial artist who has numerous comparisons to Cary Grant, became so accepted in this role that he was chosen by viewers polled by a national magazine as the favored actor to replace the exiting Roger Moore in the grossly lucrative James Bond movies. But contractual obligations to "Remington Steele" made Brosnan unavailable and the torch was handed to Timothy Dalton.

Brosnan entered show business as a young teen runaway, working with the circus as a fire eater. He received a more traditional role as a member of an experimental London theater class before making his stage debut in a 1976 production of "Wait Until Dark". Brosnan's theatrical jump came from writer Tennessee Williams who chose the attractive young actor to create the role of McCabe in the British first showing of his "Red Devil Battery Sign". More theater projects followed before his film debut in a character role in the British mafia film, "The Long Good Friday" (1980).

America initially discovered the trim, black haired performer on television in the miniseries "The Manions of America" (ABC, 1981) as Rory O'Manion, an Irish immigrant who hits it big in the 19th century United States. This experience lead to Brosnan's being cast as Remington Steele. Pierce showed up on quite a few television specials during the shows run and one botched feature, "Nomads" (1985), in which he played a French anthropologist. The evolution to film actor and sexy celebrity was not easy, but television provided work in television, films and miniseries. Brosnan was cast as sophisticated oddity Phineas Fogg in a miniseries variation of Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in 80 Days" (NBC, 1989). 

Brosnan found little success in feature films. He starred in the traditional Ismail Merchant produced thriller "The Deceivers" (1988) and gained some encouraging reviews for his role of a Russian agent opposite Michael Caine in "The Fourth Protocol" (1987). He enjoyed a small amount of success playing a scientist in the unoriginal television special, "The Lawnmower Man" (1992) about a simple man who is turned into a genius through the application of computer science. Brosnan also played the supporting role of Stu, the other man, in the enormously successful comedy "Mrs. Doubtfire" along side Robin Williams (1993).

It was not until 1995 that Brosnan got his license to kill and took the role that would be connected with him for the rest of his life, James Bond, in the film "Goldeneye." The 007 series was bouncing back from some slow years during which action adventure film series like "Lethal Weapon," "Die Hard" and "Batman" were out showing the Bond flicks. Brosnan's casting produced a fresh buzz, and his performance as a stylish but hard nosed 007 (adding the best elements of Sean Connery and Roger Moore's various talents) revitalized the franchise. The actor returned for several more James Bond movies: "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997) where he showed rich charm opposite Bond girl Michelle Yeoh; "The World is Not Enough" (2000) in which his domination as an action hero and spark with Sophie Marceau enhanced his chemistry; and the 20th Bond film "Die Another Day," in which he and Bond girl Halle Berry brought the most charming work since the beginning days of the franchise. 

Just before the release of "Die Another Day," Brosnan announced his intent to star in a fifth film as the polished secret agent; however, in 2004 the actor said he believed he had been "fired" from the role, despite his attempts to update the franchise by hiring gritty, A-list talent; for example, Brosnan had hoped he could convince the producers to hire Quentin Tarantino to bring an adaptation of "Casino Royale" into a film. In 2005 Brosnan told Entertainment Weekly that his role was terminated with one phone call, and that he always believed that James Bond was an uncomfortable fit for him, particularly the character's sarcastic one line quips. The Bond producers shot back that Brosnan asked for $25 million and gross points to bring back 007, something never offered before to any James Bond actor.

Brosnan's success as James Bond also led to a changed career in films as well, first in refined supporting roles in films such as "The Mirror Has Two Faces" (1996) and "Mars Attacks" (1996) starring Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Sarah Jessica Parker and Natalie Portman, about how the Earth is invaded by Martians with irresistible weapons and a cruel sense of humor. Pierce was then hired and cast as a leading man in the action thriller film "Dante's Peak" next to Tom Hanks (1997) about a doctor who discovers that Dante's Peak, which has recently been named the second most desirable place to live in America, is being threatened by a volcano that hasn't been live for years. 

Brosnan then appeared in the Irish film "The Nephew" (1998) and the Scottish  soccer comedy "The Match" (1999), Brosnan was also executive producer on both movies. He also received admiration for his performance as Archie Grey Owl, a 1930's Canadian fur trapper who takes on the culture of the Iroquois Indian tribe in "Grey Owl" (1999). Brosnan's most successful non James Bond role came in 1998, when he played the title role of the millionaire art bandit in "The Thomas Crown Affair", a role in which Brosnan showed grace, flair and sex appeal opposite leading lady Rene Russo. 

Other heavy-duty roles followed, including a well reviewed role in the spy thriller "The Tailor of Panama" (2001) with Daniel Radcliffe and Jamie Lee Curtis, about a tailor living in Panama who reluctantly becomes a spy for a British agent. Next was "Evelyn" (2002), the true story of a middle class, bar crawling, newly single Dublin Ireland father who fights to get back custody of his children after his daughter and two sons are placed in Church operated orphanages by the Irish courts in the 1950s. Brosnan also produced the movie under his Irish DreamTime production company. 

Next was a role in the passionate comedy "Laws of Attraction" (2004) next to Julianne Moore; the pair played opposing divorce lawyers who, regardless of their at-odds courtroom rapport, wake up to discover they've gotten married after a romantic,  alcohol induced evening. Returning more to his characteristic form, Brosnan played a jewel thief stressed out with retirement in the Bahamas and tempted by one more big heist in "After the Sunset" (2004), a kind of "Thomas Crown" flick with co-stars Salma Hayek and Woody Harrelson, about the story of what happens after a master thief achieves his last big score, when the FBI agent who promised he'd capture him is about to do just that.

Also that year was the comedy thriller "The Matador" (2005) about a globetrotting hitman and a crestfallen businessman who meet in a hotel bar in Mexico City in an encounter that draws them together in a way neither expected. Next was the dramatic war story "Seraphim Falls" (2006) and then the crime drama "Butterfly on a Wheel" (2007) about a perfect family's dynamic and how it is ruined by a kidnapper's brutally efficient plot. Brosnan ventured back to romantic comedy in "Married Life" (2007), a 1940s-set drama where an adulterous man plots his wife's death instead of putting her through the humiliation of a divorce. 

the year 2008 proved to be full of blockbusters for Brosnan, starting with "Mamma Mia!" (2008), the story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father, told by using hit songs by the popular '70s group ABBA and starring Colin Firth and Meryl Streep. Next was the biographical drama "Caitlin" (2008) about the tempestuous relationship of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and his wife Caitlin. Next was the anticipated sequel "The Thomas Crown Affair 2" about billionaire playboy/art thief Thomas Crown (Brosnan) who embarks on a new endeavor: to steal the Kasikci Diamond out of the Topkapki Palace in Istanbul. Brosnan finished the year with the family comedy "Vanilla Gorilla" (2009) about a New York girl who befriends Gogo, the world's only living albino gorilla.  

Education

• Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland, 2003
• The Drama Center, London, England, acting

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