Pierce Brosnan – Born to be Bond

Pierce Brosnan was chosen by director Cubby Broccoli personally as the “fourth” bond.   The plan was to replace the retiring Bond actor Roger Moore with Pierce because Pierce had the looks and a way about him that was all “Bond”.  At the time, Pierce was married to Cassandra Harris who coincidently was one of the Bond girls who was starring in the Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only”.  Broccoli probably met Pierce when Pierce went with Cassandra to have dinner at Broccoli’s house.  When The New York Post announced that Pierce would be the replacement for Roger Moore, Pierce’s popularity rose to new heights which actually caused Pierce to lose the Bond role.  Pierce was already acting in the role of a private detective in a series “Remington Steel” and when news of him becoming the next Bond was announced, his popularity increased to record breaking levels in the reruns, that NBC decided to renew the series it was initially cancelling and even asked for three TV movies to be created based on the series.   Pierce was devastated that he had to turn down the role of Bond due to a signed long term contract that obligated him to stay with NBC. 

Numerous public polls taken at the time indicated that Pierce would be perfect playing the character of Bond.  Pierce would eventually get his chance to play Bond the next time around.  Nearly a decade later, Pierce was called upon to bring Bond into the 1990’s and help the character live into the next millennium through the trials and tribulations of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Although, there was a long wait Pierce had the chance to make four classic Bond films and make a name for himself.  In addition, Pierce also earned a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and he was even honoured with the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his outstanding contribution to the British film industry.  These awards even surpassed any accomplishments of the other Bond actors such as Sean Connery.  It is apparent that Pierce still has a long career ahead of him in acting, even after playing Bond.  He also started his own production company known as Irish Dreamtime.  Pierce was definitely very successful in playing the role of Bond, leaving a hard act to follow.

Unlike the Scottish roots of the first Bond Sean Connery, Pierce comes from an Irish background.  He was born in 1953.  His father left him after birth and Pierce ended up being raised by his maternal grandparents who died when he was only six years old.  Various relatives then raised him until a boarding house owner took him in until the age of 11.  It turned out on the day that Ian Fleming died, Pierce arrived in London to live with his mother who had moved away after his birth to study nursing in London.  It was his mother’s husband who introduced Pierce to James Bond by taking him to see his first Bond movie “Goldfinger”.  This movie left such an impression on Pierce that he always had an interest in playing Bond.

Pierce was destined to have an acting career.  He attended Elliot School in London.  He later worked as a commercial artist and circus fire eater up until he attended London Drama Centre.  Upon graduation in 1976, he became a stage manager at the Theatre Royal York where playwright Tennessee Williams picked him to star in a play.  The rave reviews he received started his acting career.  Acting led Bond to meeting Australian actress Cassandra Harris and he married her when she completed playing her role as a Bond girl.  She entered the marriage with two children and then had a son with Peirce.  He left acting to care for Cassandra after her diagnosis of ovarian cancer.  He took care of her until she died. This situation led him to become an advocate for women’s health issues.  Eventually, Pierce remarried and is currently married to Keel Shaye-Smith.  They have two children.  When not acting, Pierce is an advocate in many environmental and worthwhile initiatives.  He also continues to be devoted to his family life and children, as well as acting.