Biography
Who is Charles Dance?
Early life and education
Walter Charles Dance was born on October 10, 1946, in Redditch, United Kingdom. He grew up in Plymouth, where he attended the Widey Technical School for Boys in Crownhill. His mother worked as a cook, and his father served as an electrical engineer.
He continued his education at the Plymouth Drawing School, which later became Arts University Plymouth. He also studied at Leicester College of Arts, now known as De Montfort University, where he focused on graphic design and photography.
Stage and early career
Charles Dance started his career on stage as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company during the mid-to-late 1970s. He performed in numerous productions in London and Stratford-upon-Avon. He later returned to take the title role in Coriolanus and played C.S. Lewis in a stage revival of Shadowlands.
He made his feature film debut in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only in 1981, playing the henchman Claus. His television breakthrough came when he played Guy Perron in the 1984 adaptation of The Jewel in the Crown.
Film and television success
Charles established himself as a prominent actor by playing intimidating authoritarian characters and villains across film and television. His major film credits include Michael Collins in 1996, Gosford Park in 2001, The Imitation Game in 2014, Mank in 2020, and The King's Man in 2021. He also appeared in Alien 3, Last Action Hero, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
On television, he portrayed Tywin Lannister in the HBO series Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2015. He also played Lord Mountbatten in the third and fourth seasons of The Crown and Mr. Tulkinghorn in Bleak House, earning Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his television work.
Directing and personal life
Charles made his directorial film debut with the 2004 drama Ladies in Lavender, which he also wrote and executive produced. The film starred Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. He later directed an adaptation of The Inn at the Edge of the World in 2009.
He was married to Joanna Haythorn from 1970 until their divorce in 2004, and they had two children together. He later had a daughter with Eleanor Boorman and entered into a relationship with Alessandra Masi. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to drama.
Birthday and age
Charles Dance was born on October 10, 1946, which makes Charles 80 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Charles shares the date with 76 other famous people.
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