Walter Charles Dance was born on the 10th October 1946, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, and is an award-winning actor, probably best known for starring in the role of Benedict in the film “Last Action Hero” (1993), playing Commander Denniston in the film “The Imitation Game” (2014) and as Tywin Lannister in HBO’s hit series “Game Of Thrones” (2011-2015).
Have you ever wondered how rich Charles Dance is? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that the total size of Charles’ net worth is over $5 million, as of mid-2017, earned through his successful career as an actor, which began in the early ‘70s.
Charles Dance Net Worth $5 Million
Charles was raised in Plymouth by his father, Walter Dance, who worked as an engineer, and his mother, Eleanor Marion, who was a cook. He went to Widey Technical School for Boys in Crownhill, after which he attended The Leicester College of Arts (now De Montfort University), studying graphic design and photography.
He started his career on stage, and after several plays he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and began building a name for himself, appearing in “Hamlet” (1975), “Richard III” (1975), “Henry V” (1977), and “Coriolanus” (1979). He then left the RSC, but remained active on stage, making several notable appearances, including in “Shadowlands” (2007), among many others.
His screen career started in 1974, with a minor role in the TV series “The Inheritors” (1974), and continued with minor roles, then in 1981 he made his film debut in the Bond film “For Your Eyes Only”, starring Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet and Topol. Three years later, Charles had his breakthrough role of Guy Perron in the TV series “The Jewel in the Crown”, then in 1986 was cast as the lead villain in the action adventure comedy film “The Golden Child”, as Sardo Numspa, opposite Eddie Murphy and Charlotte Lewis, which made him extremely popular in the acting world, so Charles was often cast in criminal, villain or assertive bureaucrat roles. By the end of the ‘80s, Charles had also featured in the romantic war drama “Good Morning Babilonia” (1987), “White Mischief” (1987), and portrayed Ian Fleming in the biopic about the James Bond creator, entitled “Goldeneye” (1989).
Looking to build on his success, Charles started the ‘90s with one of the lead roles in the sci-fi action horror “Alien 3” in 1992, next to Sigourney Weaver and Charles S. Dutton, and then was Benedict in the action comedy film “Last Action Hero” (1993), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, while the following year, he had the lead role in the adventure drama “Kabloonak”, however, the film wasn’t well received both by public or critics.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have much more success in the ‘90s, except for the lead role in the drama “The Blood Oranges” in 1997, with Colin Lane and Seryl Lee.
Nevertheless, his fame returned in the early 2000s, with lead roles in highly successful films “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby” and “Gosford Park” both in 2001, for the latter winning an SAG and several other film festival awards, and what is more important, his net worth increased to a large degree thanks to the commercial success of the films. In 2005 Charles had another award-winning role, as Mr. Tulkinghorn in the TV series “Bleak House”. In 2011 he was chosen for the role of Tywin Lannister in the award-winning fantasy drama series “Game of Thrones”, and until 2015 appeared in 27 episodes, which only increased his wealth.
In this decade, Charles has focused on television series as well, featuring in 2012 in the action thriller drama “Strike Back” and thriller “Secret State”, but also in several prominent film roles such as Commander Denniston in the drama thriller about World War II’s mathematician Alan Turing, “The Imitation Game” (2014), starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, and in 2015 he was Frankenstein in a new take about the notorious scientist “Victor Frankenstein”, but this time told from Igor’s perspective, however, the film was a box office flop.
In recent years, Charles has featured in the long awaited action horror “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” in 2016, however, the film didn’t satisfy the masses, and also in the next installment of the “Underworld” franchise “Underworld: Blood Wars” (2016), and will appear next to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the fantasy adventure “Journey to China: The Mystery of Iron Mask”, which is set to be released late in 2017.
In 2006, Charles was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), thanks to his contribution to the entertainment industry.
Regarding his personal life, Charles Dance was married to Joanna Haythorn from 1970 until 2004, when they divorced; they are the parents of two children. Afterwards, he became engaged to Eleanor Boorman in 2010; in 2012 the couple had a daughter, but then separated. His current residence is in Kentish Town, London.
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominations
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie, British Academy Television Award for Best Actor, Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
Movies
Me Before You, The Imitation Game, Dracula Untold, Alien 3, Underworld: Awakening, The Golden Child, Last Action Hero, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Gosford Park, Underworld: Blood Wars, Ali G Indahouse, Your Highness, For Your Eyes Only, White Mischief, Woman in Gold, Dark Blue World, Pascali's ...
TV Shows
Living the Life, Trinity, Fallen Angel, Bleak House, The Jewel in the Crown, Game of Thrones, Great West End Theatres, Resonance
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Trademark
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Often has a beard, especially when playing villains.
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His characters often wear suits
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Towering height and slender frame
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Charming debonair personality
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Often plays assertive bureaucrats and sinister villains
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Sophisticated British accent and rich yet calm voice
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Quote
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[on certain scenes in the television series Game of Thrones (2011)] You saw all this violence and all this rumpy pumpy, and it's all doggie-style. I said to [the executive producers] "Obviously, the missionary position didn't come into vogue for a few years yet in the Seven Kingdoms". And they said "We wanted it to be kind of animalistic, Charles" and I said, "Well, it's certainly that".
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[1987 comment on Shirley MacLaine] She's an extraordinary woman, a little 'round the bend I think, but she's been doing what she does for a long time and she does it very well. Where Meryl Streep is intellectual, Shirley follows her gut. I like that better.
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[1987 comment on Trevor Howard] I believe Trevor Howard has quite a nice, gentle riposte to unwanted attention. Someone saw him in a bar once and said, "Are you Trevor Howard?". "Yes," he replied, "when I'm working I am."
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[1987 comment on Meryl Streep] Let's just say I found her a little distant. I hardly got to know her. We had dinner a couple of times, but she only spoke about work. I didn't find her easy to work with, but it's not her job to make it easy for me.
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Hollywood seems to be now moving away from the idea of casting Brits as villains and is casting the French instead. It's something to do with the war, I suspect.
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The quality of writing attracts me to films, also who the other actors are, who the director is, where it's being shot. Any or all of those things. But if the writing is really appalling then the money had better be really good. Sometimes you say yes to something you wouldn't always do because you need the money.
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When you have a label stuck on you, people tend to believe it. If someone calls you suave and debonair you only get offered parts in a suit and a collar and tie. It just so happens I wear them reasonably well.
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I hate the "suave and debonair" tag. I am neither.
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Fact
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Played a Bond villain in ''For Your Eyes Only (1981)'' and Bond creator Ian Fleming in the miniseries ''Goldeneye (1989)''.
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His father was of English and Irish descent, and his mother was of English ancestry.
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Originally planned to become a graphic designer after graduating from the Plymouth college of Art before becoming interested in Acting.
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Appearing on the London stage in "Shadowlands" with Janie Dee. [January 2008]
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Engaged to sculptor Eleanor Boorman in 2010. Together they had a daughter, Rose, in March 2012 but have since separated.
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Following the death of his father when he was age four, his mother moved him and his siblings to the Plymouth area of Devon. Charles went on to take an interest in acting and two retired RADA actors agreed to coach him part time.
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Initially studied graphic design at an art school in Leicester, but on returning to Devon, a passion for acting took over his interest.
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Found international notice after playing the leading part of Guy Perron in the television miniseries The Jewel in the Crown (1984).
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In 1975, he became supporting player with the Royal Shakespeare Company and played roles in "Hamlet", "Henry IV", "Richard III", "Henry V", "As You Like It" and "Coriolanus", among others.
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He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to drama in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours List.
$5 Million
