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{{About|Charles Dance, contemporary English actor}}
{{Short description|English actor (born 1946)}}
{{About|the contemporary English actor}}

{{lead too short|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Charles Dance
| name = Charles Dance
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|commas=on|OBE}}
| image = Charlesdanceflowers.JPG
| birthname = Walter Charles Dance
| image = Charles Dance 2012 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Dance in July 2012
| imagesize = 250px
| birth_name = Walter Charles Dance
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|10|10|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|10|10|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Redditch]], [[Worcestershire]], England
| birth_place = [[Redditch]], [[Worcestershire]], England
| occupation = Actor
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1974–present
| years_active = 1971–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Joanna Haythorn<br />|1970|2004|end=divorced}}
| partner = <!--Partner parameter is for unmarried, long-term life partners. Not a dating history.-->
| children = 3
}}
}}
'''Walter Charles Dance''', [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (born 10 October 1946) is an English actor, [[screenwriter]], and film director. Dance typically plays assertive bureaucrats or villains.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} Some of his most high profile roles are Perron in ''[[The Jewel in the Crown (TV series)|The Jewel in the Crown]]'' (1984), Dr Clemens, the doctor who becomes [[Ellen Ripley]]'s confidante, in ''[[Alien 3]]'' (1992), the villain in ''[[The Golden Child]]'' (1986) and ''[[Last Action Hero]]'' (1993), and Lord Tywin Lannister in [[HBO]]'s ''[[Game of Thrones (TV series)|Game of Thrones]]''.


Dance was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) on 17 June 2006.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue= 58014|date=17 June 2006 |startpage= 10}}</ref>
'''Walter Charles Dance''' (born 10 October 1946) is an English actor. He is known for playing intimidating, authoritarian characters and villains. Dance started his career on stage with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] (RSC) before appearing in film and television. For his services to drama he was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in 2006.<ref>London Gazette [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58014/supplement/10 issue 58014] 17 June 2006 page 10</ref>


He made his feature film debut in the [[List of James Bond films|James Bond]] film ''[[For Your Eyes Only (film)|For Your Eyes Only]]'' (1981). He since acted in a string of critically acclaimed period films such as ''[[Michael Collins (film)|Michael Collins]]'' (1996), ''[[Gosford Park]]'' (2001), ''[[The Imitation Game]]'' (2014), ''[[Mank]]'' (2020), and ''[[The King's Man]]'' (2021). He has also appeared in the films ''[[The Golden Child]]'' (1986), ''[[Alien 3]]'' (1992), ''[[Last Action Hero]]'' (1993), ''[[Dracula Untold]]'' (2014), and ''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)|Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' (2019). He made his directorial film debut with the drama film ''[[Ladies in Lavender]]'' (2004), which he also wrote and executive produced.
==Early life==

Dance was born in [[Redditch]], [[Worcestershire]], the son of Eleanor ([[married and maiden names|née]] Perks), a cook, and Walter Dance, an engineer.<ref>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/32/Charles-Dance.html Charles Dance Biography (1946-)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800022314/bio Charles Dance Biography - Yahoo! Movies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He attended Widey Technical School for Boys (it closed when known as Widey High School in 1988) in [[Manadon]]. He was set for a career in [[graphic design]] after graduating from the [[Plymouth College of Art]] before turning to acting.
On television, Dance played Guy Perron in ''[[The Jewel in the Crown (TV series)|The Jewel in the Crown]]'' (1984), Mr Tulkinghorn in ''[[Bleak House (2005 TV serial)|Bleak House]]'' (2005), [[Tywin Lannister]] in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' (2011–2015), and [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten]] in the third and fourth seasons of ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]'' (2019–2020). For his role in ''The Crown'', he was nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series]].

== Early life ==
Walter Charles Dance was born in [[Redditch]], [[Worcestershire]], on 10 October 1946, the younger son of Eleanor Marion ({{nee}} Perks; 1911–1984), a cook, and Walter Dance (1874–1949), an electrical engineer who served as a [[sergeant]] in the 2nd Regular Battalion of the [[Royal Fusiliers]] during the [[Second Boer War]] (having previously served in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion) and who was in his 70s when his younger son was born.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/32/Charles-Dance.html |title=Charles Dance Biography (1946–) |publisher=Filmreference.com |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/person/charles-dance/biography.html|title=Charles Dance - Biography|publisher=Yahoo! Movies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015101722/http://movies.yahoo.com/person/charles-dance/biography.html|archive-date=15 October 2012|access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref> By his father's previous marriage, Dance had two older half-sisters, Norah (1898–1993) and Mary (1903–1908).<ref name="wdytyamag">{{cite web|title=Charles Dance on Who Do You Think You Are?: Everything you need to know|url=https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/episode/charles-dance/|website=Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref> On his maternal side, he also has an elder half-brother, Michael (born 1936).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charles Dance - Who Do You Think You Are - A secret family and a tragic accident... |url=https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2017/who-do-you-think-you-are/charles-dance-541/ |access-date=2022-06-03 |website=www.thegenealogist.co.uk}}</ref>

During filming of an episode for the genealogical series ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'' in 2016, Dance discovered that his mother had Belgian ancestry, which traced back to the city of [[Spa, Belgium|Spa]]. His immigrant ancestor Charles François Futvoye (1777–1847) had been a pioneer in the art of [[japanning]] during the early half of the 19th century.<ref name="wdytyamag"/> Growing up in [[Plymouth]], Dance attended the now-defunct Widey Technical School for Boys (then known as Widey High School) in [[Crownhill]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Widey High School, previously Widey Technical Secondary School, previously Plymouth Junior Technical School |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/cff3b5c5-1b9a-4623-b8b4-a6845db31c9e |website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref> He later attended the Plymouth Drawing School (later renamed to Plymouth College of Art, and now known as [[Arts University Plymouth]]) and Leicester College of Arts (now known as [[De Montfort University]]), where he studied graphic design and photography.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/news/2015/april/winter-is-coming-dmu-alumnus-is-back-on-our-screens-with-the-return-of-game-of-thrones.aspx|title=Winter is coming. DMU Alumnus is back on our screens with the return of Game of Thrones|website=dmu.ac.uk|accessdate=26 July 2022}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
[[File:Wyndhams Theatre London 2007.jpg|right|thumb|''Shadowlands'' at the [[Wyndham's Theatre|Wyndham's]].]]
===RSC===
===Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)===
Dance was a member of the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] during the mid- to late-1970s and was in many of their productions in London and [[Stratford-upon-Avon]]. Later he returned to the RSC to take the title role in ''[[Coriolanus]]'' at Stratford-upon-Avon and [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] in 1989, and at the [[Barbican Theatre]] in 1990. He received rave reviews and a [[Critics' Circle Theatre Awards|Critics' Circle]] Best Actor award for his performance as the Oxford don [[C. S. Lewis]] in [[William Nicholson (writer)|William Nicholson]]'s ''[[Shadowlands]]'', in the 2007 stage revival.<ref>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre/show-23358119-details/Shadowlands/showReview.do?reviewId=23415857 Dance is poignant perfection| Theatre | This is London<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Dance was a member of the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] during the mid-to-late 1970s and was in many of their productions in London and [[Stratford-upon-Avon]]. Later he returned to the RSC to take the title role in ''[[Coriolanus]]'' at Stratford-upon-Avon and [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] in 1989, and at the [[Barbican Theatre]] in 1990. He received rave reviews and a [[Critics' Circle Theatre Awards|Critics' Circle]] Best Actor award for his performance as [[C. S. Lewis]] in [[William Nicholson (writer)|William Nicholson]]'s ''[[Shadowlands (1985 film)#Stage|Shadowlands]]'', in the 2007 stage revival.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nicholas de Jongh |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre/show-23358119-details/Shadowlands/showReview.do?reviewId=23415857 |title=Dance is poignant perfection – Theatre & Dance – Arts – London Evening Standard |publisher=Thisislondon.co.uk |date=9 October 2007 |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref>


===Television===
=== Television and film ===
Dance made his screen debut in 1974, but his big break came ten years later when he played the major role of Guy Perron in ''[[The Jewel in the Crown (TV series)|The Jewel in the Crown]]'' (Granada Television, Christopher Morahan 1984), an adaptation of [[Paul Mark Scott|Paul Scott]]'s novels that also made stars of [[Geraldine James]] and [[Art Malik]]. He has also starred in many other British television dramas such as ''[[Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes|Murder Rooms]]'', ''[[Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)]]'', ''[[Rebecca (TV miniseries)|Rebecca]]'', ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1990 miniseries)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'', ''[[Fingersmith (TV serial)|Fingersmith]]'' and ''[[Bleak House (2005)|Bleak House]]'' (for which he received an [[Emmy]] nomination). He was name-checked in the British comedy series ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'', as being slated to play the title character in ''The Life of Jesus Christ 2'', which was filming in [[Morocco]] at the same time as the main characters of the series were there for a photo shoot. Dance recently appeared as a guest star in the BBC television series ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'' as an infamous witch hunter. He also played Guy Spencer, the pro-[[Hitler]] propagandist, in the second instalment of ''[[Foyle's War]]'', and had an ongoing role as Dr. Maltravers in the ITV drama ''[[Trinity (TV series)|Trinity]]''.
Dance made his screen debut in 1974, in the ITV series ''[[Father Brown (1974 TV series)|Father Brown]]'' as Commandant Neil O'Brien in "The Secret Garden". Other small parts followed, including a 1983 cameo as a [[South Africa]]n assassin in ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'', but his big break came the following year when he played Guy Perron in ''[[The Jewel in the Crown (TV series)|The Jewel in the Crown]]'' (Granada Television, Christopher Morahan 1984), an adaptation of [[Paul Mark Scott|Paul Scott]]'s novels that also made stars of [[Geraldine James]] and [[Art Malik]]. Dance made one of his earliest big-screen appearances in the 1981 [[James Bond]] film ''[[For Your Eyes Only (film)|For Your Eyes Only]]'' as evil henchman Claus. Though he turned down the opportunity to screen test for the James Bond role,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charlesdance.co.uk/goldeneye.html |title=Dance as the man who created James Bond |access-date=4 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093500/http://www.charlesdance.co.uk/goldeneye.html |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> in 1989 he played Bond creator [[Ian Fleming]] in [[Anglia Television]]'s dramatised biography directed by [[Don Boyd]], ''[[Goldeneye (1989 film)|Goldeneye]]'' (the name of [[Goldeneye (estate)|Fleming's estate in Jamaica]] and a title later used for a [[James Bond]] [[GoldenEye|film]]).


He has also starred in many other British television dramas such as ''[[Edward the Seventh]]'' (as [[Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale]], [[Edward VII]]'s oldest son, and heir to the throne), ''[[Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes|Murder Rooms]]'', ''[[Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (2000 TV series)|Randall and Hopkirk]]'', ''[[Rebecca (1997 TV series)|Rebecca]]'', ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1990 miniseries)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'', ''[[Fingersmith (TV serial)|Fingersmith]]'' and ''[[Bleak House (2005 TV serial)|Bleak House]]'' (for which he received an [[Emmy]] nomination for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie]]). He was name-checked in the British comedy series ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'', as being slated to play the title character in ''The Life of Jesus Christ 2'', which was filming in [[Morocco]] at the same time as the main characters of the series were there for a photo shoot. He also played Guy Spencer, the pro-[[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] propagandist, in the second instalment of ''[[Foyle's War]]'', and had an ongoing role as Dr. Maltravers in the ITV drama ''[[Trinity (UK TV series)|Trinity]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first= Leigh|last= Holmwood|title= ITV2 plans 'sex, drugs and murder' drama to follow Billie Piper hit series|url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/15/itv.television|work= [[guardian.co.uk]]|date= 15 July 2008|access-date= 15 July 2008|location=London}}</ref>
Dance played [[Havelock Vetinari]] in the 2010 Sky adaptation of ''[[Terry Pratchett's Going Postal]]''.<ref>http://www.skypressoffice.co.uk/SkyOne/news/showarticle.asp?id=2746&month=7&year=2009 Sky Press Release</ref>


Dance made a guest appearance on the BBC drama series ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'' as the Witchfinder Aredian,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a157039/guest-stars-confirmed-for-merlin.html |title=Guest stars confirmed for 'Merlin' – Merlin News – Cult |website=Digital Spy |date=25 May 2009 |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref> and as a vainglorious version of himself in the third series of ''[[Jam & Jerusalem]]''. He played [[Lord Vetinari]] in the 2010 Sky adaptation of ''[[Terry Pratchett's Going Postal]]'', and the [[Russian oligarch]] Aleksandr Borinski in ''[[Paris Connections]]''.<ref>{{cite web|work=TV Choice Magazine|title=Interview Extra|date=25 May 2010|first=Linda|last=Gibson|url=http://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/interviewextra/charles-dance-david-suchet-going-postal|access-date=6 September 2013|archive-date=8 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408213053/http://www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/interviewextra/charles-dance-david-suchet-going-postal|url-status=dead}}</ref> He played the role of [[Tywin Lannister]] in [[HBO]]'s ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', based on the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels by [[George R. R. Martin]]. Dance was wooed for the role by the producers while filming ''[[Your Highness]]'' in [[Belfast]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westeros.org/GoT/News/Entry/Charles_Dance_Cast_as_Tywin_Lannister/ |title=Game of Thrones: News – Charles Dance Cast as Tywin Lannister |publisher=Westeros.org |date=29 July 2010 |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref> Dance also played Conrad Knox on the British television series ''[[Strike Back: Vengeance]]'' as the primary villain in the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skymedia.co.uk/_news/strike-back-vengeance-on-sky-1-hd.aspx |title=Strike Back: Vengeance on Sky 1 HD |publisher=Skymedia.co.uk |date=15 August 2012 |access-date=12 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421090203/http://www.skymedia.co.uk/_news/strike-back-vengeance-on-sky-1-hd.aspx |archive-date=21 April 2013 }}</ref>
Dance plays the role of [[Tywin Lannister]] in [[HBO]]'s ''[[Game of Thrones (TV series)|Game of Thrones]]'', based on the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire|Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels by [[George R. R. Martin]]. Dance was wooed for the role by the producers whilst filming ''[[Your Highness]]'' in [[Belfast]].<ref>[http://www.westeros.org/GoT/News/Entry/Charles_Dance_Cast_as_Tywin_Lannister/ Westeros.org]</ref>


Since 2012, Dance has had a recurring role in ''[[The Big Fat Quiz of the Year]]'' reading excerpts from books, such as ''[[Fifty Shades of Grey]]'' or the autobiographies of English media personalities, in a deadpan manner. On 30 June 2013, Dance appeared with other celebrities in an episode of the BBC's ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' as a "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" for the debut of the [[Vauxhall Astra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvnewsroom.co.uk/tv-talk/news/top-gear-returns-to-bbc-two-at-8pm-featuring-warwick-davis-charles-dance-and-joss-stone-43888/ |title=Top Gear returns to BBC Two at 8pm, featuring Warwick Davis, Charles Dance and Joss Stone |publisher=TV Newsroom |date=30 June 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013}}</ref> In summer 2018, Dance narrated a documentary entitled ''Spitfire'', which featured the legendary Supermarine Spitfire and recounted the efforts of the RAF pilots who flew them during the Second World War.
===Films===
He has appeared in numerous [[film]]s, including:
* ''[[Plenty (film)|Plenty]]'' (1985) with [[Meryl Streep]]
* ''[[The Golden Child]]'' (1986) with [[Eddie Murphy]]
* ''[[Out on a Limb (TV miniseries)|Out on a Limb]]'' (1987) with [[Shirley MacLaine]]
* ''[[White Mischief]]'' with [[Greta Scacchi]] (1987)
* ''[[Good Morning, Babylon]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Hidden City]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Pascali's Island (film)|Pascali's Island]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Alien 3]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Kalkstein]]'' (Italy, 1992)
* ''[[Last Action Hero]]'' (1993)
* ''[[China Moon]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Kabloonak]]'' (1994, Paris Film Festival Award for Best Actor 1996)
* ''[[Century (film)|Century]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Shortcut to Paradise]]'' (Spain, 1994)
* ''[[Space Truckers]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Michael Collins (film)|Michael Collins]]'' (1996)
* ''[[What Rats Won't Do]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Don't Go Breaking My Heart]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Hilary and Jackie]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Gosford Park]]'' (2001)
* ''[[The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (2001 film)|The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Dark Blue World]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Black and White (2002 film)|Black and White]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Swimming Pool (film)|Swimming Pool]]'' with [[Charlotte Rampling]] (2002)
* ''[[Ali G In Da House]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Dolls (2006 film)|Dolls]]'' (2006)
* [[Woody Allen]]'s ''[[Scoop (2006 film)|Scoop]]'' (2006)
* ''[[The Contractor]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Underworld: Awakening]] (2011)
He appeared in ''[[Paris Connections]]'' (2010) as the Russian oligarch Aleksandr Borinski. Dance made one of his earliest big screen appearances in the 1981 [[James Bond]] film ''[[For Your Eyes Only (film)|For Your Eyes Only]]'' as evil henchman Claus, and in 1989 he played Bond creator [[Ian Fleming]] in [[Anglia Television]]'s dramatised biography, ''Goldeneye'' (the name of [[Goldeneye (estate)|Fleming's estate in Jamaica]] and a title later used for a [[James Bond]] film).


In 2019 he played an antagonist in ''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)|Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' and appeared as [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten]] in series 3 of ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]'' in the same year. In 2020, Dance portrayed [[William Randolph Hearst]] in [[David Fincher]]'s ''[[Mank]]'', co-starring alongside [[Gary Oldman]] and [[Amanda Seyfried]].<ref name="DanceMank" /> In January 2021, Dance was cast in the [[Netflix]] adaptation of ''[[The Sandman (TV series)|The Sandman]]''.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2021/01/the-sandman-tom-sturridge-gwendoline-christie-vivienne-acheampong-boyd-holbrook-charles-dance-asim-chaudhry-sanjeev-bhaskar-netflix-neil-gaiman-1234681995/ Neil Gaiman's ‘The Sandman’ Casts Tom Sturridge, Gwendoline Christie, Vivienne Acheampong, Boyd Holbrook, Charles Dance, Asim Chaudhry And Sanjeev Bhaskar]</ref>
===Screenwriting and directing===
His debut film as a [[screenwriter]] and [[Film director|director]] was ''[[Ladies in Lavender]]'' (2004), which starred Dame [[Judi Dench]] and Dame [[Maggie Smith]].


In 2024 Dance starred as [[Michelangelo]] in the BBC docu-drama ''[[Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty]]''.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/dec/02/renaissance-the-blood-and-the-beauty-review-charles-dance-is-gloriously-game-as-michelangelo</ref><ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024qcs</ref>
In 2008, filmed a role in ''[[Trinity (TV series)|Trinity]]'' for [[ITV2]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Leigh|last= Holmwood|title= ITV2 plans 'sex, drugs and murder' drama to follow Billie Piper hit series|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/15/itv.television|work= [[guardian.co.uk]]|date= 2008-07-15|accessdate= 2008-07-15}}</ref>


=== Screenwriting and directing ===
In 2009, he directed his own adaptation of [[Alice Thomas Ellis]]'s ''The Inn at the Edge of the World'' and made a guest appearance in BBC drama series ''[[Merlin tv|Merlin]]'' as the Witchfinder Aredian<ref>http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a157039/guest-stars-confirmed-for-merlin.html</ref> and himself in the third series of [[Jam & Jerusalem]].
Dance's debut film as a screenwriter and director was ''[[Ladies in Lavender]]'' (2004), which starred [[Judi Dench]] and [[Maggie Smith]]. In 2009, he directed his own adaptation of [[Alice Thomas Ellis]]'s ''The Inn at the Edge of the World''.


==Personal life==
== Personal life ==
He married Joanna Haythorn in 1970 and they had two children.<ref name="con">{{Cite book | last1 = Riggs | first1 = Thomas | title = Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, Volume 67 | year = 2006 | publisher = Gale / Cengage Learning | location = | isbn = 9780787690403978-0-7876-9040-3 | pages = 66–67 }}</ref><ref name="tel">{{cite news |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8020872/Charles-Dance-is-to-marry-his-artist-girlfriend.html |title=Charles Dance is to marry his artist girlfriend |first= Tim |last= Walker |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date= 24 September 2010|publisher=[[Telegraph Media Group|TMG]] |location=[[London, UK|London]] |issn=0307-1235 |oclc=49632006 |accessdate=13 May 2011}}</ref> After his marriage ended in 2004,<ref name="con" /> he had a brief relationship with actress [[Sophia Myles]].<ref name="tel" /> He became engaged to sculptor Eleanor Boorman in September 2010. They are expecting their first child together, announced 23 November 2011.<ref name="tel" />
Dance married Joanna Haythorn in 1970, and they had a son named Oliver (born 1974) and a daughter named Rebecca (born 1980) before divorcing in 2004.<ref name="con">{{cite book | last1 = Riggs | first1 = Thomas | title = Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, Volume 67 | year = 2006 | publisher = Gale / Cengage Learning | isbn =978-0-7876-9040-3 | pages = 66–67 }}</ref><ref name="tel">{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8020872/Charles-Dance-is-to-marry-his-artist-girlfriend.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8020872/Charles-Dance-is-to-marry-his-artist-girlfriend.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Charles Dance is to marry his artist girlfriend |first= Tim |last= Walker |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date= 24 September 2010|location=[[London, UK|London]] |issn=0307-1235 |oclc=49632006 |access-date=13 May 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


He later dated Eleanor Boorman from 2008 to 2012, and they had a daughter named Rose (born 2012).<ref name="Rosie Huntington-Whiteley">{{cite news |last1=Bayley |first1=Jon |title=The celebrities you didn't realise are forever connected to Plymouth |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/celebrities-you-didnt-realise-forever-908888 |access-date=29 February 2020 |agency=plymouthherald.co.uk |publisher=plymouthherald.co.uk |date=11 December 2017}}</ref>
==Stage roles==
* ''[[Toad of Toad Hall]]'' (Badger), Nottingham in repertory 1971
* ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]'' (Wat Dreary), [[Chichester Festival Theatre]] 1972
* ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' (Philip), Chichester 1972
* ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]'' (Soliony), [[Greenwich Theatre]] 1973
* ''[[Hans Kohlhaus]]'' (Meissen), Greenwich 1973
* ''[[Born Yesterday]]'' (Hotel Manager), Greenwich 1973
* ''[[Saint Joan (play)|Saint Joan]]'' (Baudricourt ), Oxford Festival 1974
* ''[[Sleeping Beauty|The Sleeping Beauty]]'' (Prince), repertory (?) 1974
* ''[[Travesties]]'' (Henry Carr), Leeds Playhouse 1977
* ''[[Hamlet]]'' (Fortinbras/Reynaldo/Player), [[Royal Shakespeare Company|RSC]] [[The Other Place (theatre)|The Other Place]] 1975; [[The Roundhouse]] 1976
* ''[[Perkin Warbeck (play)|Perkin Warbeck]]'' (Hialas/Astley/Spanish Ambassador), RSC The Other Place 1975
* ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'' (Catesby/Murderer), RSC The Other Place 1975
* ''[[Henry V (play)|Henry V]]'' (title role), RSC tour Glasgow and New York, 1975
* ''[[Henry IV, Part One]]'' and ''[[Henry IV, Part Two]]'' (Prince John of Lancaster) RSC [[Stratford-upon-Avon|Stratford]] 1975; [[Aldwych Theatre]] 1976
* ''[[As You Like It]]'' (Oliver), RSC Stratford 1977, Aldwych 1978
* ''[[Henry V (play)|Henry V]]'' (Scroop/Williams), RSC Stratford 1977
* ''[[Henry VI, Part 2]]'' (Buckingham), RSC Stratford 1977; Aldwych 1978
* ''[[The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs]]'' (Whistling Guard/Freeman) RSC [[Donmar Warehouse]] 1978; The Other Place 1979
* ''[[Coriolanus]]'' (Volscian Lieutenant), RSC Stratford 1977; (Tullus Aufidius) Aldwych 1978 and 1979, and on tour in Paris (where he played the title role for two performances) and other European cities.
* ''[[The Women Pirates]]'' (Blackie/Vosquin), RSC Aldwych 1978
* ''[[The Changeling (play)|The Changeling]]'' (Tomazo), RSC Aldwych 1978
* ''[[Irma la Douce]]'' (Nestor), [[Shaftesbury Theatre]] 1979
* ''[[The Heiress]]'' (Morris Townsend), UK tour 1980
* ''[[Turning Over]]'' (Frank), [[Bush Theatre]] 1983
* ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' (Erik) 1990
* ''[[Coriolanus]]'' (title role), RSC Stratford and [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] 1989; [[Barbican Theatre]] 1990
* ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]'' (Vershinin) Birmingham Rep 1998
* ''[[Good (play)|Good]]'' (John Halder), Donmar Warehouse 1999
* ''[[Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' (James Tyrone), [[Lyric Theatre (London)|Lyric Theatre]] 2000
* ''[[The Play What I Wrote]]'' (guest-starred), [[Wyndham's Theatre]] 2001-02
* ''[[Celebration (play)|Celebration]]'' (Richard), staged reading of Pinter's play, [[Gate Theatre]], [[Dublin]]; [[Albery Theatre]] 2005.
* ''[[The Exonerated]]'', [[Riverside Studios]], [[Hammersmith]], London 2006
* ''[[Eh Joe]]'' (Joe), Parade Theatre, Sydney, as part of Michael Golgan's Gate Theatre Dublin company at the [[Sydney Theatre Festival]] 2006
* ''[[Shadowlands]]'' (C. S. Lewis), UK tour, Wyndham's Theatre 2007 and Novello Theatre 2007-2008


He is in a relationship with Italian production manager and former actress Alessandra Masi, whom he met in [[Italy]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Billen |first=Andrew |date=23 November 2024 |title=Charles Dance at 78: 'I was the thinking woman's crumpet' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/celebrity/article/charles-dance-at-78-i-was-the-thinking-womans-crumpet-ql00qvz5d |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=[[The Times]]}}</ref>
==Further reading==

* ''[[Who's Who in the Theatre]]'', 16th/17th editions, edited by [[Ian Herbert]], Pitman/Gale 1977/1981
As of 2018, Dance resides in [[Kentish Town]], [[London]].<ref>https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/celebrity-homes/game-of-thrones-star-charles-dance-does-battle-for-his-kentish-town-pub-a122761.html</ref>
* ''[[Theatre Record]]'' and Theatre Record Indexes

* ''[[Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies]]'' Fourth edition by John Walker, HarperCollins 2006 ISBN 978-0-00-716957-3
==Political views==
* Charles Dance's own CVs in various theatre programmes
Dance has described his political views as "[[British left|very left-of-centre]]"<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/OF+JOY.-a0307213174|title=Of Joy|first=Marion|last=McMullen|journal=Coventry Newspapers|date=2012|accessdate=17 October 2023}}</ref> and "[[Hard left|a bit left of centre-left]]". He supported the UK remaining in the [[European Union]] in the run-up to the [[2016 EU referendum]], and expressed his wish for the country to be closer to [[Europe]] to avoid "being a little satellite of America".<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/charles-dance-on-eu-referendum-britain-should-avoid-becoming-a-satellite-of-america-a3280201.html|title=Charles Dance on EU Referendum: Britain should avoid becoming a 'satellite of America'|journal=Evening Standard|first=Emma|last=Powell|date=24 June 2016|accessdate=17 October 2023}}</ref>

In a 2020 interview with the ''[[Financial Times]]'', he felt [[National Health Service|NHS]] workers were not being offered a decent enough pay rise and labelled [[Boris Johnson]] a "bumbling buffoon".<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2c8811de-ec4d-47fc-9d5b-1fb7398d1eb9|title=Charles Dance: 'I'm not a movie star, I'm a working actor'|journal=Financial Times|first=Alexander|last=Gilmour|date=12 September 2020|accessdate=17 October 2023}}</ref>

In light of the [[Israel–Hamas war]], Dance was one of over two thousand to sign an Artists for Palestine letter calling for a ceasefire and accusing western governments of "not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://artistsforpalestine.org.uk/2023/10/17/tilda-swinton-among-2000-artists-calling-for-gaza-ceasefire/|title=Tilda Swinton among 2000+ artists calling for Gaza ceasefire|website=Artists for Palestine|date=17 October 2023|accessdate=17 October 2023}}</ref> Dance contributed to a video published by the Palestine Festival of Literature in support of South Africa's [[South Africa v. Israel (Genocide Convention)|legal motion]] accusing Israel of genocide at the [[International Court of Justice]] (ICJ).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/susan-sarandon-charles-dance-cynthia-nixon-israel-genocide-trial-1235786416/|title=Susan Sarandon, Charles Dance, Cynthia Nixon Among Stars Supporting South Africa's Genocide Charges Against Israel'|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Scott|last=Roxborough|date=12 January 2024}}</ref>

==Honours==
Dance was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) on 17 June 2006.<ref>London Gazette [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58014/supplement/10 issue 58014] 17 June 2006 page 10</ref>

== Acting credits==

=== Film ===
{{pending films key}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of film acting credits
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
|1981
|''[[For Your Eyes Only (film)|For Your Eyes Only]]''
|Claus
|
|-
|1985
| ''[[Plenty (film)|Plenty]]''
|Raymond Brock
|
|-
|1986
| ''[[The Golden Child]]''
|Sardo Numspa
|
|-
|rowspan=3|1987
| ''[[White Mischief (film)|White Mischief]]''
|[[Josslyn Hay]]
|
|-
| ''[[Good Morning, Babylon]]''
|[[D. W. Griffith]]
|
|-
| ''[[Hidden City (film)|Hidden City]]''
|James Richards
|
|-
|1988
| ''[[Pascali's Island (film)|Pascali's Island]]''
|Anthony Bowles
|
|-
|rowspan=2|1992
| ''[[Alien 3]]''
|[[List of Alien characters#Jonathan Clemens|Jonathan Clemens]]
|
|-
| ''Kalkstein''
|Surveyor
|
|-
|rowspan=2|1993
| ''[[Last Action Hero]]''
|Mr. Benedict
|
|-
| ''[[Century (film)|Century]]''
|Professor Mandry
|
|-
|rowspan=3|1994
| ''[[China Moon]]''
|Rupert Munro
|
|-
| ''[[Kabloonak]]''
|[[Robert J. Flaherty]]
|Paris Film Festival Award for Best Actor
|-
| ''Shortcut to Paradise''
|Quinn
|
|-
|1995
| ''{{Ill|The Surgeon (film)|fr|3=Terror Clinic|lt=The Surgeon}}''
|Dr. Ed Mittlesbay
|
|-
|rowspan=2|1996
| ''[[Space Truckers]]''
|Nabel / Macanudo
|
|-
| ''[[Michael Collins (film)|Michael Collins]]''
|Soames
|
|-
|1997
| ''[[The Blood Oranges (film)|The Blood Oranges]]''
|Cyril
|
|-
|rowspan=2|1998
| ''[[What Rats Won't Do]]''
|Gerald
|
|-
| ''[[Hilary and Jackie]]''
|Derek Du Pré
|
|-
|1999
| ''[[Don't Go Breaking My Heart (1999 film)|Don't Go Breaking My Heart]]''
|Frank
|
|-
|rowspan=3|2001
| ''[[Gosford Park]]''
|Raymond Stockbridge
|
|-
| ''Jurij''
|Padre di Jurij
|
|-
| ''[[Dark Blue World]]''
|Wing Commander Bentley
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2002
| ''[[Black and White (2002 film)|Black and White]]''
|Roderic Chamberlain
|
|-
| ''[[Ali G Indahouse]]''
|David Carlton
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |2003
| ''[[Swimming Pool (2003 film)|Swimming Pool]]''
|John Bosload
|
|-
| ''Labyrinth''
|Charles Lushington
|
|-
| ''City and Crimes''
|Cox William
|
|-
| ''[[Ladies in Lavender]]''
|
|Director, writer and executive producer only
|-
|rowspan=4|2006
| ''[[Dolls (2006 film)|Dolls]]''
|Narrator
|Voice; short film
|-
| ''[[Scoop (2006 film)|Scoop]]''
|Mr. Malcolm
|
|-
| ''Twice Upon a Time''
|Master of Ceremonies
|
|-
| ''[[Starter for 10 (film)|Starter for 10]]''
|Michael Harbinson
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
| ''[[The Contractor (2007 film)|The Contractor]]''
|DCS Andrew Windsor
|[[Direct-to-DVD]]
|-
| ''[[Intervention (2007 film)|Intervention]]''
|Private Investigator
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2010
| ''[[Paris Connections]]''
| Aleksandr Borinski
|
|-
| ''The Commuter''
|Traffic Warden
|Short film
|-
|rowspan=3|2011
| ''[[Ironclad (film)|Ironclad]]''
|[[Stephen Langton|Archbishop Langton]]
|
|-
| ''[[Your Highness]]''
|King Tallious
|
|-
| ''[[There Be Dragons]]''
|Monsignor Solano
|
|-
|rowspan=3|2012
| ''[[Midnight's Children (film)|Midnight's Children]]''
|William Methwold
|
|-
| ''[[Underworld: Awakening]]''
|Thomas
|
|-
| ''[[St George's Day (film)|St George's Day]]''
|Trenchard
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2013
| ''[[Patrick (2013 film)|Patrick]]''
|Doctor Roget
|
|-
| ''[[Justin and the Knights of Valour]]''
|Legantir
|Voice
|-
|rowspan=3|2014
| ''[[Viy (2014 film)|Viy]]''
|Lord Dudley
|Credited by his name in {{langx|ru|Чарльз Дэнс|Charlz Dens}}
|-
|''[[Dracula Untold]]''
|Master Vampire
|
|-
| ''[[The Imitation Game]]''
|[[Alastair Denniston|Commander Alastair Denniston]]
|
|-
|rowspan=4|2015
| ''[[Victor Frankenstein (film)|Victor Frankenstein]]''
|Baron Frankenstein
|
|-
| ''[[Michiel de Ruyter (film)|Michiel de Ruyter]]''
|[[Charles II of England|Charles II]]
|
|-
| ''[[Woman in Gold (film)|Woman in Gold]]''
|Sherman
|
|-
| ''[[Child 44 (film)|Child 44]]''
|Major Grachev
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |2016
| ''[[Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (film)|Pride and Prejudice and Zombies]]''
|Mr. Bennet
|
|-
| ''[[Me Before You (film)|Me Before You]]''
|Stephen Traynor
|
|-
| ''[[Ghostbusters (2016 film)|Ghostbusters]]''
|Harold Filmore
|
|-
| ''[[Despite the Falling Snow (film)|Despite the Falling Snow]]''
|Old Alexander
|
|-
| ''[[Underworld: Blood Wars]]''
|Thomas
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2017
| ''[[Euphoria (2017 film)|Euphoria]]''
|Mr. Daren
|
|-
| ''[[That Good Night (film)|That Good Night]]''
|The Visitor
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2018
| ''[[Johnny English Strikes Again]]''
|Agent Seven
|Cameo
|-
| ''[[Happy New Year, Colin Burstead]]''
| Bertie
|
|-
|rowspan=3|2019
| ''[[Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)|Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]''
|Alan Jonah
|
|-
| ''[[Viy 2: Journey to China]]''
|Lord Dudley
|
|-
| ''[[Fanny Lye Deliver'd]]''
|John Lye
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2020
| ''[[The Book of Vision]]''
| Johan Anmuth
|
|-
|''[[Mank]]''
|[[William Randolph Hearst]]
|<ref name="DanceMank">[https://deadline.com/2019/10/mank-amanda-seyfried-lily-collins-tuppence-middleton-david-fincher-netflix-movie-1202760689/ ‘Mank’: Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, ‘Downton Abbey's Tuppence Middleton & More Join David Fincher Pic]</ref>
|-
| 2021
| ''[[The King's Man]]''
| [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Lord Kitchener]]
| <ref>{{cite news |last1=Sneider |first1=Jeffrey |title=Exclusive: 'Game of Thrones' Star Joins 'Kingsman' Prequel; Rhys Ifans in Talks |url=https://collider.com/kingsman-prequel-rhys-ifans-daniel-bruhl-charles-dance/#images |access-date=2 December 2018 |work=Collider |date=29 November 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=3|2022
| ''[[Against the Ice]]''
| [[Niels Neergaard|Neergaard]]
|
|-
| ''Lancaster''
| Narrator
|
|-
| ''[[The Hanging Sun]]''
| Jacob
|
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2024
|''[[The First Omen]]''
|Father Harris
|Cameo
|-
| ''[[Rumours (2024 film)|Rumours]]''
| Edison Wolcott
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/movies/rumours-review-2024|website=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]|date=20 May 2024|first=Lou|last=Thomas|title=Rumours}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Amanece en Samaná]]'' || || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimahora.es/noticias/cultura/2024/10/02/2252679/cine-lanzan-trailer-amanece-samana-nueva-pelicula-del-mallorquin-rafa-cortes.html|website=[[Última Hora (Spain)|Última Hora]]|date=2 October 2024|first=Adrián|last=Malagamba|title=Lanzan el tráiler de 'Amanece en Samaná', la nueva película del mallorquín Rafa Cortés}}</ref>
|-
| 2025
| {{pending film|[[Frankenstein (2025 film)|Frankenstein]]}} ||
| {{TableTBA}}
|-
| {{TableTBA}}
| {{pending film|The Liar}}{{Citation needed |date=March 2024}}
| Tickford
<!--do ''not'' put films that are 'in pre-production' or 'in development' per WP:CRYSTAL-->
|}<!-- Do not add future projects until filming has begun as verified by a reliable source per WP:FILMOGRAPHY -->

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of television acting credits
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|1974
| ''[[Father Brown (1974 TV series)|Father Brown]]''
|Commandant Neil O'Brien
|Episode: "The Secret Garden"
|-
| ''The Inheritors''
|Simon Leadbetter
|Episode: "Fathers and Sons"
|-
|1975
| ''[[Edward the Seventh]]''
|[[Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|Prince Eddy]]
|2 episodes
|-
|1977
| ''[[Raffles (TV series)|Raffles]]''
|Teddy Garland
|Episode: "Mr. Justice Raffles"
|-
|1980, 1984
| ''[[Play for Today]]''
|Colin / Captain John Truman
|2 episodes
|-
|1982
| ''[[Nancy Astor (TV series)|Nancy Astor]]''
|Edward Hartford-Jones
|Episode: "Guest for the Weekend"
|-
|rowspan=2|1983
| ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]''
|Parker
|Episode: "The Ojuka Situation"
|-
| ''The Last Day''
|Alan
|Television
|-
|rowspan=2|1984
| ''[[The Jewel in the Crown (TV series)|The Jewel in the Crown]]''
|Guy Perron
|5 episodes
|-
| ''The Secret Servant''
|Harry Maxim
| Mini-series
|-
|1985
| ''Time for Murder''
|James Latimer
| Episode: "This Lightning Always Strikes Twice"
|-
|rowspan=2|1987
| ''[[Out on a Limb (book)|Out on a Limb]]''
|Gerry Stamford
|2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Tales of the Unexpected (TV series)|Tales of the Unexpected]]''
|Robert Smythe
|Episode: "Skeleton in the Cupboard"
|-
|rowspan=2|1988
| ''[[First Born (TV series)|First Born]]''
|Edward Forester
|3 episodes
|-
| ''Out of the Shadows''
|Michael Hayden
|Television film
|-
|rowspan=2|1989
| ''[[Goldeneye (1989 film)|Goldeneye: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming]]''
|[[Ian Fleming]]
|2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Mission: Impossible (1988 TV series)|Mission: Impossible]]''
|Prime Minister
|Episode: "Command Performance"
|-
|1990
| ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1990 miniseries)|The Phantom of the Opera]]''
|[[Erik (The Phantom of the Opera)|Erik/The Phantom]]
|2 episodes
|-
|1996
| ''[[Undertow (1996 film)|Undertow]]''
|Lyle Yates
|Television film
|-
|rowspan=2|1997
| ''[[Rebecca (1997 TV series)|Rebecca]]''
|Maxim de Winter
|2 episodes
|-
| ''[[In the Presence of Mine Enemies (film)|In the Presence of Mine Enemies]]''
|Captain Richter
|Television film
|-
|1999
| ''Chrono-Perambulator''
|James "Dougie" Douglas
|Television short
|-
|rowspan=4|2000
| ''The Real Spartacus''
|Narrator
|
|-
| ''Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes''
|Sir Henry Carlyle
| Episode: "The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes"
|-
| ''[[A History of Britain (TV series)|A History of Britain]]''
|[[Winston Churchill]] (voice)
|Episode: "The Two Winstons"
|-
|''[[Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) (2000 TV series)|Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)]]''
|Kenneth Crisby
|Episode: "Drop Dead"
|-
|2001
| ''[[The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (2001 film)|The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby]]''
|Ralph Nickleby
|Television film
|-
|rowspan=2|2002
| ''[[Foyle's War]]''
|Guy Spencer
|Episode: "[[Foyle's War (series one)#"The White Feather"|The White Feather]]"
|-
| ''[[Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future (TV series)|Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future]]''
|Col. Simon Lasker (voice)
|Episode: "Pilot of the Future"
|-
|rowspan=3|2003
| ''[[Henry VIII (TV serial)|Henry VIII]]''
|[[Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham|Duke of Buckingham]]
|Television film
|-
| ''[[Trial & Retribution]]''
|Greg Harwood
|Television film
|-
| ''[[Looking for Victoria]]''
|[[Charles Greville (diarist)|Charles Greville]]
|Television film
|-
|rowspan=2|2004
| ''When Hitler Invaded Britain''
|Narrator
|Documentary
|-
| ''[[Saint John Bosco: Mission to Love]]''
|Marquis Clementi
|Television film
|-
|rowspan=5|2005
| ''[[Fingersmith (TV serial)|Fingersmith]]''
|Mr. Lilly
|2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Bleak House (2005 TV serial)|Bleak House]]''
|Mr. Tulkinghorn
|12 episodes
|-
| ''[[To the Ends of the Earth (TV series)|To the Ends of the Earth]]''
|Sir Henry Somerset
|Episode: "Close Quarters"
|-
| ''[[Last Rights (TV series)|Last Rights]]''
|Richard Wheeler
|3 episodes
|-
| ''Titanic: Birth of a Legend''
|Narrator
|Documentary
|-
|2006
| ''[[Agatha Christie's Marple|Marple: By the Pricking of My Thumbs]]''
|Septimus Bligh
|Episode: "By the Pricking of My Thumbs"
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
| ''[[Fallen Angel (British TV series)|Fallen Angel]]''
|David Byfield
|3 episodes
|-
| ''[[Consenting Adults (2007 film)|Consenting Adults]]''
|[[John Wolfenden]]
|Television film
|-
|rowspan=2|2009
| ''[[Merlin (2008 TV series)|Merlin]]''
|[[List of Merlin characters#Aredian|Aredian]]
|Episode: "The Witchfinder"
|-
| ''[[Trinity (British TV series)|Trinity]]''
|Dr. Edmund Maltravers
|8 episodes
|-
|2010
| ''[[Terry Pratchett's Going Postal|Going Postal]]''
|[[Lord Vetinari|Havelock Vetinari]]
|2 episodes
|-
|2010{{nbnd}}2011
| ''Rosamunde Pilcher's Shades of Love''
|Edmund Aird
|4 episodes
|-
|2011{{nbnd}}2015
| ''[[Game of Thrones]]''
|{{sort|Lannister|[[Tywin Lannister]]}}
|27 episodes
|-
|2011
| ''[[Neverland (miniseries)|Neverland]]''
|Dr. Richard Fludd
|Episode: "Part 1"
|-
|rowspan=2|2012
| ''[[Secret State (TV series)|Secret State]]''
|John Hodder
|4 episodes
|-
| ''[[Strike Back: Vengeance]]''
|Conrad Knox
|10 episodes
|-
|2013
| ''[[Bones of the Buddha]]''
|Narrator
|Documentary
|-
|2014
| ''[[The Great Fire (TV series)|The Great Fire]]''
|Lord Denton
|4 episodes
|-
|rowspan=3|2015
| ''[[Childhood's End (miniseries)|Childhood's End]]''
|Karellen
|3 episodes
|-
| ''[[Deadline Gallipoli]]''
|[[Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton|General Ian Hamilton]]
|2 episodes
|-
| ''[[And Then There Were None (TV serial)|And Then There Were None]]''
|Justice Lawrence Wargrave
|3 episodes
|-
|rowspan=3|2018
| ''[[The Woman in White (2018 TV series)|The Woman in White]]''
|Mr. Fredrick Fairlie
|4 episodes
|-
| ''[[Hang Ups (TV series)|Hang Ups]]''
|Jeremy Pitt
|4 episodes
|-
| ''[[The Little Drummer Girl (TV series)|The Little Drummer Girl]]''
|Commander Picton
|2 episodes
|-
|2019
| ''[[The Widow (TV series)|The Widow]]''
|Martin Benson
|7 episodes
|-
| 2019{{nbnd}}2020
| ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''
|[[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Louis, Earl Mountbatten of Burma]]
| {{br list | Main role ([[The Crown (season 3)|Seasons 3]]–[[The Crown (season 4)|4]]) | 5 episodes}}
|-
|2020
| ''[[The Singapore Grip (TV series)|The Singapore Grip]]''
|Mr. Webb
|Episode: "Singapore for Beginners"
|-
|2020{{nbnd}}2022
|''[[Rise of Empires: Ottoman]]''
|Narrator
|12 episodes
|-
|rowspan=3|2022
| ''[[The Sandman (TV series)|The Sandman]]''
|[[List of The Sandman characters#Roderick Burgess|Roderick Burgess]]
|Episode: "Sleep of the Just"
|-
| ''[[The Serpent Queen]]''
|[[Pope Clement VII]]
|2 episodes
|-
|''[[This England (TV series)|This England]]''
|[[Max Hastings]]
|Episode #1.1
|-
|2023
|''[[Rabbit Hole (TV series)|Rabbit Hole]]''
|Ben Wilson
|8 episodes
|-
|2024
|''[[The Day of the Jackal (TV series)|The Day of the Jackal]]''
|Timothy Winthorp
|Miniseries
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty]]''
| [[Michelangelo]]
| Post-production<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/celebrity/article/charles-dance-at-78-i-was-the-thinking-womans-crumpet-ql00qvz5d|website=[[The Times]]|accessdate=25 November 2024|title= Charles Dance at 78: 'I was the thinking woman's crumpet'|first=Andrew|last=Billen|date=18 November 2024}}</ref>
|-
|{{TableTBA}}
|''[[Washington Black (TV series)|Washington Black]]''
|James Wilde
|Upcoming miniseries

|}

=== Video games ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of video game credits
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Voice role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{refh}}
|-
!scope=row|2015
|''[[The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt]]''
|Emperor Emhyr var Emreis
|English Dub
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thewitcher.com/en/news/view/396|title=The Witcher – News|publisher=CD Projekt Red|access-date=18 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813040443/http://thewitcher.com/en/news/view/396|archive-date=13 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="btva">{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Charles-Dance/|title=Charles Dance - 2 Character Images|website=Behind The Voice Actors}}</ref>
|-
!scope=row|2018
|''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops 4]]''
|Godfrey The Butler
|"Dead of the Night" Zombies Map
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wade |first1=Jessie |title=Game of Thrones, Metal Gear Stars among Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's Zombies Mode Cast |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/12/game-of-thrones-metal-gear-stars-among-call-of-duty-black-ops-4s-zombies-mode-cast |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=13 December 2018 |date=12 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |title=Black Ops 4's new Zombies mode stars Kiefer Sutherland, Helena Bonham Carter |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/12/11/18136353/call-of-duty-black-ops-4-zombies-dead-of-night-update |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=11 December 2018 |date=13 December 2018}}</ref>
|}

=== Audiobooks ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of audiobook credits
|-
!scope="col" | Year
!scope="col" | Title
!scope="col" | Author
!scope="col" | Voice role
!scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{refh}}
|-
!scope=row|1985
|''[[The Fourth Protocol]]''
|Frederick Forsyth
|Narrator
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/0886461340|title=The Fourth Protocol|date=1985|publisher=Dh Audio}}</ref>
|}

=== Podcasts ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of podcast credits
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Voice role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{refh}}
|-
!scope=row|2020
|''Hindsight''
|Narrator
|An Al Jazeera Podcast
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 October 2020|title=Al Jazeera Podcasts Launches Historical Docudrama Series, Hindsight|url=https://ajmn.tv/3q9q4|access-date=20 November 2020|website=Al Jazeera Media Network}}</ref>
|}

=== Stage ===
{{div col}}
* ''[[Toad of Toad Hall]]'' as Badger (1971)
* ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]'' as Wat Dreary ([[Chichester Festival Theatre]], 1972)
* ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' as Philip (Chichester, 1972)
* ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]'' as Soliony ([[Greenwich Theatre]], 1973)
* ''Hans Kohlhaus'' as Meissen (Greenwich, 1973)
* ''[[Born Yesterday (play)|Born Yesterday]]'' as Hotel Manager (Greenwich, 1973)
* ''[[Saint Joan (play)|Saint Joan]]'' as Baudricourt (Oxford Festival, 1974)
* ''[[Sleeping Beauty|The Sleeping Beauty]]'' as Prince (1974)
* ''[[Travesties]]'' as Henry Carr (Leeds Playhouse, 1977)
* ''[[Hamlet]]'' as Fortinbras / Reynaldo / Player ([[Royal Shakespeare Company|RSC]] [[The Other Place (theatre)|The Other Place]] 1975; [[The Roundhouse]], 1976)
* ''[[Perkin Warbeck (play)|Perkin Warbeck]]'' as Hialas / Astley / Spanish Ambassador (RSC The Other Place, 1975)
* ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'' as Catesby / Murderer (RSC The Other Place, 1975)
* ''[[Henry V (play)|Henry V]]'' as Henry V (RSC Glasgow and New York, 1975)
* ''[[Henry IV, Part One]]'' and ''[[Henry IV, Part Two]]'' as Prince John of Lancaster (RSC [[Stratford-upon-Avon|Stratford]], 1975; [[Aldwych Theatre]], 1976)
* ''[[As You Like It]]'' as Oliver (RSC Stratford, 1977; Aldwych, 1978)
* ''[[Henry V (play)|Henry V]]'' as Scroop / Williams (RSC Stratford, 1977)
* ''[[Henry VI, Part 2]]'' as Buckingham (RSC Stratford, 1977; Aldwych, 1978)
* ''The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs'' as Whistling Guard / Freeman (RSC [[Donmar Warehouse]], 1978; The Other Place, 1979)
* ''[[Coriolanus]]'' as Volscian Lieutenant (RSC Stratford, 1977)
* ''[[Coriolanus]]'' as Tullus Aufidius (Aldwych, 1978 and 1979)
* ''The Women Pirates'' as Blackie / Vosquin (RSC Aldwych, 1978)
* ''[[The Changeling (play)|The Changeling]]'' as Tomazo (RSC Aldwych, 1978)
* ''[[Irma la Douce]]'' as Nestor ([[Shaftesbury Theatre]], 1979)
* ''[[The Heiress (1947 play)|The Heiress]]'' as Morris Townsend (1980)
* ''Turning Over'' as Frank ([[Bush Theatre]], 1983)
* ''[[Coriolanus]]'' as Coriolanus (RSC Stratford and [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], 1989; [[Barbican Theatre]], 1990)
* ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]'' as Vershinin (Birmingham Rep, 1998)
* ''[[Good (play)|Good]]'' as John Halder (Donmar Warehouse, 1999)
* ''[[Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' as James Tyrone ([[Lyric Theatre (London)|Lyric Theatre]], 2000)
* ''[[The Play What I Wrote]]'' as a guest star ([[Wyndham's Theatre]], 2001{{nbnd}}2002) and ([[Theatre Royal, Bath]], 2022)
* ''[[Celebration (play)|Celebration]]'' as Richard ([[Gate Theatre]], [[Dublin]]; [[Albery Theatre]], 2005)
* ''[[The Exonerated (play)|The Exonerated]]'' ([[Riverside Studios]], [[Hammersmith]], London, 2006)
* ''[[Eh Joe]]'' as Joe (Parade Theatre, Sydney, 2006)
* ''[[Shadowlands (1985 film)#Stage|Shadowlands]]'' as [[C. S. Lewis]] (Wyndham's Theatre, 2007 and Novello Theatre 2007{{nbnd}}2008)
{{div col end}}

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of awards and nominations received by Charles Dance
|-
! scope="col" | Organizations
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Work
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{refh}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA TV Awards]]
| 1985
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| ''[[The Jewel in the Crown (TV series)|The Jewel in the Crown]]''
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1985/television|title=Television in 1985 - BAFTA Awards|date=16 April 2020|website=awards.bafta.org|publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Critics' Choice Movie Awards]]
| [[7th Critics' Choice Awards|2002]]
| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble|Best Acting Ensemble]]
| ''[[Gosford Park]]''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bfca.org/ccawards/2001.php |title=The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards 2001 |publisher=[[Broadcast Film Critics Association]] |date=11 January 2002 |access-date=16 April 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219132005/http://www.bfca.org/ccawards/2001.php |archive-date=19 February 2012}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="4"| [[Primetime Emmy Award]]s
| [[58th Primetime Emmy Awards|2006]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie]]
| ''[[Bleak House (2005 TV serial)|Bleak House]]''
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/charles-dance|title=Charles Dance|date=14 July 2021|website=emmys.com|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]}}</ref>
|-
| [[70th Primetime Emmy Awards|2018]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator|Outstanding Narrator]]
| rowspan="2"| ''Savage Kingdom''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[71st Primetime Emmy Awards|2019]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[73rd Primetime Emmy Awards|2021]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="5"| [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| [[8th Screen Actors Guild Awards|2002]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]]
| ''[[Gosford Park]]''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5"|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sagawards.org/nominees/sagawards-search|title=Search - Screen Actors Guild Awards|date=16 April 2020|website=sagawards.org|quote=Search for ''Charles Dance''.}}</ref>
|-
| [[20th Screen Actors Guild Awards|2014]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series]]
| rowspan="2"| ''[[Game of Thrones]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[21st Screen Actors Guild Awards|2015]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
| ''[[The Imitation Game]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[26th Screen Actors Guild Awards|2020]]
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
| ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''
| {{won}}
|}


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== Further reading ==
==External links==
* ''Who's Who in the Theatre'', 16th/17th editions, edited by Ian Herbert, Pitman/Gale 1977/1981
* ''[[Theatre Record]]'' and Theatre Record Indexes
* ''[[Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies]]'' Fourth edition by John Walker, HarperCollins 2006 {{ISBN|978-0-00-716957-3}}
* Charles Dance's own CVs in various theatre programmes

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Instagram|Crlsdnc}}
* {{IMDb name|1097|Charles Dance}}
* {{IMDb name|1097|Charles Dance}}
* {{Screenonline name|523340|Charles Dance}}


{{Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward CastMotionPicture 2001–2010}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2010}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Dance, Charles
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =10 October 1946
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Redditch]], [[Worcestershire]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dance, Charles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dance, Charles}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Alumni of De Montfort University]]
[[Category:Alumni of De Montfort University]]
[[Category:English film actors]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Plymouth College of Art]]
[[Category:English film directors]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
[[Category:English screenwriters]]
[[Category:Critics' Circle Theatre Award winners]]
[[Category:English stage actors]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English television actors]]
[[Category:English male Shakespearean actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English people of Belgian descent]]
[[Category:Male actors from Plymouth, Devon]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Redditch]]
[[Category:People from Redditch]]
[[Category:Royal Shakespeare Company members]]
[[Category:Royal Shakespeare Company members]]

[[ar:تشارلز دانس]]
[[bg:Чарлс Данс]]
[[da:Charles Dance]]
[[de:Charles Dance]]
[[fr:Charles Dance]]
[[it:Charles Dance]]
[[he:צ'ארלס דאנס]]
[[nl:Charles Dance]]
[[ja:チャールズ・ダンス]]
[[pl:Charles Dance]]
[[pt:Charles Dance]]
[[ru:Дэнс, Чарльз]]
[[fi:Charles Dance]]
[[sv:Charles Dance]]
[[uk:Чарльз Денс]]
[[es:Charles Dance]]

Latest revision as of 05:03, 24 December 2024

This article is about the contemporary English actor. For other uses, see Charles Dance (disambiguation).

Charles Dance
OBE
Dance in July 2012
Born
Walter Charles Dance

(1946-10-10) 10 October 1946 (age 78)
Redditch, Worcestershire, England
OccupationActor
Years active1971–present
Spouse
Joanna Haythorn
​
​
(m. 1970; div. 2004)​
Children3

Walter Charles Dance (born 10 October 1946) is an English actor. He is known for playing intimidating, authoritarian characters and villains. Dance started his career on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) before appearing in film and television. For his services to drama he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.[1]

He made his feature film debut in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981). He since acted in a string of critically acclaimed period films such as Michael Collins (1996), Gosford Park (2001), The Imitation Game (2014), Mank (2020), and The King's Man (2021). He has also appeared in the films The Golden Child (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Last Action Hero (1993), Dracula Untold (2014), and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019). He made his directorial film debut with the drama film Ladies in Lavender (2004), which he also wrote and executive produced.

On television, Dance played Guy Perron in The Jewel in the Crown (1984), Mr Tulkinghorn in Bleak House (2005), Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones (2011–2015), and Lord Mountbatten in the third and fourth seasons of The Crown (2019–2020). For his role in The Crown, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

Early life

[edit]

Walter Charles Dance was born in Redditch, Worcestershire, on 10 October 1946, the younger son of Eleanor Marion (née Perks; 1911–1984), a cook, and Walter Dance (1874–1949), an electrical engineer who served as a sergeant in the 2nd Regular Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers during the Second Boer War (having previously served in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion) and who was in his 70s when his younger son was born.[2][3] By his father's previous marriage, Dance had two older half-sisters, Norah (1898–1993) and Mary (1903–1908).[4] On his maternal side, he also has an elder half-brother, Michael (born 1936).[5]

During filming of an episode for the genealogical series Who Do You Think You Are? in 2016, Dance discovered that his mother had Belgian ancestry, which traced back to the city of Spa. His immigrant ancestor Charles François Futvoye (1777–1847) had been a pioneer in the art of japanning during the early half of the 19th century.[4] Growing up in Plymouth, Dance attended the now-defunct Widey Technical School for Boys (then known as Widey High School) in Crownhill.[6] He later attended the Plymouth Drawing School (later renamed to Plymouth College of Art, and now known as Arts University Plymouth) and Leicester College of Arts (now known as De Montfort University), where he studied graphic design and photography.[7]

Career

[edit]
Shadowlands at the Wyndham's.

Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)

[edit]

Dance was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company during the mid-to-late 1970s and was in many of their productions in London and Stratford-upon-Avon. Later he returned to the RSC to take the title role in Coriolanus at Stratford-upon-Avon and Newcastle in 1989, and at the Barbican Theatre in 1990. He received rave reviews and a Critics' Circle Best Actor award for his performance as C. S. Lewis in William Nicholson's Shadowlands, in the 2007 stage revival.[8]

Television and film

[edit]

Dance made his screen debut in 1974, in the ITV series Father Brown as Commandant Neil O'Brien in "The Secret Garden". Other small parts followed, including a 1983 cameo as a South African assassin in The Professionals, but his big break came the following year when he played Guy Perron in The Jewel in the Crown (Granada Television, Christopher Morahan 1984), an adaptation of Paul Scott's novels that also made stars of Geraldine James and Art Malik. Dance made one of his earliest big-screen appearances in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only as evil henchman Claus. Though he turned down the opportunity to screen test for the James Bond role,[9] in 1989 he played Bond creator Ian Fleming in Anglia Television's dramatised biography directed by Don Boyd, Goldeneye (the name of Fleming's estate in Jamaica and a title later used for a James Bond film).

He has also starred in many other British television dramas such as Edward the Seventh (as Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, Edward VII's oldest son, and heir to the throne), Murder Rooms, Randall and Hopkirk, Rebecca, The Phantom of the Opera, Fingersmith and Bleak House (for which he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie). He was name-checked in the British comedy series Absolutely Fabulous, as being slated to play the title character in The Life of Jesus Christ 2, which was filming in Morocco at the same time as the main characters of the series were there for a photo shoot. He also played Guy Spencer, the pro-Hitler propagandist, in the second instalment of Foyle's War, and had an ongoing role as Dr. Maltravers in the ITV drama Trinity.[10]

Dance made a guest appearance on the BBC drama series Merlin as the Witchfinder Aredian,[11] and as a vainglorious version of himself in the third series of Jam & Jerusalem. He played Lord Vetinari in the 2010 Sky adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, and the Russian oligarch Aleksandr Borinski in Paris Connections.[12] He played the role of Tywin Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones, based on the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin. Dance was wooed for the role by the producers while filming Your Highness in Belfast.[13] Dance also played Conrad Knox on the British television series Strike Back: Vengeance as the primary villain in the series.[14]

Since 2012, Dance has had a recurring role in The Big Fat Quiz of the Year reading excerpts from books, such as Fifty Shades of Grey or the autobiographies of English media personalities, in a deadpan manner. On 30 June 2013, Dance appeared with other celebrities in an episode of the BBC's Top Gear as a "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" for the debut of the Vauxhall Astra.[15] In summer 2018, Dance narrated a documentary entitled Spitfire, which featured the legendary Supermarine Spitfire and recounted the efforts of the RAF pilots who flew them during the Second World War.

In 2019 he played an antagonist in Godzilla: King of the Monsters and appeared as Lord Mountbatten in series 3 of The Crown in the same year. In 2020, Dance portrayed William Randolph Hearst in David Fincher's Mank, co-starring alongside Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried.[16] In January 2021, Dance was cast in the Netflix adaptation of The Sandman.[17]

In 2024 Dance starred as Michelangelo in the BBC docu-drama Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty.[18][19]

Screenwriting and directing

[edit]

Dance's debut film as a screenwriter and director was Ladies in Lavender (2004), which starred Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. In 2009, he directed his own adaptation of Alice Thomas Ellis's The Inn at the Edge of the World.

Personal life

[edit]

Dance married Joanna Haythorn in 1970, and they had a son named Oliver (born 1974) and a daughter named Rebecca (born 1980) before divorcing in 2004.[20][21]

He later dated Eleanor Boorman from 2008 to 2012, and they had a daughter named Rose (born 2012).[22]

He is in a relationship with Italian production manager and former actress Alessandra Masi, whom he met in Italy in 2018.[23]

As of 2018, Dance resides in Kentish Town, London.[24]

Political views

[edit]

Dance has described his political views as "very left-of-centre"[25] and "a bit left of centre-left". He supported the UK remaining in the European Union in the run-up to the 2016 EU referendum, and expressed his wish for the country to be closer to Europe to avoid "being a little satellite of America".[26]

In a 2020 interview with the Financial Times, he felt NHS workers were not being offered a decent enough pay rise and labelled Boris Johnson a "bumbling buffoon".[27]

In light of the Israel–Hamas war, Dance was one of over two thousand to sign an Artists for Palestine letter calling for a ceasefire and accusing western governments of "not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them."[28] Dance contributed to a video published by the Palestine Festival of Literature in support of South Africa's legal motion accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).[29]

Honours

[edit]

Dance was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) on 17 June 2006.[30]

Acting credits

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
List of film acting credits
Year Title Role Notes
1981 For Your Eyes Only Claus
1985 Plenty Raymond Brock
1986 The Golden Child Sardo Numspa
1987 White Mischief Josslyn Hay
Good Morning, Babylon D. W. Griffith
Hidden City James Richards
1988 Pascali's Island Anthony Bowles
1992 Alien 3 Jonathan Clemens
Kalkstein Surveyor
1993 Last Action Hero Mr. Benedict
Century Professor Mandry
1994 China Moon Rupert Munro
Kabloonak Robert J. Flaherty Paris Film Festival Award for Best Actor
Shortcut to Paradise Quinn
1995 The Surgeon [fr] Dr. Ed Mittlesbay
1996 Space Truckers Nabel / Macanudo
Michael Collins Soames
1997 The Blood Oranges Cyril
1998 What Rats Won't Do Gerald
Hilary and Jackie Derek Du Pré
1999 Don't Go Breaking My Heart Frank
2001 Gosford Park Raymond Stockbridge
Jurij Padre di Jurij
Dark Blue World Wing Commander Bentley
2002 Black and White Roderic Chamberlain
Ali G Indahouse David Carlton
2003 Swimming Pool John Bosload
Labyrinth Charles Lushington
City and Crimes Cox William
Ladies in Lavender Director, writer and executive producer only
2006 Dolls Narrator Voice; short film
Scoop Mr. Malcolm
Twice Upon a Time Master of Ceremonies
Starter for 10 Michael Harbinson
2007 The Contractor DCS Andrew Windsor Direct-to-DVD
Intervention Private Investigator
2010 Paris Connections Aleksandr Borinski
The Commuter Traffic Warden Short film
2011 Ironclad Archbishop Langton
Your Highness King Tallious
There Be Dragons Monsignor Solano
2012 Midnight's Children William Methwold
Underworld: Awakening Thomas
St George's Day Trenchard
2013 Patrick Doctor Roget
Justin and the Knights of Valour Legantir Voice
2014 Viy Lord Dudley Credited by his name in Russian: Чарльз Дэнс, romanized: Charlz Dens
Dracula Untold Master Vampire
The Imitation Game Commander Alastair Denniston
2015 Victor Frankenstein Baron Frankenstein
Michiel de Ruyter Charles II
Woman in Gold Sherman
Child 44 Major Grachev
2016 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Mr. Bennet
Me Before You Stephen Traynor
Ghostbusters Harold Filmore
Despite the Falling Snow Old Alexander
Underworld: Blood Wars Thomas
2017 Euphoria Mr. Daren
That Good Night The Visitor
2018 Johnny English Strikes Again Agent Seven Cameo
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead Bertie
2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters Alan Jonah
Viy 2: Journey to China Lord Dudley
Fanny Lye Deliver'd John Lye
2020 The Book of Vision Johan Anmuth
Mank William Randolph Hearst [16]
2021 The King's Man Lord Kitchener [31]
2022 Against the Ice Neergaard
Lancaster Narrator
The Hanging Sun Jacob
2024 The First Omen Father Harris Cameo
Rumours Edison Wolcott [32]
Amanece en Samaná [33]
2025 Frankenstein † TBA
TBA The Liar †[citation needed] Tickford

Television

[edit]
List of television acting credits
Year Title Role Notes
1974 Father Brown Commandant Neil O'Brien Episode: "The Secret Garden"
The Inheritors Simon Leadbetter Episode: "Fathers and Sons"
1975 Edward the Seventh Prince Eddy 2 episodes
1977 Raffles Teddy Garland Episode: "Mr. Justice Raffles"
1980, 1984 Play for Today Colin / Captain John Truman 2 episodes
1982 Nancy Astor Edward Hartford-Jones Episode: "Guest for the Weekend"
1983 The Professionals Parker Episode: "The Ojuka Situation"
The Last Day Alan Television
1984 The Jewel in the Crown Guy Perron 5 episodes
The Secret Servant Harry Maxim Mini-series
1985 Time for Murder James Latimer Episode: "This Lightning Always Strikes Twice"
1987 Out on a Limb Gerry Stamford 2 episodes
Tales of the Unexpected Robert Smythe Episode: "Skeleton in the Cupboard"
1988 First Born Edward Forester 3 episodes
Out of the Shadows Michael Hayden Television film
1989 Goldeneye: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming Ian Fleming 2 episodes
Mission: Impossible Prime Minister Episode: "Command Performance"
1990 The Phantom of the Opera Erik/The Phantom 2 episodes
1996 Undertow Lyle Yates Television film
1997 Rebecca Maxim de Winter 2 episodes
In the Presence of Mine Enemies Captain Richter Television film
1999 Chrono-Perambulator James "Dougie" Douglas Television short
2000 The Real Spartacus Narrator
Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes Sir Henry Carlyle Episode: "The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes"
A History of Britain Winston Churchill (voice) Episode: "The Two Winstons"
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) Kenneth Crisby Episode: "Drop Dead"
2001 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Ralph Nickleby Television film
2002 Foyle's War Guy Spencer Episode: "The White Feather"
Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future Col. Simon Lasker (voice) Episode: "Pilot of the Future"
2003 Henry VIII Duke of Buckingham Television film
Trial & Retribution Greg Harwood Television film
Looking for Victoria Charles Greville Television film
2004 When Hitler Invaded Britain Narrator Documentary
Saint John Bosco: Mission to Love Marquis Clementi Television film
2005 Fingersmith Mr. Lilly 2 episodes
Bleak House Mr. Tulkinghorn 12 episodes
To the Ends of the Earth Sir Henry Somerset Episode: "Close Quarters"
Last Rights Richard Wheeler 3 episodes
Titanic: Birth of a Legend Narrator Documentary
2006 Marple: By the Pricking of My Thumbs Septimus Bligh Episode: "By the Pricking of My Thumbs"
2007 Fallen Angel David Byfield 3 episodes
Consenting Adults John Wolfenden Television film
2009 Merlin Aredian Episode: "The Witchfinder"
Trinity Dr. Edmund Maltravers 8 episodes
2010 Going Postal Havelock Vetinari 2 episodes
2010‍–‍2011 Rosamunde Pilcher's Shades of Love Edmund Aird 4 episodes
2011‍–‍2015 Game of Thrones Tywin Lannister 27 episodes
2011 Neverland Dr. Richard Fludd Episode: "Part 1"
2012 Secret State John Hodder 4 episodes
Strike Back: Vengeance Conrad Knox 10 episodes
2013 Bones of the Buddha Narrator Documentary
2014 The Great Fire Lord Denton 4 episodes
2015 Childhood's End Karellen 3 episodes
Deadline Gallipoli General Ian Hamilton 2 episodes
And Then There Were None Justice Lawrence Wargrave 3 episodes
2018 The Woman in White Mr. Fredrick Fairlie 4 episodes
Hang Ups Jeremy Pitt 4 episodes
The Little Drummer Girl Commander Picton 2 episodes
2019 The Widow Martin Benson 7 episodes
2019‍–‍2020 The Crown Louis, Earl Mountbatten of Burma Main role (Seasons 3–4)
5 episodes
2020 The Singapore Grip Mr. Webb Episode: "Singapore for Beginners"
2020‍–‍2022 Rise of Empires: Ottoman Narrator 12 episodes
2022 The Sandman Roderick Burgess Episode: "Sleep of the Just"
The Serpent Queen Pope Clement VII 2 episodes
This England Max Hastings Episode #1.1
2023 Rabbit Hole Ben Wilson 8 episodes
2024 The Day of the Jackal Timothy Winthorp Miniseries
2024 Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty Michelangelo Post-production[34]
TBA Washington Black James Wilde Upcoming miniseries

Video games

[edit]
List of video game credits
Year Title Voice role Notes Ref.
2015 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Emperor Emhyr var Emreis English Dub [35][36]
2018 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Godfrey The Butler "Dead of the Night" Zombies Map [37][38]

Audiobooks

[edit]
List of audiobook credits
Year Title Author Voice role Ref.
1985 The Fourth Protocol Frederick Forsyth Narrator [39]

Podcasts

[edit]
List of podcast credits
Year Title Voice role Notes Ref.
2020 Hindsight Narrator An Al Jazeera Podcast [40]

Stage

[edit]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
List of awards and nominations received by Charles Dance
Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref.
BAFTA TV Awards 1985 Best Actor The Jewel in the Crown Nominated [41]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2002 Best Acting Ensemble Gosford Park Won [42]
Primetime Emmy Awards 2006 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Bleak House Nominated [43]
2018 Outstanding Narrator Savage Kingdom Nominated
2019 Nominated
2021 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series The Crown Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2002 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Gosford Park Won [44]
2014 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Game of Thrones Nominated
2015 Nominated
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The Imitation Game Nominated
2020 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Crown Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ London Gazette issue 58014 17 June 2006 page 10
  2. ^ "Charles Dance Biography (1946–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  3. ^ "Charles Dance - Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Charles Dance on Who Do You Think You Are?: Everything you need to know". Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Charles Dance - Who Do You Think You Are - A secret family and a tragic accident..." www.thegenealogist.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Widey High School, previously Widey Technical Secondary School, previously Plymouth Junior Technical School". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Winter is coming. DMU Alumnus is back on our screens with the return of Game of Thrones". dmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  8. ^ Nicholas de Jongh (9 October 2007). "Dance is poignant perfection – Theatre & Dance – Arts – London Evening Standard". Thisislondon.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
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Further reading

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