History of Charles Dance in Timeline
Walter Charles Dance, known professionally as Charles Dance, is a prominent English actor celebrated for his portrayals of imposing, authoritarian characters and villains. His acting journey began on stage with the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), leading to roles in both film and television productions. His significant contributions to drama were recognized with an OBE (Order of the British Empire) award presented by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.
1903: Birth of Mary Dance
In 1903, Mary Dance, Charles Dance's half-sister, was born.
1908: Death of Mary Dance
In 1908, Mary Dance, Charles Dance's half-sister, passed away.
1911: Birth of Eleanor Marion Perks
Eleanor Marion (née Perks), Charles Dance's mother, was born in 1911.
1936: Birth of Michael
In 1936, Michael, Charles Dance's half-brother, was born.
October 1946: Walter Charles Dance Born
In October 1946, Walter Charles Dance was born in Redditch, Worcestershire, to Eleanor Marion (née Perks) and Walter Dance.
1949: Death of Walter Dance
In 1949, Walter Dance, Charles Dance's father, passed away.
1970: Marriage to Joanna Haythorn
In 1970, Charles Dance married Joanna Haythorn.
1974: Birth of Son Oliver
In 1974, Charles Dance and Joanna Haythorn had a son named Oliver.
1974: Screen Debut in Father Brown
In 1974, Charles Dance made his screen debut in the ITV series "Father Brown" as Commandant Neil O'Brien in "The Secret Garden".
1980: Birth of Daughter Rebecca
In 1980, Charles Dance and Joanna Haythorn had a daughter named Rebecca.
1981: Feature Film Debut
In 1981, Charles Dance made his feature film debut in the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only".
1981: Appearance in For Your Eyes Only
In 1981, Charles Dance made one of his earliest big-screen appearances in the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only" as evil henchman Claus.
1983: Cameo in The Professionals
In 1983, Charles Dance had a cameo role as a South African assassin in "The Professionals".
1984: Big Break in The Jewel in the Crown
In 1984, Charles Dance had his big break playing Guy Perron in "The Jewel in the Crown", an adaptation of Paul Scott's novels.
1984: Played Guy Perron in The Jewel in the Crown
In 1984, Charles Dance played Guy Perron in "The Jewel in the Crown".
1984: Death of Eleanor Marion Dance
In 1984, Eleanor Marion (née Perks), Charles Dance's mother, passed away.
1986: Acted in The Golden Child
In 1986, Charles Dance appeared in the film "The Golden Child".
1989: Played Ian Fleming in Goldeneye
In 1989, Charles Dance played Bond creator Ian Fleming in Anglia Television's dramatised biography "Goldeneye".
1989: RSC's Coriolanus
In 1989, Charles Dance returned to the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to take the title role in Coriolanus at Stratford-upon-Avon and Newcastle.
1990: Coriolanus at the Barbican Theatre
In 1990, Charles Dance performed in Coriolanus at the Barbican Theatre.
1992: Acted in Alien 3
In 1992, Charles Dance appeared in the film "Alien 3".
1993: Acted in Last Action Hero
In 1993, Charles Dance appeared in the film "Last Action Hero".
1993: Death of Norah Dance
In 1993, Norah Dance, Charles Dance's half-sister, passed away.
1996: Acted in Michael Collins
In 1996, Charles Dance acted in the critically acclaimed period film "Michael Collins".
2001: Acted in Gosford Park
In 2001, Charles Dance acted in the critically acclaimed period film "Gosford Park".
2004: Divorce from Joanna Haythorn
In 2004, Charles Dance divorced Joanna Haythorn.
2004: Directorial Film Debut with Ladies in Lavender
In 2004, Charles Dance made his directorial film debut with the drama film "Ladies in Lavender", for which he also wrote and served as executive producer.
2004: Ladies in Lavender film
In 2004, Charles Dance's debut film as a screenwriter and director was "Ladies in Lavender", which starred Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.
2005: Played Mr. Tulkinghorn in Bleak House
In 2005, Charles Dance played Mr. Tulkinghorn in "Bleak House", for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
June 2006: Appointed OBE
On 17 June 2006, Charles Dance was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
2006: Appointed OBE
In 2006, Charles Dance was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to drama.
2007: Shadowlands stage revival
In 2007, Charles Dance received rave reviews and a Critics' Circle Best Actor award for his performance as C. S. Lewis in William Nicholson's "Shadowlands" stage revival.
2008: Relationship with Eleanor Boorman
From 2008 to 2014, Charles Dance dated Eleanor Boorman.
2009: Directed The Inn at the Edge of the World
In 2009, Charles Dance directed his own adaptation of Alice Thomas Ellis's "The Inn at the Edge of the World".
2010: Played Lord Vetinari in Going Postal
In 2010, Charles Dance played Lord Vetinari in the Sky adaptation of Terry Pratchett's "Going Postal".
2011: Played Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones
From 2011 to 2015, Charles Dance played Tywin Lannister in "Game of Thrones".
2012: Birth of Daughter Rose
In 2012, Charles Dance and Eleanor Boorman had a daughter named Rose.
2012: Recurring Role in The Big Fat Quiz of the Year
Since 2012, Charles Dance has had a recurring role in "The Big Fat Quiz of the Year" reading excerpts from books.
2014: End of Relationship with Eleanor Boorman
From 2008 to 2014, Charles Dance dated Eleanor Boorman.
2014: Acted in The Imitation Game and Dracula Untold
In 2014, Charles Dance acted in the films "The Imitation Game" and "Dracula Untold".
2015: Played Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones
From 2011 to 2015, Charles Dance played Tywin Lannister in "Game of Thrones".
2016: Discovery of Belgian Ancestry
In 2016, while filming an episode of "Who Do You Think You Are?", Charles Dance discovered his mother had Belgian ancestry.
2016: Supported Remaining in the EU
In the run-up to the 2016 EU referendum, Charles Dance supported the UK remaining in the European Union.
February 2017: Guest at Saudi Comic Con
In February 2017, Charles Dance participated as a featured guest at the inaugural Saudi Comic Con in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
2018: Residence in Kentish Town
As of 2018, Charles Dance resides in Kentish Town, London.
2018: Met Alessandra Masi
In 2018, Charles Dance met Italian production manager and former actress Alessandra Masi in Italy and started a relationship with her.
2018: Narrated Spitfire documentary
In the summer of 2018, Charles Dance narrated a documentary entitled "Spitfire", which featured the Supermarine Spitfire and recounted the efforts of the RAF pilots during the Second World War.
2019: Played Lord Mountbatten in The Crown
From 2019 to 2020, Charles Dance played Lord Mountbatten in the third and fourth seasons of "The Crown", for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
2019: Acted in Godzilla: King of the Monsters
In 2019, Charles Dance appeared in the film "Godzilla: King of the Monsters".
2019: Roles in Godzilla: King of the Monsters and The Crown
In 2019, Charles Dance played an antagonist in "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" and appeared as Lord Mountbatten in series 3 of "The Crown".
2020: Played Lord Mountbatten in The Crown
From 2019 to 2020, Charles Dance played Lord Mountbatten in the third and fourth seasons of "The Crown", for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
2020: Portrayed William Randolph Hearst in Mank
In 2020, Charles Dance portrayed William Randolph Hearst in David Fincher's "Mank".
2020: Criticism of NHS Pay and Boris Johnson
In a 2020 interview with the Financial Times, Charles Dance criticized the pay of NHS workers and labelled Boris Johnson a "bumbling buffoon".
January 2021: Cast in The Sandman
In January 2021, Charles Dance was cast in the Netflix adaptation of "The Sandman".
2021: Acted in The King's Man
In 2021, Charles Dance acted in the film "The King's Man".
October 2023: Signed Artists for Palestine Letter
In October 2023, after the Gaza war began, Charles 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."
January 2024: Contributed to Video Supporting South Africa's ICJ Motion
In January 2024, Charles 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).
September 2025: Signed Film Workers for Palestine Pledge
In September 2025, Charles Dance signed an open pledge with Film Workers for Palestine pledging not to work with Israeli film institutions "that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people."
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