Charles Dance
Charles Dance | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Dance in 2012 | |
| Born | Walter Charles Dance 10 October 1946 Redditch, Worcestershire, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Spouse |
Joanna Haythorn
(m. 1970; div. 2004) |
| Children | 3 |
Biography
Walter Charles Dance, born on October 10, 1946, in Redditch, Worcestershire, is a highly respected English actor, screenwriter, and director. He lost his father at the age of four and was raised in Plymouth by his mother, a cook. Dance initially studied graphic design and photography before turning his focus to acting, training at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
He began his professional acting career on stage in the 1970s, becoming a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. His commanding presence and deep voice quickly made him a standout. His breakout television role came in 1984 as Guy Perron in the acclaimed miniseries The Jewel in the Crown.
Dance made his film debut in the early 1980s and appeared in numerous notable films, including For Your Eyes Only (1981), The Golden Child (1986), Alien 3 (1992), and Gosford Park (2001). He is often cast as elegant or menacing authority figures, a reputation cemented by his chilling portrayal of Tywin Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones (2011–2015), which introduced him to a new generation of fans.
In 2004, Dance expanded his talents behind the camera, writing and directing Ladies in Lavender, starring Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. His television work also includes standout performances in Bleak House, The Crown, and recent historical dramas.
He was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2006 for his services to drama. Dance was married to sculptor Joanna Haythorn from 1970 to 2004, with whom he has two children, and later had a daughter with artist Eleanor Boorman.
With a career marked by refinement, intensity, and versatility, Charles Dance remains a powerful and enduring presence in British film and television.
Music (likes)
Two Paddock's Top Ten Tunes (2022)
- Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley
- Boots of Spanish Leather - Bob Dylan
- Honky Tonk Woman - The Rolling Stones
- Tristan und Isolde, Prelude - Richard Wagner
- River Deep Mountain High - Ike and Tina Turner
- Chopin D Flat Nocturne - Rosey Chan
- I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl - Nina Simone
- Saving All My Love For You - Tom Waits
- Graceland - Paul Simon
- Pinball Wizard - The Who [1]
References
- ↑ "Top Ten Tunes: Charles Dance" (Interview). Two Paddocks. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2025.