Charles Dance

Charles Dance Photo

CHARLES DANCE

Date of Birth: October 10, 1946

Charles Dance's acting history is as extensive and varied as a Spanish tapas menu. He has appeared in everything from the title role in the 1990 NBC Phantom of the Opera miniseries to a supporting role in the third film of the Alien trilogy, Alien3 (1992). Fans may also remember him from raucous British comedian Ali G's recent feature-length movie, Ali G Indahouse (2002).

Dance was born in Worcestershire, England. His father passed away when Charles was only four years old, which caused his family to relocate to Plymouth, also in England. Dance went to art school to study graphic design but returned to his love of acting and eventually joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. As a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he made his London debut in Hamlet.

Notable film appearances include David Fincher's 1993 action blockbuster Last Action Hero, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. After that, he starred in Robert Altman's Gosford Park (2001). He and the rest of the Gosford Park cast won several awards including a Screen Actors' Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. Dance also won Best Actor honors at the 1994 Paris Film Festival for his work in the existential Kabloonak (1995). Ladies in Lavender (2005) marks his directorial debut.

Charles is divorced from his former wife Joanna and they have two adult children, Oliver and Rebecca.

Filmography (director):

Ladies in Lavender (2005)

Filmography (actor):

Underworld: Awakening (2012)
Your Highness (2011)
There Be Dragons (2011)
Labyrinth (2003)
Swimming Pool (2003)
City and Crimes (2003)
Black and White (2002)
Ali G Indahouse (2002)
Gosford Park (2001)
Tmavomodrý svet (2001)
Jurij (2001)
Don't Go Breaking My Heart (1999)
Chrono-Perambulator (1999)
Hilary and Jackie (1998)
What Rats Won't Do (1998)
The Blood Oranges (1997)
Space Truckers (1996)
Michael Collins (1996)
Potemkin: The Runner's Cut (1996)
Undertow (1996)
Exquisite Tenderness (1995)
Kabloonak (1995)
Desvío al paraíso (1994)
China Moon (1994)
Last Action Hero (1993)
Alien 3 (1992)
Century (1993)
La valle di pietra (1992)
Hidden City (1988)
Pascali's Island (1988)
Good Morning, Babylon (1987)
White Mischief (1987)
The Golden Child (1986)
Plenty (1985)
The McGuffin (1985)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)