About
Charles Dance
Overview
Walter Charles Dance OBE (born October 10, 1946 in Redditch, Worcestershire) is an English actor, screenwriter, and director. He typically plays strict, authoritarian characters or villains. He is best known for his roles as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones, Kitchener in The King's Man, Martin Benson in Amazon Prime's The Widow, Lord Mountbatten in Netflix's The Crown (for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series), Thomas in Underworld: Awakening and Underworld: Blood Wars, Harold Fillmore in Ghostbusters (2016), Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Frankenstein in Victor Frankenstein, Master Vampire in Dracula Untold, Conrad Knox in the Cinemax series Strike Back, Raymond Stockbridge in Gosford Park, one-eyed hitman Benedict in Last Action Hero, Clemens in Alien³, Sardo Numpsa in The Golden Child, and Guy Perron in The Jewel in the Crown.
He 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.
He made his directorial film debut with the drama film Ladies in Lavender (2004), which he also wrote and executive produced.
Known for
Acting |
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| 2024 | Amanece en Samaná | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| 2024 | The Day of the Jackal | Actor | Timothy Winthrop | 73 Good |
| 2024 | Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters | Actor | Narrator | N/A N/A |
| 2024 | Rumours | Actor | Edison Wolcott | 58 Average |
| 2024 | The First Omen | Actor | Father Harris | 65 Fair |
| 2024 | Testament: The Story of Moses | Actor | Self - Narrator (voice) | 72 Good |
| 2023 | Savage Waters | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| 2023 | Rabbit Hole | Actor | Dr. Ben Wilson | 71 Good |
| 2022 | Portrait of the Queen | Actor | 59 Average |
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| 2022 | This England | Actor | Max Hastings | 66 Fair |
| 2022 | The Hanging Sun | Actor | Jacob | 58 Average |
| 2022 | Lancaster | Actor | Narrator (voice) | 59 Average |
| 2022 | Against the Ice | Actor | Minister Neergaard | 63 Fair |
| 2021 | The King's Man | Actor | Kitchener | 66 Fair |
| 2021 | Moley | Actor | Mr. Moley (voice) | 69 Fair |
| 2021 | The Book of Vision | Actor | Dr. Johan Anmuth | 59 Average |
| 2021 | The Magic of the Movies: Behind the Scenes of David Fincher's Mank | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2020 | Mank | Actor | William Randolph Hearst | 65 Fair |
| 2020 | The Singapore Grip | Actor | Mr Webb | 68 Fair |
| 2020 | Rise of Empires: Ottoman | Actor | Self - Narrator (voice) | 73 Good |
| 2019 | Master Moley By Royal Invitation | Actor | Mr. James Moley (voice) | 58 Average |
| 2019 | Fanny Lye Deliver'd | Actor | John Lye | 59 Average |
| 2019 | Iron Mask | Actor | Lord Dudley | 60 Fair |
| 2019 | Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Actor | Alan Jonah | 66 Fair |
| 2019 | The Widow | Actor | Martin Benson | 69 Fair |
| 2018 | Happy New Year, Colin Burstead | Actor | Uncle Bertie | 59 Average |
| 2018 | Johnny English Strikes Again | Actor | Agent Seven | 62 Fair |
| 2018 | Spitfire | Actor | Narrator (voice) | 59 Average |
| 2018 | The Muppets Take The O2 | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2018 | The Woman in White | Actor | Frederick Fairlie | 67 Fair |
| 2018 | Euphoria | Actor | Mr. Daren | 59 Average |
| 2017 | The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2017 | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2017 | Wimbledon Official Film 2017 | Actor | Narrator (voice) | 59 Average |
| 2017 | That Good Night | Actor | The Visitor | 59 Average |
| 2016 | Savage Kingdom | Actor | Self - Narrator (voice) | 72 Good |
| 2016 | Underworld: Blood Wars | Actor | Thomas | 58 Average |
| 2016 | Ghostbusters | Actor | Harold Fillmore | 54 Average |
| 2016 | Me Before You | Actor | Stephen Traynor | 78 Good |
| 2016 | Pride and Prejudice and Zombies | Actor | Mr. Bennet | 61 Fair |
| 2016 | Despite the Falling Snow | Actor | Old Alexander Ivanov | 58 Average |
| 2015 | And Then There Were None | Actor | Justice Lawrence Wargrave | 75 Good |
| 2015 | Childhood's End | Actor | Karellen | 69 Fair |
| 2015 | Instruments of Darkness | Actor | Duncan | 59 Average |
| 2015 | Victor Frankenstein | Actor | Frankenstein | 59 Average |
| 2015 | Deadline Gallipoli | Actor | Sir Ian Hamilton | 68 Fair |
| 2015 | Woman in Gold | Actor | Sherman | 69 Fair |
| 2015 | Child 44 | Actor | Major Grachev | 61 Fair |
| 2015 | Admiral | Actor | King Charles II | 60 Fair |
| 2015 | Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience | Actor | Tywin Lannister | 60 Fair |
| 2014 | The Imitation Game | Actor | Commander Denniston | 79 Good |
| 2014 | The Great Fire | Actor | Lord Denton | 70 Good |
| 2014 | Dracula Untold | Actor | Master Vampire | 63 Fair |
| 2014 | Retrospective | Actor | Jonathan Hoyle | N/A N/A |
| 2014 | Game of Thrones: History & Lore Vol.3 | Actor | Tywin Lannister | N/A N/A |
| 2014 | Forbidden Empire | Actor | Lord Dudley | 58 Average |
| 2013 | The Science of Doctor Who | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2013 | Speeches That Shook the World | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2013 | Patrick | Actor | Doctor Roget | 56 Average |
| 2013 | Justin and the Knights of Valour | Actor | Legantir (voice) | 58 Average |
| 2013 | Father's Day | Actor | Don | 59 Average |
| 2013 | The Relics of Buddha | Actor | Narrator (voice) | N/A N/A |
| 2012 | Secret State | Actor | John Hodder | 70 Good |
| 2012 | The Door | Actor | Thomas Arlington | N/A N/A |
| 2012 | The Mapmaker | Actor | Rowan | 58 Average |
| 2012 | St George's Day | Actor | Trenchard | 58 Average |
| 2012 | Midnight's Children | Actor | William Methwold | 58 Average |
| 2012 | Game of Thrones: History & Lore Vol.1 | Actor | Tywin Lannister | N/A N/A |
| 2012 | Underworld: Awakening | Actor | Thomas | 62 Fair |
| 2011 | Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-The Scandal | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| 2011 | Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-The Reunion | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| 2011 | Neverland | Actor | Dr. Richard Fludd | N/A N/A |
| 2011 | Neverland | Actor | Dr. Fludd | 63 Fair |
| 2011 | Rosamunde Pilcher's Shades of Love | Actor | Edmund Aird | 69 Fair |
| 2011 | Your Highness | Actor | King Tallious | 54 Average |
| 2011 | There Be Dragons | Actor | Solono | 57 Average |
| 2011 | Ironclad | Actor | Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury | 60 Fair |
| 2010 | Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-Family Secret | Actor | 59 Average |
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| 2010 | Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-A Healing Heart | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| 2010 | The Commuter | Actor | The Traffic Warden | 59 Average |
| 2010 | Paris Connections | Actor | Aleksandr Borinski | 58 Average |
| 2010 | Going Postal | Actor | Lord Vetinari | 70 Good |
| 2010 | The Clerk's Tale | Actor | Ralph | N/A N/A |
| 2010 | Going Postal | Actor | Lord Vetinari | N/A N/A |
| 2009 | Trinity | Actor | Dr. Edmund Maltravers | 69 Fair |
| 2008 | Dickens' Secret Lover | Actor | Self - Narrator (voice) | N/A N/A |
| 2007 | Consenting Adults | Actor | Jack Wolfenden | 59 Average |
| 2007 | The Contractor | Actor | DCS Andrew Windsor | 58 Average |
| 2007 | Fallen Angel | Actor | David Byfield | 68 Fair |
| 2007 | The 50 Greatest Television Dramas | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2007 | Intervention | Actor | Private Investigator | N/A N/A |
| 2006 | Twice Upon a Time | Actor | Battar Master of Ceremonies | 58 Average |
| 2006 | Starter for 10 | Actor | Michael Harbinson | 61 Fair |
| 2006 | Scoop | Actor | Mr. Malcolm | 64 Fair |
| 2006 | By the Pricking of My Thumbs | Actor | Septimus Bligh | N/A N/A |
| 2005 | Bleak House | Actor | Mr. Tulkinghorn | 74 Good |
| 2005 | To the Ends of the Earth | Actor | Sir Henry Somerset | 67 Fair |
| 2005 | Titanic: Birth of a Legend | Actor | Narrator (voice) | 59 Average |
| 2005 | Fingersmith | Actor | Mr. Chistopher Lilly | 71 Good |
| 2004 | Saint John Bosco Mission to Love | Actor | Marchese Clementi | 59 Average |
| 2003 | Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³' | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2003 | Henry VIII | Actor | Edward Stafford, duque de Buckingham | 68 Fair |
| 2003 | Swimming Pool | Actor | John Bosload | 62 Fair |
| 2002 | Black and White | Actor | Roderic Chamberlain | 58 Average |
| 2002 | The Making of 'Gosford Park' | Actor | Self (uncredited) | 59 Average |
| 2002 | Ali G Indahouse | Actor | Deputy Prime Minister David Carlton | 60 Fair |
| 2001 | Gosford Park | Actor | Raymond Stockbridge | 65 Fair |
| 2001 | Alien Evolution | Actor | Self / Clemens | 59 Average |
| 2001 | Jurij | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| 2001 | Dark Blue World | Actor | Wing Commander Bentley | 60 Fair |
| 2001 | The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby | Actor | Ralph Nickleby | 59 Average |
| 2000 | The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes | Actor | Sir Henry Carlyle | 59 Average |
| 1999 | Chrono-Perambulator | Actor | James 'Dougie' Douglas | N/A N/A |
| 1999 | Don't Go Breaking My Heart | Actor | Frank | 58 Average |
| 1998 | Hilary and Jackie | Actor | Derek Du Pré | 60 Fair |
| 1998 | What Rats Won't Do | Actor | Gerald Burton Jr | 58 Average |
| 1997 | The Blood Oranges | Actor | Cyril | 58 Average |
| 1997 | In the Presence of Mine Enemies | Actor | Captain Richter | 59 Average |
| 1997 | Rebecca | Actor | Maxim de Winter | 67 Fair |
| 1996 | Michael Collins | Actor | Soames | 63 Fair |
| 1996 | Space Truckers | Actor | Nabel / Macanudo | 57 Average |
| 1996 | Undertow | Actor | Lyle Yates | 58 Average |
| 1995 | The Surgeon | Actor | Dr. Ed Mittlesbay | 58 Average |
| 1994 | Shortcut to Paradise | Actor | Quinn | 58 Average |
| 1994 | China Moon | Actor | Rupert Munro | 59 Average |
| 1994 | Kabloonak | Actor | Robert Flaherty | 59 Average |
| 1993 | Century | Actor | Professor Mandry | 58 Average |
| 1993 | Last Action Hero | Actor | Benedict | 64 Fair |
| 1992 | Alien³ | Actor | Clemens | 63 Fair |
| 1992 | La valle di pietra | Actor | Surveyor | 58 Average |
| 1990 | The Phantom of the Opera | Actor | The Phantom of the Opera | 70 Good |
| 1989 | Goldeneye | Actor | Ian Fleming | 59 Average |
| 1988 | First Born | Actor | Edward Forester | 59 Average |
| 1988 | First Born | Actor | 69 Fair |
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| 1988 | Out of the Shadows | Actor | Michael Hayden | 59 Average |
| 1988 | Pascali's Island | Actor | Anthony Bowles | 59 Average |
| 1987 | White Mischief | Actor | Josslyn Hay | 59 Average |
| 1987 | Hidden City | Actor | James Richards | 58 Average |
| 1987 | Good Morning, Babylon | Actor | D.W. Griffith | 59 Average |
| 1987 | Out on a Limb | Actor | Gerry Stamford | 70 Good |
| 1986 | The Golden Child | Actor | Sardo Numspa | 58 Average |
| 1986 | The McGuffin | Actor | Paul Hatcher | 59 Average |
| 1985 | Plenty | Actor | Raymond Brock | 58 Average |
| 1984 | Rainy Day Women | Actor | John Truman | N/A N/A |
| 1984 | The Jewel in the Crown | Actor | Guy Perron | 68 Fair |
| 1982 | Little Eyolf | Actor | Borghejm | N/A N/A |
| 1982 | Nancy Astor | Actor | Edward Hartford-Jones | 69 Fair |
| 1981 | For Your Eyes Only | Actor | Claus | 63 Fair |
| 1980 | Fatal Spring | Actor | Siegfried Sassoon | N/A N/A |
| 1980 | Dreams of Leaving | Actor | Colin | 59 Average |
| A Patriot | Actor | 61 Fair |
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| Viy 3: Travel to India | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| Frankenstein | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| A Patriot | Actor | Dr. Hastings | N/A N/A |
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| The Liar | Actor | Tickford | N/A N/A |
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Directing |
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| 2004 | Ladies in Lavender | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
Writing |
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| 2004 | Ladies in Lavender | Writing | Screenplay | 59 Average |
Production |
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| 2004 | Ladies in Lavender | Production | Executive Producer | 59 Average |