Walter Charles Dance was born on the 10th October 1946, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, and is an award-winning actor, probably best known for starring in the role of Benedict in the film “Last Action Hero” (1993), playing Commander Denniston in the film “The Imitation Game” (2014) and as Tywin Lannister in HBO’s hit series “Game Of Thrones” (2011-2015).
Have you ever wondered how rich Charles Dance is? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that the total size of Charles’ net worth is over $5 million, as of mid-2017, earned through his successful career as an actor, which began in the early ‘70s.
Charles Dance Net Worth $5 Million
Charles was raised in Plymouth by his father, Walter Dance, who worked as an engineer, and his mother, Eleanor Marion, who was a cook. He went to Widey Technical School for Boys in Crownhill, after which he attended The Leicester College of Arts (now De Montfort University), studying graphic design and photography.
He started his career on stage, and after several plays he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and began building a name for himself, appearing in “Hamlet” (1975), “Richard III” (1975), “Henry V” (1977), and “Coriolanus” (1979). He then left the RSC, but remained active on stage, making several notable appearances, including in “Shadowlands” (2007), among many others.
His screen career started in 1974, with a minor role in the TV series “The Inheritors” (1974), and continued with minor roles, then in 1981 he made his film debut in the Bond film “For Your Eyes Only”, starring Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet and Topol. Three years later, Charles had his breakthrough role of Guy Perron in the TV series “The Jewel in the Crown”, then in 1986 was cast as the lead villain in the action adventure comedy film “The Golden Child”, as Sardo Numspa, opposite Eddie Murphy and Charlotte Lewis, which made him extremely popular in the acting world, so Charles was often cast in criminal, villain or assertive bureaucrat roles. By the end of the ‘80s, Charles had also featured in the romantic war drama “Good Morning Babilonia” (1987), “White Mischief” (1987), and portrayed Ian Fleming in the biopic about the James Bond creator, entitled “Goldeneye” (1989).
Looking to build on his success, Charles started the ‘90s with one of the lead roles in the sci-fi action horror “Alien 3” in 1992, next to Sigourney Weaver and Charles S. Dutton, and then was Benedict in the action comedy film “Last Action Hero” (1993), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, while the following year, he had the lead role in the adventure drama “Kabloonak”, however, the film wasn’t well received both by public or critics.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have much more success in the ‘90s, except for the lead role in the drama “The Blood Oranges” in 1997, with Colin Lane and Seryl Lee.
Nevertheless, his fame returned in the early 2000s, with lead roles in highly successful films “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby” and “Gosford Park” both in 2001, for the latter winning an SAG and several other film festival awards, and what is more important, his net worth increased to a large degree thanks to the commercial success of the films. In 2005 Charles had another award-winning role, as Mr. Tulkinghorn in the TV series “Bleak House”. In 2011 he was chosen for the role of Tywin Lannister in the award-winning fantasy drama series “Game of Thrones”, and until 2015 appeared in 27 episodes, which only increased his wealth.
In this decade, Charles has focused on television series as well, featuring in 2012 in the action thriller drama “Strike Back” and thriller “Secret State”, but also in several prominent film roles such as Commander Denniston in the drama thriller about World War II’s mathematician Alan Turing, “The Imitation Game” (2014), starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, and in 2015 he was Frankenstein in a new take about the notorious scientist “Victor Frankenstein”, but this time told from Igor’s perspective, however, the film was a box office flop.
In recent years, Charles has featured in the long awaited action horror “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” in 2016, however, the film didn’t satisfy the masses, and also in the next installment of the “Underworld” franchise “Underworld: Blood Wars” (2016), and will appear next to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the fantasy adventure “Journey to China: The Mystery of Iron Mask”, which is set to be released late in 2017.
In 2006, Charles was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), thanks to his contribution to the entertainment industry.
Regarding his personal life, Charles Dance was married to Joanna Haythorn from 1970 until 2004, when they divorced; they are the parents of two children. Afterwards, he became engaged to Eleanor Boorman in 2010; in 2012 the couple had a daughter, but then separated. His current residence is in Kentish Town, London.
