Pierce Brosnan
"The Very Words I Live By"
Pierce Brosnan is the James Bond successor to Timothy Dalton, who quit the role in April 1994. Brosnan has always been a favorite to play Ian Fleming's British secret agent since Albert R. Broccoli spotted him on the set of 1981's For Your Eyes Only, where his wife, Cassandra, was playing the role of a Bond girl.
After Roger Moore had finally left the role of 007 in 1985, it was Broccoli who wanted Pierce to replace him as James Bond. Everything looked as if it were set to star Pierce Brosnan in the 15th James Bond installment, The Living Daylights. They had even given Brosnan a copy of the film's script so that he could start practicing. But somebody threw a wrench into the gears.
From 1982-1986, Brosnan had played the title character in NBC's television series, Remington Steele. NBC had not planned on renewing Steele for another season in 1986-87, which meant Brosnan was free of his contract, and could play 007. However, at the last minute, NBC reversed its decision and decided to continue with the program for at least another season. What did this do for Brosnan? It kept him out of MI6. Brosnan would have to honor his contract and turn down the Bond role to shoot another season as Remington Steele. Timothy Dalton went on to star in what was supposed to be Brosnan's 007 debut in The Living Daylights, which did fairly well at the boxoffice. See Pierce Brosnan's Long Road to Bond.
Albert R. Broccoli officially announced in June 1994 that Pierce Brosnan was the 5th James Bond, replacing Dalton who turned over the role. Production immediately began on the 17th James Bond thriller called, GoldenEye.
GoldenEye was released on November 17 1995 in the United States and went on to become one of the most successful Bond films in the franchise's history. It grossed over $350 million worldwide and catapulted Brosnan into Bond stardom.
Pierce had signed a three-picture deal with MGM allowing him to do GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and an option to do Bond 20, which will be released in 2002.
Brosnan has been heralded as the "best Bond since Connery" by many fans and can be credited with completely renewing interest in 007 films with the succeses of his films. In addition to James Bond, Brosnan has appeared in other films like 1996's Mars Attacks!, 1997's Dante's Peak and 1999's The Thomas Crown Affair.
