Timothy Dalton
Timothy Dalton
(born March 21, 1944 in Colwyn Bay, Wales)
Bond Films: The Living Daylights (1987), Licence to Kill (1989)
Other Notable Work: The Lion in Winter (1968),
Wuthering Heights (1970), Mary, Queen of Scots (1971),
Permission to Kill (1975), Sextette (1978), Agatha (1979),
Flash Gordon (1980), Antony and Cleopatra (1983), The Doctor
and the Devils (1985), Hawks (1988), The Rocketeer (1991),
Tales From the Crypt "Werewolf Concerto" [television] (1994),
Scarlett (1994) [miniseries], The Beautician and the Beast
(1997)
Timothy Dalton's Biography: Both of Tim Dalton's grandfathers
were vaudeville actors, so it's no surprise that he decided to go into showbiz
at an early age. He left school and joined the National Youth Theatre
for a few summers. For two years, Dalton studied at the Royal Academy
of Dramatic Art, and later joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where
his talent was immediately recognized. He was cast in many leading
roles and received excellent reviews.
Tim's first film, The Lion in Winter, placed him with Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, and Anthony Hopkins. Dalton played the King of France.
Timothy Dalton has picked difficult roles throughout his career in movies, television, and theatre. He has played Heathcliff (previously played by Laurence Olivier) in Wuthering Heights, and Rochester (previously an Orson Welles role) in Jane Eyre. He also portrayed Rhett Butler (originally embodied by Clark Gable) in a miniseries sequel to Gone With the Wind, which aired in 1994.
Both Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan have praised Dalton's "fabulous"
acting ability. Brosnan blames the lukewarm
reception
of
Tim's 007 movies on the films' screenplays, not on the actor himself.
It was Pierce who narrowly lost the Bond role to Dalton in 1986, due to contract difficulties on Brosnan's television series, Remington Steele. Dalton made two Bond films before trouble arose between MGM and EON. Litigation problems delayed the production of another Bond film, and rumor spread that Dalton was going to be replaced indefinitely.
Tim hung up Bond's tux in April of 1994 and the role was turned over to Pierce Brosnan, now free from his Remington obligation.
Timothy Dalton continues to act in recent made-for-television movies and his latest, The Informant, aired on Showtime on March 15, 1998. He also co-starred with Fran Drescher in The Beautician and the Beast in 1997. It was his first role in a comedy.
Also in 1997, Tim became a father to Alexander Dalton, his first child. Tim lives with his girlfriend, a Ukrainian model named Oksana Grigorieva.
What Dalton Did For Bond: Staying truer to the Ian Fleming
novels than any Bond actor before him, Tim Dalton portrayed 007 as a gritty,
intimidating professional. His Bond was darker than that of any of
his predecessors, and seemed to have an unpredictable evil streak. This
was considered a stark contrast to the Roger Moore interpretation, which
was intentionally comical. Today, Timothy still believes that he made
the right choice in leaving the Bond persona after two films, and denies
that he'll ever return as 007.