Actor, film producer and environmentalist Pierce Brendan Brosnan was born May 16, 1953 in Castletown, Co. Meath, Ireland. After leaving school at the age of 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration. Years later, Brosnan attended drama school in London for three years, and landing a leading role in the popular television series Remington Steele following his brief on-state career.

Brosnan is a very well-known actor, appearing in notable movies such as The Thomas Crown Affair, Dante's Peak, Mars Attacks, Mrs. Doubtfire, and The Lawnmower Man, among many others. Though these are popular movies and undoubtedly cemented Brosnan's role as a leading man in Hollywood, it wasn't until Brosnan took over the role as super-agent James Bond that the world stood up and took notice.

Brosnan's early years were spent in the modest area of Drogheda, Ireland, where he as raised as a Catholic. After Brosnan's father abandoned the family, his mother moved to London to work as a nurse.

She left Pierce with his grandparents, where Brosnan stayed until 1964 where he was reunited with his mother and her new husband. Having been abandoned at such a young age, Brosnan quickly looked at his mother's husband like a father figure. Brosnan's early years as an actor witnessed some success, including a Golden Globe award.

In 1982, Brosnan quickly rose to popularity in the United States with his role in the detective series Remington Steele. That same year, The Washington Post said that Brosnan could make it as a young James Bond. After the series ended in 1987, Brosnan kept steady work in a series of films. Considered for role of Bond as early as 86, Brosnan had to refuse the role in order to continue work on Remington Steele, owing to his contract.

Timothy Dalton, who was also being looked at for the role, became available and filmed The Living Daylights and License to Kill in 87 and 89. Legal troubles over ownership of the film franchise resulted in a cancellation of a third Dalton film in 1991. The series when on hold for 6 years until GoldenEye was written.

The role was originally written for Dalton as Bond, but he turned the role down. Brosnan signed a 3-picture deal with an option for a 4th in 1994. He first appeared in GoldenEye, and at the time, it was the highest grossing Bond movie ever. Brosnan make two more Bond films, and was optimistic about his return for a 4th in 2004. Though, after negotiations went wrong, Brosnan declined the role.

Brosnan has been married twice: Once to Cassandra Harris whom he married in 1980 (died of ovarian cancer in 1991), and again in 2001 to American journalist Keely Shaye Smith. Brosnan has three children of his own (two sons with Smith, one son with Harris), and two adopted from his first marriage.

Brosnan is an environmentalist, and in 2004, he lent his support to presidential candidate John Kerry. Brosnan is also a very vocal supporter of gun control and same-sex marriage.