Charles Dance Biography: Wife, Age, Height, Net Worth, Children, Parents, Movies, TV Shows

Biography

Charles Dance is an acclaimed English actor, screenwriter, and director, born Walter Charles Dance on October 10, 1946, in Redditch, Worcestershire.

He began his career in theatre with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1970s and gained wider recognition for his role as Guy Perron in the acclaimed miniseries The Jewel in the Crown (1984).

Dance is best known for portraying commanding, authoritative figures and memorable villains, including Tywin Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones (2011–2015), Lord Mountbatten in The Crown (2019–2020), and roles in films such as The Imitation Game (2014), Mank (2020), and Ghostbusters (2016).

Standing at 6’3″ with a distinctive presence, he has also appeared in Alien³ (1992), For Your Eyes Only (1981), and Gosford Park (2001). Honored as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2006 for his services to drama, Dance continues to work across stage, film, and television.

English actor
Charles Dance
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Walter Charles Dance
Stage Name:	Charles Dance
Born:	10 October 1946 (age 79 years old)
Place of Birth:	Redditch, United Kingdom
Nationality:	English
Education:	Widey High School, Arts University Plymouth, De Montfort University
Height:	1.91 m
Parents:	Walter Dance, Eleanor Dance
Siblings:	Michael Perks, Norah Dance, Mary Dance
Spouse:	Joanna Haythorn (m. 1970–2004)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Eleanor Boorman (2008-2012), Alessandra Masi (2018)
Children:	Oliver Dance, Rebecca Dance, Rose Dance
Occupation:	Actor • Director
Net Worth:	$10 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Walter Charles Dance was born on 10 October 1946 in Redditch, Worcestershire, England.

He was the son of Eleanor Marion Perks-Dance (1911–1984), a cook, and Walter Dance (1874–1949), an electrical engineer who had served in the Second Boer War and was in his early 70s at the time of Charles‘ birth.

His father died in 1949 when Charles was just three years old, after which his mother relocated the family to Plymouth, Devon.

Dance has no full siblings but has an elder half-brother, Michael Perks (born 1936), from his mother’s side, and two older half-sisters from his father’s first marriage: Norah Dance (1898–1993) and Mary Dance (1903–1908), the latter of whom died in childhood.

In 2016, while appearing on the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are?, Dance discovered Belgian ancestry on his mother’s side, tracing back to the city of Spa, with an immigrant ancestor, Charles François Futvoye (1777–1847), who was a pioneer in japanning.

His ethnicity is primarily English, with a Belgian heritage. Dance has described himself as agnostic, expressing no particular interest in organized religion.

For education, he attended Widey Technical School for Boys (later Widey High School) in Crownhill, Plymouth. He later studied graphic design and photography at the Plymouth Drawing School (now Arts University Plymouth) and Leicester College of Arts (now part of De Montfort University), though he eventually left to pursue acting.

Career

Charles Dance is an English actor, screenwriter, and director whose career spans over 50 years. He is known for his tall stature, strong screen presence, and his many roles as powerful or villainous characters.

Dance began acting professionally with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1970s, performing in Stratford-upon-Avon and London. He returned to the company in 1989 and 1990 to play the lead in Coriolanus, a role that earned him critical praise and a Critics’ Circle Theatre Award.

His screen breakthrough came in 1984 as Sergeant Guy Perron in the ITV miniseries The Jewel in the Crown, which brought him wider attention. Early film roles included the villain Claus in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981), Sardo Numspa in The Golden Child (1986), Dr. Jonathan Clemens in Alien³ (1992), and Benedict in Last Action Hero (1993).

He also played more sympathetic characters, such as in Gosford Park (2001), and portrayed Ian Fleming in the 1989 TV drama Goldeneye. Dance has been a regular on British and international television, with roles like Mr. Tulkinghorn in the BBC’s Bleak House (2005), which earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination, and appearances in Foyle’s War, Merlin, Trinity, Strike Back, and Jam & Jerusalem.

His most famous TV role was Tywin Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones (2011–2015), which brought him global recognition. He later played Lord Mountbatten in seasons 3 and 4 of Netflix’s The Crown (2019–2020), earning another Emmy nomination.

In recent years, he has appeared in films such as The Imitation Game (2014), Dracula Untold (2014), Mank (2020), The King’s Man (2021), and Ghostbusters (2016). Dance has also written and directed, most notably the 2004 film Ladies in Lavender.

In 2006, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to drama. He has received several award nominations, including Emmys, and ensemble awards for projects like The Imitation Game and The Crown.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Charles Dance
• Facebook: Charles Dance
• Instagram: Charles Dance (@charles.dance)

Personal Life

Charles Dance, born on 10 October 1946, is 79 years old. He stands at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall, a stature that has contributed to his commanding on-screen presence.

He has been married only once, to Joanna Haythorn, from 1970 until their divorce in 2004 after 34 years together. The couple had two children: son Oliver Dance (born around 1974) and daughter Rebecca Dance (born around 1980).

Dance has spoken openly about the marriage ending due to his own admissions of infidelity during his career. Following the divorce, he was in a relationship with actress Eleanor Boorman from around 2008 to 2012 (or shortly after), during which their daughter Rose Dance was born in 2012; the couple separated soon afterwards.

Since 2018, Dance has been in a long-term relationship with Italian production manager and former actress Alessandra Masi, who is significantly younger than him.

As of the most recent public appearances, they remain together and have been described as loved-up, though there is no indication they have married.

Dance is not currently married and has expressed feeling fortunate in his later-life relationship.

Net Worth

Charles Dance‘s net worth is estimated at $10 million, according to recent reports. This figure, commonly cited by sources such as Celebrity Net Worth and various entertainment outlets, reflects his long and successful career spanning theatre, film, and television.

His wealth primarily stems from decades of acting roles, including high-profile performances as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones (2011–2015), Lord Mountbatten in The Crown (2019–2020), and appearances in films like The Imitation Game (2014), Mank (2020), and The King’s Man (2021).

Some online estimates vary slightly, ranging from $5 million to $15 million depending on the source and year, but $10 million remains the most consistent and widely referenced approximation.

Note that celebrity net worth figures are unofficial estimates based on public information about earnings, assets, and career trajectory, and they can fluctuate with new projects, investments, or other factors. Dance has also earned from directing and producing, such as the 2004 film Ladies in Lavender.

Filmography

TV Shows

• The Jewel in the Crown (1984) – Guy Perron (breakthrough miniseries role)
• Bleak House (2005) – Mr. Tulkinghorn (Primetime Emmy nomination)
• Game of Thrones (2011–2015) – Tywin Lannister (iconic role, global fame)
• The Crown (2019–2020) – Lord Mountbatten (Primetime Emmy nomination for Guest Actor)
• Other notables: Foyle’s War, Merlin (as Aredian the Witchfinder), Strike Back (as Conrad Knox), Trinity, Going Postal (2010) as Lord Vetinari, Jam & Jerusalem, Childhood’s End (2015 miniseries)

Movies

• For Your Eyes Only (1981) – Claus (early James Bond henchman)
• The Golden Child (1986) – Sardo Numspa
• Alien³ (1992) – Dr. Jonathan Clemens
• Last Action Hero (1993) – Benedict
• Gosford Park (2001) – supporting role in ensemble
• The Imitation Game (2014) – Alastair Denniston
• Dracula Untold (2014) – Master Vampire
• Ghostbusters (2016) – Harold Fillmore
• Mank (2020) – William Randolph Hearst
• The King’s Man (2021) – Lord Kitchener
• Other films: Plenty (1985), Underworld: Awakening (2012) and Underworld: Blood Wars (2016) as Thomas, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

What People Ask