Charles Dance
Born
October 10, 1946 (78 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Redditch, Worcestershire, England, UK
Walter Charles Dance OBE (born 10 October 1946) is an English actor, screenwriter, and director. He typically plays strict, authoritarian characters or villains. He is best known for his roles as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones, Kitchener in The King's Man, Martin Benson in Amazon Prime's The Widow, Lord Mountbatten in Netflix's The Crown (for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series), Thomas in Underworld: Awakening and Underworld: Blood Wars, Harold Fillmore in Ghostbusters (2016), Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Frankenstein in Victor Frankenstein, Master Vampire in Dracula Untold, Conrad Knox in the Cinemax series Strike Back, Raymond Stockbridge in Gosford Park, one-eyed hitman Benedict in Last Action Hero, Clemens in Alien³, Sardo Numpsa in The Golden Child, and Guy Perron in The Jewel in the Crown.
He started his career on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) before appearing in film and television. For his services to drama, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.
He made his directorial film debut with the drama film Ladies in Lavender (2004), which he also wrote and executive produced.
Known For
Frankenstein
2025
Amanece en Samaná
Noah Blum
2024
Rumours
Edison Wolcott
2024
The First Omen
Father Harris
2024
Savage Waters
2023
Portrait of the Queen
2022
The Hanging Sun
Jacob
2022
Lancaster
Narrator (voice)
2022
The Magic of the Movies: Behind the Scenes of David Fincher's Mank
Self
2021
Master Moley by Royal Invitation
Mr. James Moley (voice)
2019
Fanny Lye Deliver'd
John Lye
2019
Iron Mask
Lord Dudley
2019
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Alan Jonah
2019
Euphoria
Mr. Daren
2018
That Good Night
The Visitor
2017
Underworld: Blood Wars
Thomas
2016
Ghostbusters
Harold Fillmore
2016
Me Before You
Stephen Traynor
2016
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Mr. Bennet
2016
Despite the Falling Snow
Old Alexander Ivanov
2016
Instruments of Darkness
Duncan
2015
Victor Frankenstein
Frankenstein
2015
Woman in Gold
Sherman
2015
Child 44
Major Grachev
2015
Admiral
King Charles II
2015
Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience
Tywin Lannister
2015
The Imitation Game
Commander Denniston
2014
Dracula Untold
Master Vampire
2014
Retrospective
Jonathan Hoyle
2014
Forbidden Empire
Lord Dudley
2014
The Science of Doctor Who
Self
2013
Patrick
Doctor Roget
2013
Justin and the Knights of Valour
Legantir (voice)
2013
Father's Day
Don
2013
The Relics of Buddha
Narrator (voice)
2013
The Mapmaker
Rowan
2012
St George's Day
Trenchard
2012
Midnight's Children
William Methwold
2012
Underworld: Awakening
Thomas
2012
Your Highness
King Tallious
2011
There Be Dragons
Solono
2011
Ironclad
Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury
2011
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-Family Secret
2010
The Commuter
The Traffic Warden
2010
Paris Connections
Aleksandr Borinski
2010
The Clerk's Tale
Ralph
2010
Dickens' Secret Lover
Self - Narrator (voice)
2008
Consenting Adults
Jack Wolfenden
2007
The Contractor
DCS Andrew Windsor
2007
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
Self
2007
Twice Upon a Time
Battar Master of Ceremonies
2006
Starter for 10
Michael Harbinson
2006
Scoop
Mr. Malcolm
2006
Titanic: Birth of a Legend
Narrator (voice)
2005
Saint John Bosco Mission to Love
Marchese Clementi
2004
Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³'
Self (archive footage)
2003
Swimming Pool
John Bosload
2003
Black and White
Roderic Chamberlain
2002
Ali G Indahouse
Deputy Prime Minister David Carlton
2002
Gosford Park
Raymond Stockbridge
2001
Alien Evolution
Self / Clemens
2001
Jurij
2001
Dark Blue World
Wing Commander Bentley
2001
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Ralph Nickleby
2001
Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
Sir Henry Carlyle
2000
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
Frank
1999
Hilary and Jackie
Derek Du Pré
1998
The Blood Oranges
Cyril
1997
In the Presence of Mine Enemies
Captain Richter
1997
Michael Collins
Soames
1996
Space Truckers
Nabel / Macanudo
1996
Undertow
Lyle Yates
1996
The Surgeon
Dr. Ed Mittlesbay
1995
Shortcut to Paradise
Quinn
1994
China Moon
Rupert Munro
1994
Kabloonak
Robert Flaherty
1994
Century
Professor Mandry
1993
Last Action Hero
Benedict
1993
Alien³
Clemens
1992
Goldeneye
Ian Fleming
1989
Out of the Shadows
Michael Hayden
1988
Pascali's Island
Anthony Bowles
1988
White Mischief
Josslyn Hay
1987
The McGuffin
Paul Hatcher
1986
Little Eyolf
Borghejm
1982
A Patriot
Dr. Hastings
Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters
Narrator
2024
The Big Fat Quiz of Telly
Self
2024
Against the Ice
Minister Neergaard
2022
The King's Man
Kitchener
2021
The Book of Vision
Dr. Johan Anmuth
2021
Mank
William Randolph Hearst
2020
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead
Uncle Bertie
2018
Johnny English Strikes Again
Agent Seven
2018
Spitfire
Narrator (voice)
2018
The Muppets Take The O2
Self
2018
Wimbledon Official Film 2017
Narrator (voice)
2017
Woman in Gold
2015
Speeches That Shook the World
Self
2013
The Door
Thomas Arlington
2012
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-The Reunion
2011
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-The Scandal
2011
Neverland
Dr. Fludd · (2 episodes)
2011
Game of Thrones
Tywin Lannister · (35 episodes)
2011
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-A Healing Heart
2010
Going Postal
Lord Vetinari · (2 episodes)
2010
Trinity
Dr. Edmund Maltravers · (8 episodes)
2009
Fallen Angel
David Byfield · (3 episodes)
2007
Intervention
Private Investigator
2007
The One Show
Self · (1 episode)
2006
Bleak House
Mr. Tulkinghorn · (15 episodes)
2005
Fingersmith
Mr. Chistopher Lilly · (3 episodes)
2005
Foyle's War
Guy Spencer · (1 episode)
2002
The Making of 'Gosford Park'
Self (uncredited)
2002
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)
(1 episode)
2000
Chrono-Perambulator
James 'Dougie' Douglas
1999
What Rats Won't Do
Gerald Burton Jr
1998
Trial & Retribution
(2 episodes)
1997
Rebecca
Maxim de Winter · (2 episodes)
1997
La valle di pietra
Surveyor
1992
First Born
Edward Forester
1988
Rainy Day Women
John Truman
1984
The Liar
Tickford
Viy 3: Travel to India
The Jewel in the Crown
Guy Perron · (14 episodes)
1984
Fatal Spring
Siegfried Sassoon
1980
Ladies First
Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty
Old Michaelangelo · (3 episodes)
2024
The Day of the Jackal
Timothy Winthrop · (6 episodes)
2024
Testament: The Story of Moses
Self - Narrator (voice) · (3 episodes)
2024
Rabbit Hole
Dr. Ben Wilson · (8 episodes)
2023
This England
Max Hastings · (6 episodes)
2022
The Serpent Queen
Clement VII · (1 episode)
2022
The Sandman
Roderick Burgess · (1 episode)
2022
Moley
Mr. Moley (voice) · (52 episodes)
2021
The Singapore Grip
Mr Webb · (6 episodes)
2020
Rise of Empires: Ottoman
Self - Narrator (voice) · (12 episodes)
2020
The Widow
Martin Benson · (8 episodes)
2019
The Little Drummer Girl
Commander Picton · (6 episodes)
2018
Hang Ups
Jeremy Pitt · (2 episodes)
2018
The Woman in White
Frederick Fairlie · (5 episodes)
2018
Savage Kingdom
Self - Narrator (voice) · (19 episodes)
2016
The Crown
Lord Mountbatten · (5 episodes)
2016
And Then There Were None
Justice Lawrence Wargrave · (3 episodes)
2015
Childhood's End
Karellen · (3 episodes)
2015
Deadline Gallipoli
Sir Ian Hamilton · (2 episodes)
2015
The Great Fire
Lord Denton · (4 episodes)
2014
Secret State
John Hodder · (4 episodes)
2012
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Self - Participant · (1 episode)
2011
Rosamunde Pilcher's Shades of Love
Edmund Aird · (4 episodes)
2011
Drama Trails
(1 episode)
2010
Strike Back
Conrad Knox · (10 episodes)
2010
Merlin
Aredian · (1 episode)
2008
Would I Lie to You?
Self · (1 episode)
2007
To the Ends of the Earth
Sir Henry Somerset · (3 episodes)
2005
Agatha Christie's Marple
Septimus Bligh · (1 episode)
2004
Who Do You Think You Are?
Self · (1 episode)
2004
Henry VIII
Edward Stafford · (2 episodes)
2003
Top Gear
Self · (1 episode)
2002
Room 101
Self · (1 episode)
1994
The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera · (2 episodes)
1990
First Born
(3 episodes)
1988
Hidden City
James Richards
1987
Good Morning, Babylon
D.W. Griffith
1987
Out on a Limb
Gerry Stamford · (2 episodes)
1987
The Golden Child
Sardo Numspa
1986
The Flying Doctors
Minister · (1 episode)
1986
Time for Murder
James Latimer · (1 episode)
1985
Plenty
Raymond Brock
1985
Screen Two
Paul Hatcher · (1 episode)
1985
Natural World
(1 episode)
1983
Nancy Astor
Edward Hartford-Jones · (9 episodes)
1982
For Your Eyes Only
Claus
1981
Dreams of Leaving
Colin
1980
Tales of the Unexpected
Robert Smythe · (1 episode)
1979
An Audience with...
Self · (1 episode)
1978
The Professionals
Parker · (1 episode)
1977
Raffles
(1 episode)
1977
Edward the Seventh
Prince Eddy · (2 episodes)
1975
Father Brown
(1 episode)
1974
Playhouse
Siegfried Sassoon · (1 episode)
1974
Play for Today
(1 episode)
1970
BBC Play of the Month
Borghejm · (1 episode)
1965