--- name: "Charles Dance" canonical: "https://film.one/person/charles-dance" fi1m_id: "charles-dance" imdb_id: "nm0001097" tmdb_id: 4391 wikidata_id: "Q309690" roles: ["Actor"] born: "10 October 1946" reviewed_on_fi1m: 17 average_fi1m_score: 69 average_as: "actor" average_over: 17 updated: "2026-10-09T04:03:07.529867+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Charles Dance ## Identity Charles Dance - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/charles-dance - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** charles-dance - **IMDb ID:** nm0001097 - **TMDB ID:** 4391 - **Wikidata ID:** Q309690 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dance, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309690, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001097/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4391 Actor. Born 10 October 1946 in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 10 October 1946, Redditch, Worcestershire, England, UK - **Active:** 1981–present - **Also known as:** Walter Charles Dance, Волтер Чарльз Денс - **Frequently works with:** [David Fincher](https://film.one/person/david-fincher.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as actor, over 17 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 65 (3), 1990s 66 (3), 2000s 77 (3), 2010s 66 (6), 2020s 73 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 62 across 14 titles - **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 10 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 13 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 9, Action 7, Comedy 4, Thriller 4, Adventure 3, Fantasy 3 - **Screen time:** 24 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,740m across 12 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dance, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309690, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001097/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4391 ## Coming up - *The Batman: Part II* (2028-02-17), as Christopher Dent ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Imitation Game*](https://film.one/film/the-imitation-game.md) (73), [*The First Omen*](https://film.one/film/the-first-omen.md) (72), [*Last Action Hero*](https://film.one/film/last-action-hero.md) (62) - **Netflix:** [*Frankenstein*](https://film.one/film/frankenstein.md) (74), [*Ghostbusters*](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016.md) (64) - **BritBox:** [*Bleak House*](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md) (65) - **HBO Max:** [*Godzilla: King of the Monsters*](https://film.one/film/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters.md) (48) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Charles Dance > Charles Dance makes authority convincing through a precise, cultivated voice. We rate him most when a script gives him a complicated man to play, rather than merely requiring him to look forbidding. In *Frankenstein* (2025), Charles Dance's Leopold is a surgeon who teaches his son anatomy with a strap. We were unsettled by the lesson: a man who understands the body is teaching a child by hurting it. It is familiar casting, but del Toro gives that severity a clear job: helping us understand Victor before the adult starts shouting at machinery. Dance's precise, cultivated voice suits a man accustomed to being obeyed, and the role makes that authority dangerous within a family. We wish more of his small parts gave us such a clear reason for his presence. *The Jewel in the Crown* (1984), in which he played Guy Perron, established him as a leading actor. Supporting roles in period dramas and genre films became a substantial part of the work that followed, including Jonathan Clemens in *Alien³* (1992). As Tywin Lannister in *Game of Thrones* (2011), he had a calculating patriarch to develop across four seasons. There is more to watch when the formidable man has time to think and calculate. The persistent casting as upper-class men and villains has too often narrowed what he is asked to do. Arkasha Stevenson's *The First Omen* (2024) uses him as Father Harris, whose early appearance sets the terms of the horror. A performer with that much authority is useful when a film needs to establish its threat quickly. Dance helps, but we would not recommend the film on his account alone. Its frightening passages earn the evening, despite the laboured plotting of the last half hour, and this is a supporting credit to approach as exactly that. We recommend Neil Jordan's *Michael Collins* (1996), with Dance as Soames, for the conviction Liam Neeson brings to its central role. Jordan's fondness for his subject remains a substantial reservation. There is no need to promote every supporting appearance into an essential performance, even when the name is worth noticing in the credits. For Dance with room to work, start with *Game of Thrones*; do not expect every film in the credits to give him as much to do. ## Biography Charles Dance is an English actor. Born on 10 October 1946 in Redditch, Worcestershire, he began his career on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company before moving into film and television. He made his feature film debut in the James Bond film *For Your Eyes Only* (1981). Dance is known for roles including Tywin Lannister in *Game of Thrones* (2011–2015), Commander Denniston in *The Imitation Game* (2014), and Lord Mountbatten in *The Crown* (2019–2020). He has also appeared in *Alien³* (1992), *Gosford Park* (2001), *Dracula Untold* (2014), *The King's Man* (2021), *The First Omen* (2024) as Father Harris, and *Frankenstein* (2025) as Leopold Frankenstein. Dance directed, wrote and executive-produced *Ladies in Lavender* (2004). He was appointed an OBE in 2006 for services to drama and received Primetime Emmy nominations for *Bleak House* (2005) and *The Crown*. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.* ## On Fi1m (17) - *Frankenstein* (2025), Fi1m 74, as Leopold Frankenstein — [page](https://film.one/film/frankenstein.md) - *The First Omen* (2024), Fi1m 72, as Father Harris — [page](https://film.one/film/the-first-omen.md) - *Godzilla: King of the Monsters* (2019), Fi1m 48, as Alan Jonah — [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters.md) - *Johnny English Strikes Again* (2018), Fi1m 52, as Agent Seven — [page](https://film.one/film/johnny-english-strikes-again.md) - *The Little Drummer Girl* (2018), Fi1m 76, as Commander Picton — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-little-drummer-girl.md) - *Ghostbusters* (2016), Fi1m 64, as Harold Fillmore — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016.md) - *The Imitation Game* (2014), Fi1m 73, as Commander Denniston — [page](https://film.one/film/the-imitation-game.md) - *Game of Thrones* (2011), Fi1m 82, as Tywin Lannister — [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md) - *Bleak House* (2005), Fi1m 65, as Mr. Tulkinghorn — [page](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md) - *Foyle's War* (2002), Fi1m 81, as Guy Spencer — [page](https://film.one/tv/foyles-war.md) - *Gosford Park* (2001), Fi1m 85, as Raymond Stockbridge — [page](https://film.one/film/gosford-park.md) - *Michael Collins* (1996), Fi1m 75, as Soames — [page](https://film.one/film/michael-collins.md) - *Last Action Hero* (1993), Fi1m 62, as Benedict — [page](https://film.one/film/last-action-hero.md) - *Alien³* (1992), Fi1m 62, as Clemens — [page](https://film.one/film/alien3.md) - *The Golden Child* (1986), Fi1m 42, as Sardo Numspa — [page](https://film.one/film/the-golden-child.md) - *The Jewel in the Crown* (1984), Fi1m 85, as Guy Perron — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-jewel-in-the-crown.md) - *For Your Eyes Only* (1981), Fi1m 68, as Claus — [page](https://film.one/film/for-your-eyes-only.md) ## Complete filmography (169) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Batman: Part II* (2028), as Christopher Dent - *Ladies First* (2026), as Fred Powell - *Wildcat* (2025), as Frasier Mahoney - *Frankenstein* (2025), as Leopold Frankenstein — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/frankenstein.md) - *Creditors* (2025), as Gustaf - *Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty* (2024), series, as Old Michaelangelo - *Samaná Sunrise* (2024), as Noah Blum - *The Day of the Jackal* (2024), series, as Timothy Winthrop - *Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters* (2024), as Narrator - *Rumours* (2024), as Edison Wolcott - *The First Omen* (2024), as Father Harris — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-first-omen.md) - *Savage Waters* (2023), Actor - *Rabbit Hole* (2023), series, as Dr. Ben Wilson - *Portrait of the Queen* (2022), Actor - *This England* (2022), series, as Max Hastings - *The Hanging Sun* (2022), as Jacob - *The Serpent Queen* (2022), series, as Clement VII - *The Sandman* (2022), series, as Roderick Burgess - *Lancaster* (2022), as Narrator (voice) - *Against the Ice* (2022), as Minister Neergaard - *The King's Man* (2021), as Kitchener - *Moley* (2021), series, as Mr. Moley (voice) - *The Book Of Vision* (2021), as Dr. Johan Anmuth - *Mank* (2020), as William Randolph Hearst - *The Singapore Grip* (2020), series, as Mr Webb - *Master Moley by Royal Invitation* (2019), as Mr. James Moley (voice) - *Fanny Lye Deliver'd* (2019), as John Lye - *Iron Mask* (2019), as Lord Dudley - *Godzilla: King of the Monsters* (2019), as Alan Jonah — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters.md) - *The Widow* (2019), series, as Martin Benson - *The Little Drummer Girl* (2018), series, as Commander Picton — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-little-drummer-girl.md) - *Happy New Year, Colin Burstead* (2018), as Uncle Bertie - *Johnny English Strikes Again* (2018), as Agent Seven — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/johnny-english-strikes-again.md) - *Hero* (2018), as Charles Reynard - *Hang Ups* (2018), series, as Jeremy Pitt - *Spitfire* (2018), as Narrator (voice) - *The Woman in White* (2018), series, as Frederick Fairlie - *Euphoria* (2018), as Mr. Daren - *Wimbledon Official Film 2017* (2017), as Narrator (voice) - *That Good Night* (2017), as The Visitor - *Underworld: Blood Wars* (2016), as Thomas - *The Crown* (2016), series, as Lord Mountbatten — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-crown.md) - *Ghostbusters* (2016), as Harold Fillmore — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016.md) - *Me Before You* (2016), as Stephen Traynor - *Pride and Prejudice and Zombies* (2016), as Mr. Bennet - *Despite the Falling Snow* (2016), as Old Alexander Ivanov - *And Then There Were None* (2015), series, as Justice Lawrence Wargrave - *Childhood's End* (2015), series, as Karellen - *Victor Frankenstein* (2015), as Frankenstein - *Instruments of Darkness* (2015), as Duncan - *Deadline Gallipoli* (2015), series, as Sir Ian Hamilton - *Woman in Gold* (2015), as Sherman - *Child 44* (2015), as Major Grachev - *Admiral* (2015), as King Charles II - *Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience* (2015), as Tywin Lannister - *The Imitation Game* (2014), as Commander Denniston — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-imitation-game.md) - *The Great Fire* (2014), series, as Lord Denton - *Dracula Untold* (2014), as Master Vampire - *Retrospective* (2014), as Jonathan Hoyle - *Forbidden Empire* (2014), as Lord Dudley - *Patrick* (2013), as Doctor Roget - *Justin and the Knights of Valour* (2013), as Legantir (voice) - *Father's Day* (2013), as Don - *The Relics of Buddha* (2013), as Narrator (voice) - *Secret State* (2012), series, as John Hodder - *The Door* (2012), as Thomas Arlington - *The Mapmaker* (2012), as Rowan - *St George's Day* (2012), as Trenchard - *Midnight's Children* (2012), as William Methwold - *Underworld: Awakening* (2012), as Thomas - *Neverland* (2011), series, as Dr. Fludd - *Going Postal 2in1* (2011), as Lord Vetinari - *Rosamunde Pilcher's Shades of Love* (2011), series, as Edmund Aird - *Game of Thrones* (2011), series, as Tywin Lannister — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md) - *Your Highness* (2011), as King Tallious - *There Be Dragons* (2011), as Solono - *Ironclad* (2011), as Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury - *The Commuter* (2010), as The Traffic Warden - *Paris Connections* (2010), as Aleksandr Borinski - *Drama Trails* (2010), series, Actor - *Going Postal* (2010), series, as Lord Vetinari - *The Clerk's Tale* (2010), as Ralph - *Strike Back* (2010), series, as Conrad Knox - *Trinity* (2009), series, as Dr. Edmund Maltravers - *Merlin* (2008), series, as Aredian - *Consenting Adults* (2007), as Jack Wolfenden - *The Contractor* (2007), as DCS Andrew Windsor - *Fallen Angel* (2007), series, as David Byfield - *Intervention* (2007), as Private Investigator - *Twice Upon a Time* (2006), as Battar Master of Ceremonies - *Starter for 10* (2006), as Michael Harbinson - *Scoop* (2006), as Mr. Malcolm - *Bleak House* (2005), series, as Mr. Tulkinghorn — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/bleak-house.md) - *To the Ends of the Earth* (2005), series, as Sir Henry Somerset - *Titanic: Birth of a Legend* (2005), as Narrator (voice) - *Fingersmith* (2005), series, as Mr. Chistopher Lilly - *Last Rights* (2005), series, as Richard Wheeler - *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Septimus Bligh - *Ladies in Lavender* (2004), Director, Screenplay, Executive Producer - *Saint John Bosco Mission to Love* (2004), as Marchese Clementi - *Saint John Bosco Mission to Love* (2004), series, as Marchese Clementi - *Looking for Victoria* (2003), series, as Charles Greville - *Henry VIII* (2003), series, as Duke of Buckingham - *Swimming Pool* (2003), as John Bosload - *Black and White* (2002), as Roderic Chamberlain - *Foyle's War* (2002), series, as Guy Spencer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/foyles-war.md) - *Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future* (2002), series, as Colonel Simon Lasker (voice) - *Ali G Indahouse* (2002), as Deputy Prime Minister David Carlton - *Gosford Park* (2001), as Raymond Stockbridge — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/gosford-park.md) - *Jurij* (2001), Actor - *Dark Blue World* (2001), as Wing Commander Bentley - *The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby* (2001), as Ralph Nickleby - *The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby* (2001), series, as Ralph Nickleby - *Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)* (2000), series, Actor - *Justice in Wonderland* (2000), as Neil Hamilton - *Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes* (2000), as Sir Henry Carlyle - *Chrono-Perambulator* (1999), as James 'Dougie' Douglas - *Don't Go Breaking My Heart* (1999), as Frank - *Hilary and Jackie* (1998), as Derek du Pré - *What Rats Won't Do* (1998), as Gerald Burton Jr - *The Blood Oranges* (1997), as Cyril - *In the Presence of Mine Enemies* (1997), as Captain Richter - *Rebecca* (1997), series, as Maxim de Winter - *Michael Collins* (1996), as Soames — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/michael-collins.md) - *Space Truckers* (1996), as Nabel / Macanudo - *Undertow* (1996), as Lyle Yates - *The Surgeon* (1995), as Dr. Ed Mittlesbay - *Shortcut to Paradise* (1994), as Quinn - *China Moon* (1994), as Rupert Munro - *Kabloonak* (1994), as Robert Flaherty - *Century* (1993), as Professor Mandry - *Last Action Hero* (1993), as Benedict — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/last-action-hero.md) - *Alien³* (1992), as Clemens — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/alien3.md) - *La valle di pietra* (1992), as Surveyor - *The Phantom of the Opera* (1990), series, as Erik/The Phantom - *Goldeneye* (1989), as Ian Fleming - *First Born* (1988), series, as Edward Forester - *First Born* (1988), as Edward Forester - *Out of the Shadows* (1988), as Michael Hayden - *Pascali's Island* (1988), as Anthony Bowles - *White Mischief* (1987), as Josslyn Hay - *Hidden City* (1987), as James Richards - *Good Morning, Babylon* (1987), as D.W. Griffith - *Out on a Limb* (1987), series, as Gerry Stamford - *The Golden Child* (1986), as Sardo Numspa — Fi1m 42, [page](https://film.one/film/the-golden-child.md) - *The Flying Doctors* (1986), series, as Minister - *The McGuffin* (1986), as Paul Hatcher - *Time for Murder* (1985), series, as James Latimer - *Plenty* (1985), as Raymond Brock - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Paul Hatcher, Professor Mandry - *The Secret Servant* (1984), series, as SAS Major Harry Maxim - *Rainy Day Women* (1984), as John Truman - *The Jewel in the Crown* (1984), series, as Guy Perron — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-jewel-in-the-crown.md) - *Natural World* (1983), series, Actor - *Little Eyolf* (1982), as Borghejm - *For Your Eyes Only* (1981), as Claus — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/for-your-eyes-only.md) - *Fatal Spring* (1980), as Siegfried Sassoon - *Dreams of Leaving* (1980), as Colin - *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Robert Smythe - *The Professionals* (1977), series, as Parker - *Raffles* (1977), series, Actor - *Father Brown* (1974), series, as Commandant Neil O'Brien - *The Inheritors* (1974), series, as Simon Leadbetter - *Playhouse* (1974), series, as Siegfried Sassoon - *Play for Today* (1970), series, Actor - *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Borghejm - *Viy 3: Travel to India*, Actor - *The Liar*, as Tickford - *A Patriot*, as Dr. Hastings ## Gallery - ![Charles Dance](https://film.one/media/person/7768/gallery-2c0222820656.jpg) Charles Dance — Image via TMDB - ![Charles Dance](https://film.one/media/person/7768/gallery-29bc8392717e.jpg) Charles Dance — Image via TMDB - ![Charles Dance](https://film.one/media/person/7768/gallery-0aaaa5f5fefa.jpg) Charles Dance — Image via TMDB - ![Charles Dance](https://film.one/media/person/7768/gallery-1b34d7012dc0.jpg) Charles Dance — Image via TMDB - ![Charles Dance](https://film.one/media/person/7768/gallery-7e293d9e1eac.jpg) Charles Dance — Image via TMDB - ![Charles Dance](https://film.one/media/person/7768/gallery-19a6b4ed6a0f.jpg) Charles Dance — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won - Time Machine Award 2013: Time Machine Award (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/charles-dance