Charles Dance
Acting • Born 1946-10-10
Biography
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.
Filmography
188 credits
Swimming Pool
Movie • 2003
John Bosload
The Golden Child
Movie • 1986
Sardo Numspa
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas
Movie • 2007
Self
For Your Eyes Only
Movie • 1981
Claus
Gosford Park
Movie • 2001
Raymond Stockbridge
Twice Upon a Time
Movie • 2006
Battar Master of Ceremonies
Alien³
Movie • 1992
Clemens
China Moon
Movie • 1994
Rupert Munro
Last Action Hero
Movie • 1993
Benedict
Plenty
Movie • 1985
Raymond Brock
Starter for 10
Movie • 2006
Michael Harbinson
White Mischief
Movie • 1987
Josslyn Hay
There Be Dragons
Movie • 2011
Solono
Dark Blue World
Movie • 2001
Wing Commander Bentley
Your Highness
Movie • 2011
King Tallious
Ironclad
Movie • 2011
Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury
Good Morning, Babylon
Movie • 1987
D.W. Griffith
Hilary and Jackie
Movie • 1998
Derek Du Pré
Underworld: Awakening
Movie • 2012
Thomas
The Relics of Buddha
Movie • 2013
Narrator (voice)
Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³'
Movie • 2003
Self (archive footage)
In the Presence of Mine Enemies
Movie • 1997
Captain Richter
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
Movie • 1999
Frank
Saint John Bosco Mission to Love
Movie • 2004
Marchese Clementi
Goldeneye
Movie • 1989
Ian Fleming
The Blood Oranges
Movie • 1997
Cyril
St George's Day
Movie • 2012
Trenchard
Justin and the Knights of Valour
Movie • 2013
Legantir (voice)
Pascali's Island
Movie • 1988
Anthony Bowles
The Surgeon
Movie • 1995
Dr. Ed Mittlesbay
Master Moley by Royal Invitation
Movie • 2019
Mr. James Moley (voice)
Alien Evolution
Movie • 2001
Self / Clemens
Consenting Adults
Movie • 2007
Jack Wolfenden
Shortcut to Paradise
Movie • 1994
Quinn
Patrick
Movie • 2013
Doctor Roget
Instruments of Darkness
Movie • 2015
Duncan
The Hanging Sun
Movie • 2022
Jacob
The Contractor
Movie • 2007
DCS Andrew Windsor
Savage Waters
Movie • 2023
Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
Movie • 2000
Sir Henry Carlyle
Paris Connections
Movie • 2010
Aleksandr Borinski
The Science of Doctor Who
Movie • 2013
Self
The Imitation Game
Movie • 2014
Commander Denniston
Space Truckers
Movie • 1996
Nabel / Macanudo
Out of the Shadows
Movie • 1988
Michael Hayden
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Movie • 2001
Ralph Nickleby
Ali G Indahouse
Movie • 2002
Deputy Prime Minister David Carlton
Little Eyolf
Movie • 1982
Borghejm
Jurij
Movie • 2001
Undertow
Movie • 1996
Lyle Yates
Century
Movie • 1993
Professor Mandry
Dracula Untold
Movie • 2014
Master Vampire
Titanic: Birth of a Legend
Movie • 2005
Narrator (voice)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Movie • 2016
Mr. Bennet
Admiral
Movie • 2015
King Charles II
Woman in Gold
Movie • 2015
Sherman
Lancaster
Movie • 2022
Narrator (voice)
Rumours
Movie • 2024
Edison Wolcott
Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience
Movie • 2015
Tywin Lannister
A Patriot
Movie
Dr. Hastings
Frankenstein
Movie • 2025
Leopold Frankenstein
Portrait of the Queen
Movie • 2022
Black and White
Movie • 2002
Roderic Chamberlain
Child 44
Movie • 2015
Major Grachev
Midnight's Children
Movie • 2012
William Methwold
Me Before You
Movie • 2016
Stephen Traynor
The McGuffin
Movie • 1986
Paul Hatcher
The Magic of the Movies: Behind the Scenes of David Fincher's Mank
Movie • 2021
Self
The First Omen
Movie • 2024
Father Harris
Father's Day
Movie • 2013
Don
Despite the Falling Snow
Movie • 2016
Old Alexander Ivanov
The Mapmaker
Movie • 2012
Rowan
Underworld: Blood Wars
Movie • 2016
Thomas
Scoop
Movie • 2006
Mr. Malcolm
Forbidden Empire
Movie • 2014
Lord Dudley
Retrospective
Movie • 2014
Jonathan Hoyle
Ghostbusters
Movie • 2016
Harold Fillmore
Euphoria
Movie • 2018
Mr. Daren
The Clerk's Tale
Movie • 2010
Ralph
Michael Collins
Movie • 1996
Soames
Dickens' Secret Lover
Movie • 2008
Self - Narrator (voice)
Iron Mask
Movie • 2019
Lord Dudley
Victor Frankenstein
Movie • 2015
Frankenstein
Kabloonak
Movie • 1994
Robert Flaherty
Samaná Sunrise
Movie • 2024
Noah Blum
The Commuter
Movie • 2010
The Traffic Warden
Dreams of Leaving
Movie • 1980
Colin
Hidden City
Movie • 1987
James Richards
Fanny Lye Deliver'd
Movie • 2019
John Lye
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Movie • 2019
Alan Jonah
That Good Night
Movie • 2017
The Visitor
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-Family Secret
Movie • 2010
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-A Healing Heart
Movie • 2010
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-The Scandal
Movie • 2011
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-The Reunion
Movie • 2011
First Born
Movie • 1988
Edward Forester
The Book Of Vision
Movie • 2021
Dr. Johan Anmuth
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead
Movie • 2018
Uncle Bertie
Rainy Day Women
Movie • 1984
John Truman
Speeches That Shook the World
Movie • 2013
Self
The Door
Movie • 2012
Thomas Arlington
Spitfire
Movie • 2018
Narrator (voice)
Johnny English Strikes Again
Movie • 2018
Agent Seven
Wimbledon Official Film 2017
Movie • 2017
Narrator (voice)
The King's Man
Movie • 2021
Kitchener
Chrono-Perambulator
Movie • 1999
James 'Dougie' Douglas
Mank
Movie • 2020
William Randolph Hearst
La valle di pietra
Movie • 1992
Surveyor
The Muppets Take The O2
Movie • 2018
Self
What Rats Won't Do
Movie • 1998
Gerald Burton Jr
The Making of Gosford Park
Movie • 2002
Self (uncredited)
The Liar
Movie
Tickford
Viy 3: Travel to India
Movie
Against the Ice
Movie • 2022
Minister Neergaard
Intervention
Movie • 2007
Private Investigator
Fatal Spring
Movie • 1980
Siegfried Sassoon
Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters
Movie • 2024
Narrator
Ladies First
Movie
The Big Fat Quiz of Telly
Movie • 2024
Self
Creditors
Movie • 2025
Gustaf
Wildcat
Movie • 2025
Frasier Mahoney
The Big Fat Quiz of Telly
Movie • 2026
Self - Guest
World of Westeros Ambient Video
Movie • 2025
Tywin Lannister
Game of Thrones
TV • 2011
Tywin Lannister
The One Show
TV • 2006
Self
Tales of the Unexpected
TV • 1979
Robert Smythe
The Professionals
TV • 1977
Parker
Bleak House
TV • 2005
Mr. Tulkinghorn
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)
TV • 2000
Foyle's War
TV • 2002
Guy Spencer
Trinity
TV • 2009
Dr. Edmund Maltravers
Fallen Angel
TV • 2007
David Byfield
Going Postal
TV • 2010
Lord Vetinari
Raffles
TV • 1977
Trial & Retribution
TV • 1997
Play for Today
TV • 1970
Fingersmith
TV • 2005
Mr. Chistopher Lilly
Rebecca
TV • 1997
Maxim de Winter
Natural World
TV • 1983
Neverland
TV • 2011
Dr. Fludd
Father Brown
TV • 1974
Drama Trails
TV • 2010
Strike Back
TV • 2010
Conrad Knox
Secret State
TV • 2012
John Hodder
Would I Lie to You?
TV • 2007
Self
Who Do You Think You Are?
TV • 2004
Self
Childhood's End
TV • 2015
Karellen
The Phantom of the Opera
TV • 1990
The Phantom of the Opera
And Then There Were None
TV • 2015
Justice Lawrence Wargrave
Merlin
TV • 2008
Aredian
Deadline Gallipoli
TV • 2015
Sir Ian Hamilton
Moley
TV • 2021
Mr. Moley (voice)
Rosamunde Pilcher's Shades of Love
TV • 2011
Edmund Aird
An Audience with...
TV • 1978
Self
To the Ends of the Earth
TV • 2005
Sir Henry Somerset
The Flying Doctors
TV • 1986
Minister
The Crown
TV • 2016
Lord Mountbatten
Out on a Limb
TV • 1987
Gerry Stamford
Savage Kingdom
TV • 2016
Self - Narrator (voice)
Rabbit Hole
TV • 2023
Dr. Ben Wilson
The Great Fire
TV • 2014
Lord Denton
Room 101
TV • 1994
Self
The Woman in White
TV • 2018
Frederick Fairlie
The Widow
TV • 2019
Martin Benson
The Sandman
TV • 2022
Roderick Burgess
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
TV • 2011
Self - Participant
Testament: The Story of Moses
TV • 2024
Self - Narrator (voice)
Henry VIII
TV • 2003
Edward Stafford
This England
TV • 2022
Max Hastings
Time for Murder
TV • 1985
James Latimer
The Serpent Queen
TV • 2022
Clement VII
Agatha Christie's Marple
TV • 2004
Septimus Bligh
Rise of Empires: Ottoman
TV • 2020
Self - Narrator (voice)
First Born
TV • 1988
Screen Two
TV • 1985
Paul Hatcher
The Singapore Grip
TV • 2020
Mr Webb
The Little Drummer Girl
TV • 2018
Commander Picton
Hang Ups
TV • 2018
Jeremy Pitt
Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty
TV • 2024
Old Michaelangelo
Top Gear
TV • 2002
Self
The Day of the Jackal
TV • 2024
Timothy Winthrop
Playhouse
TV • 1974
Siegfried Sassoon
BBC Play of the Month
TV • 1965
Borghejm
Jam and Jerusalem
TV • 2006
Self
The Inheritors
TV • 1974
Simon Leadbetter
The Jewel in the Crown
TV • 1984
Guy Perron
Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future
TV • 2002
Colonel Simon Lasker (voice)
Last Rights
TV • 2005
Richard Wheeler