Pierce Brosnan suffered devastating triple tragedy before meeting ‘love of his life’ wife
Behind the glitz of Pierce Brosnan’s Hollywood career lies a story of profound tragedy and resilience.
The 71-year-old James Bond star has endured the heartbreaking loss of both his first wife and daughter to ovarian cancer.
He has also faced the pain of estrangement from his son Christopher due to drug addiction.
Despite these devastating blows, Brosnan found the strength to rebuild his life and discover love again.
In 1980, Pierce married Australian actress Cassandra Harris, and the couple settled in Wimbledon.
They welcomed their son Sean in 1983, while Pierce also adopted Cassandra’s children, Christopher and Charlotte, from her previous marriage.
“We just clicked as a family,” the Irish actor said of the adoption.
Tragedy struck when Cassandra was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1987.
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She passed away in December 1991, with Pierce by her side, describing it as “the longest night of my life.”
“She has made me the man I am, the actor I am, the father I am,” Pierce told People after Cassandra’s death.
In 2013, tragedy struck again when his daughter Charlotte died of the same disease at just 41.
Pierce had walked Charlotte down the aisle in a secret wedding just two weeks before her death.
“Charlotte fought her cancer with grace and humanity, courage and dignity,” he said in a heartfelt statement.
Throughout Pierce’s losses, he was also dealing with the estrangement of his son Christopher.
The pair reportedly haven’t spoken for more than a decade.
Christopher battled a severe drug addiction and nearly died from a GHB overdose in 2002.
In a 2005 Playboy interview, Pierce revealed he had to cut Christopher off: “Christopher is still very lost. Shockingly so.”
“He has tested everybody in this family but none more so than himself,” Pierce added.
In 1994, amid his grief, Pierce met Keely Shaye Smith at a bar in Mexico.
The couple married in Ireland in 2001 and went on to have two sons, Dylan and Paris.
Pierce has been open about how Keely helped him through his darkest times.
“Keely has always been kind and compassionate and encouraged me to mourn Cassie,” he revealed.
Their relationship has remained strong through the decades, with Pierce admitting: “When Keely looks at me I go weak at the knees.”
Their sons Dylan and Paris are now entering the world of showbiz as models.
The brothers have praised their parents, saying they are “grateful for their blessings” and have the “best parents you could ask for.”
Pierce continues to honour Cassandra’s memory while embracing his life with Keely.
“I think of her all the time,” he says of his late wife, while describing Keely as “my North Star, always looking out for me.”