Pierce Brosnan is an Irish actorbest known for playing the iconic spy, James Bond, in the late 90s. Since then, he has appeared in a number of films and even musicals. Indeed, the 71-year-old starred in both Mamma Mia! films.
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As many know, Brosnan has been married to Keely Shaye Smith for over 20 years. The actor doesn’t shy away from showing how much he adores his wife, which was made clear in his anniversary post in 2024.
However, did you know that Pierce Brosnan, who tried to sell his mansion, was married once before? Sadly, that marriage ended tragically.
Pierce Brosnan’s marriage to Keely Shaye Smith
In August 2024, Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary. Brosnan shared the accomplishment on his Instagram, posting several photos of the two of them over the years, with a loving message to his wife.
Happy 23rd anniversary my darling Keely. My beautiful brown-eyed girl, my north, my south, my east and west. All my love, should I fall behind wait for me.
Keely and Pierce first met in 1994 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Keely was working as a TV correspondent and was interviewing Cheers actor, Ted Danson. As reported by Mirror, Keely and Pierce met at a party.
Speaking about her first encounter with the James Bond star, Keely told People that he had a ‘mischievous sparkle in his eyes’ and she simply thought ‘wow’.
He was captivating. Tall, dark and handsome – everything that everybody would immediately be attracted to. He had this mischievous sparkle in his eyes. I thought, 'Wow! Wow!'
Shortly after meeting, the two went on their first date, and the rest is history. Over 20 years later, the two are very much still in love, Pierce and Keely have welcomed two children, Paris and Dylan. In 2018, Pierce spoke with Closer and revealed he still felt ‘weak’ around his wife.
I had a great marriage which sadly had its own ending, and I was lucky enough to find love again. We were meant to find each other.
I thank God for her every day. When Keely looks at me, I go weak. I love her vitality, her passion. She has this strength that I wouldn't be able to live without.
Pierce Brosnan lost his first wife to ovarian cancer
As mentioned above, Pierce Brosnan was married once before. The James Bond actor was married to Cassandra Harris from 1980 to her untimely death in 1991. Cassandra was 43 when she passed.
Brosnan and Harris met in the late 1970s and married in December 1980. Cassandra had two children from a previous marriage, Charlotte and Christopher. In 1993, Pierce and Cassandra welcomed their son, Sean.
Following the death of Dermot Harris, Charlotte and Christopher’s father, in 1986, Brosnan adopted both children, and they took his last name.
Tragedy struck the family in 1987 when Cassandra discovered she had an aggressive form of ovarian cancer. The actress went through four years of treatment, as reported by People, which included eight surgeries and a year and a half of chemotherapy.
Sadly, Cassandra died from ovarian cancer on December 28, 1991. This wasn’t the end of Pierce’s loss. In 2013, his daughter, Charlotte, also died of ovarian cancer; she was 41.
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Sources used:
Mirror: ‘Pierce Brosnan's incredible love story with wife Keely as he makes gushing anniversary tribute’
People: ‘How Pierce Brosnan Found Love Again With Wife Keely Shaye Smith’
Closer: ‘Pierce Brosnan on Finding Hope After Heartbreak: “I Don’t Look at the Cup as Half-Full” (EXCLUSIVE)’
People: ‘Inside Pierce Brosnan's Heartbreaking Loss of His Wife and Daughter to Cancer: 'I Was in a Helpless State'
