Most of us recognize Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, the cool, collected, and
incredibly stylish agent.
In addition to the films Dante's Peak, The Thomas Crown Affair, and most
recently Mamma Mia, his career has lasted more than three decades.
But the handsome Irishman's terrible backstory has taxed his family and led
him towards a road of volunteerism.
The 66-year-old has gone through two decades of heartbreaking loss: first,
he lost his wife to death, and then, 22 years later, he lost his daughter to
the same disease that had taken her mother's life.
He was astounded by Cassandra Harris' beauty when he first saw her and
"never for a moment believed she was someone I'd spend 17 years of my life
with," according to the American movie actor.
Cassandra, on the other hand, had a different opinion of this budding star:
"Here was this funny-looking dude with this short hairstyle. However, we had
a lot in common. According to Lessons Learned in Life, she described her
first encounter with Brosnan as "and once we started chatting, we never
stopped."
After a three-year courtship, the couple wed in 1980. After becoming close
friends, they had a kid together. After their father passed away in 1986,
Brosnan even adopted Cassandra's children from a previous marriage, Chris
and Charlotte.
Despite his unorthodox childhood without a father and subsequent placement
with relatives in Ireland while his mother went to work in London, Brosnan
seemed to have a natural affinity for family life. But here he was years
later, a loving spouse, father, and stepfather who was also ecstatically
content.
We bonded instantly as a family. I used to be Pierce, then Daddy Pierce,
and then I just became Dad. In my life, Charlotte and Chris have just been
great," Brosnan told the daily Mirror.
But after 11 years of marriage and when Cassandra received the devastating
news that she had ovarian cancer in the late 1980s, their blissful
relationship would be ripped apart.
With his second marriage, American journalist Keely Shaye Smith, Brosnan
discovered happiness once more. In 2001, the two were married, and they now
have two boys.
But 22 years after losing his first wife, he had yet another tragedy when
his adoptive daughter Charlotte sadly passed away from ovarian cancer.
"Believe me, I don't see the glass as half full. He said to Esquire
magazine, "The dark, mournful Irish black dog sits alongside me
occasionally.
In order to get over the loss, the singer reverted to his first passion of
painting. He is now an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland and campaigns for
cancer awareness while also donating the proceeds from the sale of his
paintings to "environmental, children's, and women's health
organisations."
Charlotte passed away at the age of 41, leaving behind her spouse Alex,
Isabella, and Lucas.
"To watch someone you love having his or her life eaten away bit by bit by
this insidious disease, that type of anguish becomes an indelible part of
your psyche," Brosnan allegedly remarked in a speech at a Stand Up to Cancer
event.
As my first wife Cassie lost her life much too soon to ovarian cancer, I
grasped her kind, strong, and gorgeous hand. And only last year, I held my
witty, amazing daughter Charlotte's hand as she passed away from this
terrible, genetic sickness.
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