Timothy Dalton (born March 21, 1944) (although the Internet Movie Database and "Dalton's official website" list his date of birth as March 21, 1946, all official records state March 21, 1944) is a Welsh-born English actor of stage and film most famous as the fourth James Bond in the official film series.

Born in Colwyn Bay, Wales, UK, Timothy Dalton is of mixed English and Italian-Irish ancestry; soon after his birth, the family moved to Belper, Derbyshire, England, UK, . In youth, he became interested in acting, and left school, in 1964, to enroll in the RADA and tour with the National Youth Theatre in the summers. He did not complete his RADA studies, leaving, in 1966, to work professionally in the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. He quickly moved to television, mainly with BBC, and, in 1968, appeared in The Lion in Winter, his first film, and the first of several period dramas.

After more films, he took a break, 1971–75, concentrating on theatre, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and other troupes, throughout the world. After briefly returning to the cinema, he again concentrated in the theatre until 1978, when he made his first film in the United States and first appeared in US television. In the US, he most worked in television, but he did make some European films, and gave notable performances for the BBC.

In 1986, after Roger Moore's final, definitive retirement from the James Bond role, Dalton was approached to replace him after Pierce Brosnan was forced to relinquish the role with the revival of the Remington Steele television commitments. Previously, Dalton had been offered the role several times before—as early as 1968, to replace Sean Connery—but had turned down the James Bond role, each time feeling he was too young for it. Work commitments made him again refuse the role in 1986, but, when asked a second time, he agreed to three James Bond films. The first, The Living Daylights (1987) was successful, but the second, Licence to Kill (1989) was less so, particularly in the important American market,(though still a success in comparison to most other films), and was hurt by a lacklustre marketing campaign. The third Bond film slated was for 1991 (rumoured title: The Property of a Lady), but its production was scuttled by internecine corporate litigation over the rights between EON Productions and Danjaq, and, in 1994, Dalton officially dropped the James Bond role, re-opening the door for Pierce Brosnan.

Timothy Dalton's darker, realistic portrayal of secret agent James Bond intentionally was based more upon the literary character, than the cinematic character. Critics generally liked the more serious James Bond after more than a decade of Roger Moore's lighthearted approach, but the reaction of afficionados was mixed, particularly from those unfamiliar with Ian Fleming's original James Bond novels.

After his Bond films, Dalton's career entered an uncertain period, successes on stage and television were balanced by indifferent films. He also endured the thankless assignment of playing Rhett Butler in a television movie sequel to Gone with the Wind.

Selected filmography

• Dunkirk, to be released in May 2005
• Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)
• American Outlaws (2001)
• Cleopatra (movie) (1999)
• Made Men (1999)
• Stories of My Childhood (1998)
• Beautician and the Beast (1997)
• Salt Water Moose (1996)
• Naked in New York (1994)
• Last Action Hero, cameo role (1993)
• Framed (1992)
• The Rocketeer (1991)
• The King's Whore (1990)
• Licence to Kill (1989)
• Hawks (1988)
• The Living Daylights (1987)
• The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
• Flash Gordon (1980)
• Cromwell (1970)
• The Lion in Winter (1968)

External links

• Timothy Dalton's official website (http://www.timothydalton.com/)
• Timothy Dalton (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001096/) at the Internet Movie Database

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