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.
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World of Westeros Ambient Video 2025Tywin Lannister -
Wildcat 2025Frasier Mahoney -
Frankenstein 2025Leopold Frankenstein -
Creditors 2025Gustaf -
Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty 2024Old Michaelangelo ·3 eps -
Samaná Sunrise 2024Noah Blum -
The Day of the Jackal 2024Timothy Winthrop ·6 eps -
Rumours 2024Edison Wolcott -
The First Omen 2024Father Harris -
Savage Waters 2023 -
Rabbit Hole 2023Dr. Ben Wilson ·8 eps -
Portrait of the Queen 2022 -
This England 2022Max Hastings ·6 eps -
The Hanging Sun 2022Jacob -
The Serpent Queen 2022Clement VII ·1 ep -
The Sandman 2022Roderick Burgess ·1 ep -
Against the Ice 2022Minister Neergaard -
The King's Man 2021Kitchener -
Moley 2021Mr. Moley (voice) ·52 eps -
The Book Of Vision 2021Dr. Johan Anmuth -
Mank 2020William Randolph Hearst -
The Singapore Grip 2020Mr Webb ·6 eps -
Master Moley by Royal Invitation 2019Mr. James Moley (voice) -
Fanny Lye Deliver'd 2019John Lye -
Iron Mask 2019Lord Dudley -
Godzilla: King of the Monsters 2019Alan Jonah -
The Widow 2019Martin Benson ·8 eps -
The Little Drummer Girl 2018Commander Picton ·6 eps -
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead 2018Uncle Bertie -
Johnny English Strikes Again 2018Agent Seven -
Hang Ups 2018Jeremy Pitt ·2 eps -
The Woman in White 2018Frederick Fairlie ·5 eps -
Euphoria 2018Mr. Daren -
That Good Night 2017The Visitor -
Underworld: Blood Wars 2016Thomas -
The Crown 2016Lord Mountbatten ·5 eps -
Ghostbusters 2016Harold Fillmore -
Me Before You 2016Stephen Traynor -
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies 2016Mr. Bennet -
Despite the Falling Snow 2016Old Alexander Ivanov -
And Then There Were None 2015Justice Lawrence Wargrave ·3 eps -
Childhood's End 2015Karellen ·3 eps -
Victor Frankenstein 2015Frankenstein -
Instruments of Darkness 2015Duncan -
Deadline Gallipoli 2015Sir Ian Hamilton ·2 eps -
Woman in Gold 2015Sherman -
Child 44 2015Major Grachev -
Admiral 2015King Charles II -
Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience 2015Tywin Lannister -
The Imitation Game 2014Commander Denniston -
The Great Fire 2014Lord Denton ·4 eps -
Dracula Untold 2014Master Vampire -
Retrospective 2014Jonathan Hoyle -
Forbidden Empire 2014Lord Dudley -
Patrick 2013Doctor Roget -
Justin and the Knights of Valour 2013Legantir (voice) -
Father's Day 2013Don -
Secret State 2012John Hodder ·4 eps -
The Door 2012Thomas Arlington - The Mapmaker 2012Rowan
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St George's Day 2012Trenchard -
Midnight's Children 2012William Methwold -
Underworld: Awakening 2012Thomas -
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-The Reunion 2011 -
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-The Scandal 2011 -
Neverland 2011Dr. Fludd ·2 eps -
Rosamunde Pilcher's Shades of Love 2011Edmund Aird ·4 eps -
Game of Thrones 2011Tywin Lannister ·35 eps -
Your Highness 2011King Tallious -
There Be Dragons 2011Solono -
Ironclad 2011Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury -
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-Family Secret 2010 -
Rosamunde Pilcher: Shades of Love-A Healing Heart 2010 - The Commuter 2010The Traffic Warden
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Paris Connections 2010Aleksandr Borinski - Drama Trails 20101 ep
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Going Postal 2010Lord Vetinari ·2 eps - The Clerk's Tale 2010Ralph
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Strike Back 2010Conrad Knox ·10 eps -
Trinity 2009Dr. Edmund Maltravers ·8 eps -
Merlin 2008Aredian ·1 ep -
Consenting Adults 2007Jack Wolfenden -
The Contractor 2007DCS Andrew Windsor - Fallen Angel 2007David Byfield ·3 eps
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Intervention 2007Private Investigator -
Twice Upon a Time 2006Battar Master of Ceremonies -
Starter for 10 2006Michael Harbinson -
Scoop 2006Mr. Malcolm -
Bleak House 2005Mr. Tulkinghorn ·15 eps -
To the Ends of the Earth 2005Sir Henry Somerset ·3 eps -
Fingersmith 2005Mr. Chistopher Lilly ·3 eps - Last Rights 2005Richard Wheeler ·3 eps
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Agatha Christie's Marple 2004Septimus Bligh ·1 ep -
Saint John Bosco Mission to Love 2004Marchese Clementi -
Henry VIII 2003Edward Stafford ·2 eps -
Swimming Pool 2003John Bosload -
Black and White 2002Roderic Chamberlain -
Foyle's War 2002Guy Spencer ·1 ep - Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future 2002Colonel Simon Lasker (voice) ·2 eps
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Ali G Indahouse 2002Deputy Prime Minister David Carlton -
Gosford Park 2001Raymond Stockbridge -
Jurij 2001 -
Dark Blue World 2001Wing Commander Bentley -
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby 2001Ralph Nickleby -
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) 20001 ep -
Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes 2000Sir Henry Carlyle - Chrono-Perambulator 1999James 'Dougie' Douglas
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Don't Go Breaking My Heart 1999Frank -
Hilary and Jackie 1998Derek Du Pré -
What Rats Won't Do 1998Gerald Burton Jr -
Trial & Retribution 19972 eps -
The Blood Oranges 1997Cyril -
In the Presence of Mine Enemies 1997Captain Richter -
Rebecca 1997Maxim de Winter ·2 eps -
Michael Collins 1996Soames -
Space Truckers 1996Nabel / Macanudo -
Undertow 1996Lyle Yates -
The Surgeon 1995Dr. Ed Mittlesbay -
Shortcut to Paradise 1994Quinn -
China Moon 1994Rupert Munro -
Kabloonak 1994Robert Flaherty -
Century 1993Professor Mandry -
Last Action Hero 1993Benedict -
Alien³ 1992Clemens -
La valle di pietra 1992Surveyor -
The Phantom of the Opera 1990The Phantom of the Opera ·2 eps -
Goldeneye 1989Ian Fleming -
First Born 1988Edward Forester -
First Born 19883 eps -
Out of the Shadows 1988Michael Hayden -
Pascali's Island 1988Anthony Bowles -
White Mischief 1987Josslyn Hay -
Hidden City 1987James Richards -
Good Morning, Babylon 1987D.W. Griffith -
Out on a Limb 1987Gerry Stamford ·2 eps -
The Golden Child 1986Sardo Numspa -
The Flying Doctors 1986Minister ·1 ep -
The McGuffin 1986Paul Hatcher - Time for Murder 1985James Latimer ·1 ep
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Plenty 1985Raymond Brock -
Screen Two 1985Paul Hatcher ·1 ep -
Rainy Day Women 1984John Truman -
The Jewel in the Crown 1984Guy Perron ·5 eps -
Natural World 19831 ep -
Little Eyolf 1982Borghejm -
For Your Eyes Only 1981Claus -
Fatal Spring 1980Siegfried Sassoon -
Dreams of Leaving 1980Colin -
Tales of the Unexpected 1979Robert Smythe ·1 ep -
The Professionals 1977Parker ·1 ep -
Raffles 19771 ep -
Father Brown 19741 ep - The Inheritors 1974Simon Leadbetter ·1 ep
- Playhouse 1974Siegfried Sassoon ·1 ep
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Play for Today 19701 ep -
BBC Play of the Month 1965Borghejm ·1 ep
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The Big Fat Quiz of Telly 2026Self - Guest -
Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters 2024Narrator -
The Big Fat Quiz of Telly 2024Self -
Lancaster 2022Narrator (voice) -
The Magic of the Movies: Behind the Scenes of David Fincher's Mank 2021Self -
Spitfire 2018Narrator (voice) - The Muppets Take The O2 2018Self
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Wimbledon Official Film 2017 2017Narrator (voice) -
The Science of Doctor Who 2013Self -
Speeches That Shook the World 2013Self -
The Relics of Buddha 2013Narrator (voice) - Dickens' Secret Lover 2008Self - Narrator (voice)
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The 50 Greatest Television Dramas 2007Self -
Titanic: Birth of a Legend 2005Narrator (voice) -
Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³' 2003Self (archive footage) -
The Making of Gosford Park 2002Self (uncredited) -
Alien Evolution 2001Self / Clemens
SAG Awards
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureFrankenstein
- Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe Day of the Jackal