After years as a single dad, Pierce Brosnan found love again with his second wife, Keely Shaye Smith. The twosome has enjoyed marital bliss in the last two decades while nurturing a beautiful family.
In 1991, Pierce Brosnan’s family got hit hard when the actor lost his wife, Cassandra Harris, to cancer, leaving their kids to suffer the loss of their dear mom.
Before death came calling, the couple enjoyed a beautiful family comprising a son, Sean, who they welcomed in September 1983, and Harris’ two children, Charlotte and Chris, from a previous relationship.
Pierce Brosnan attends the Prince’s Trust And TK Maxx & Homesense Awards at London Palladium on March 11, 2020, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
The family experienced their worst moments in the four years before Harris’ death. Notably, Brosnan’s first wife received her cancer diagnosis in 1987, just four years after the birth of their only child together, Sean.
For years, the actor stood by his wife’s side, determined to help her fight the aggressive form of ovarian cancer.
He accompanied her to various hospital checks and surgeon visits. Brosnan admired the Canadian actress every step of the way as she took her destiny into her own hands by weighing her treatment options before taking them.
Pierce Brosnan arrives at Oceana’s Annual Partners Awards Gala in Pacific Palisades. | Source: Getty Images
Harris underwent eight surgeries and chemo sessions and embraced holistic medicine and macrobiotics for a year and a half to no avail.
According to him, each session left his then-wife in a lot of pain, but Brosnan was always on-band to play doctor during the post-treatment phase. Despite the effort, Harris eventually passed away on December 28, 1991, surrounded by her beautiful family.
British actor Pierce Brosnan was arriving at the premiere of “Evelyn.” | Source: Getty Images
While the loss hit the actor hard, he knew his kids had it harder, especially his step-children, who dealt with the loss of their biological father five years prior.
Ultimately, the actor adopted his stepkids, then-teenagers, and dedicated the next ten years of his life to raising the youngsters as a single dad. To better fulfill his responsibility to his children, a grief-stricken Brosnan swore never to re-marry.
SINGLE DAD STAYS STRONG FOR KIDS AFTER WIFE’S LOSS
Pierce Brosnan Attends The Empire Magazine Film Awards In London. | Source: Getty Images
Becoming a single dad proved difficult for the actor, who until then, always had Harris on hand to manage his career, kids, and personal life. Yet, he remained determined to be the best dad to the trio, with the loss of the family matriarch making their bond tighter.
Despite feeling great pain over the loss, Brosnan knew the first phase to move on and ensure his kids’ well-being was to stay strong for them. Hence, he did just that, filling in the mom and dad role for Christopher, Charlotte, and Sean while keeping his acting career afloat.
Pierce Brosnan and his son, Paris, pose on arrival for the “Fashion For Relief” charity gala on the second day of London Fashion Week in London on September 14, 2019. | Source: Getty Images
Notably, Brosnan’s attempt to stay strong never prevented him from laying bare his emotions. Contrariwise, he let them see him cry, showed them his pain and loneliness, and invariably encouraged them to let out their grief and pain.
Eventually, the family found a rhythm that worked for everyone as gradually, the joy and laughter returned to their home once again.
PIERCE THANKS GOD FOR FINDING LOVE AGAIN WITH KEELY SHAYE SMITH
Pierce Brosnan With His Sons Sean And Chris, Evelyn Movie Premiere Odeon Westend, Was Followed By A Party At Simpson In The Strand, London. | Source: Getty Images
After years as a working single dad upholding his resolve never to remarry, Pierce Brosnan found love again in journalist Keely Shaye Smith. The two met and connected at a party in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, three years after Harris’ death.
Smith, who worked as a TV correspondent then, showed up at the event to interview legendary actor Ted Danson but ended up stumbling upon her future husband.
Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith attend the MOCA Gala 2017 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA on April 29, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Admittedly, Brosnan never expected to find love again until Smith entered the picture and completely transformed and refreshed his life. Throughout his grieving years, the journalist remained by his side as a solid support, willing to help him push through.
Her loving presence helped Brosnan’s heart finally heal. The 69-year-old believes Smith showing up in his life when she did wasn’t a coincidence but some form of divine intervention fated to happen. He revealed:
“We were meant to find each other. I thank God for her every day.”
The duo kicked off their relationship eventually, each unable to have enough of the other. They fit so much that they became almost inseparable in the following years. To date, their romance remains the substance fairy tales are made of.
Despite his immense success as an actor and film producer, Brosnan admits to being at his happiest when he is home with Smith. The couple, who have sustained their romance for over two decades, welcomed two children together, Dylan and Paris, becoming a blended family of seven.
PIERCE AND KELLY’S SECRET WEDDING CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AFTER TWO DELAYS
Kelly Shaye Smith and Pierce Brosnan tied the knot in 2001 in a breath-taking ceremony complete with fireworks, a seven-tier cake, and an ice sculpture of Rodin’s The Kiss.
The wedding breakfast took place in Ashford Castle, with Smith stunned in her breath-taking gown. About 100 guests attended the event, with tight security in place to keep media outlets at bay.
The secret ceremony meant the world to the couple, who had to put the wedding on hold at least two times due to family emergencies.
The first resulted from Smith and their then-4-year-old trapped in their Californian home by floods. Next, Brosnan’s son sustained a car accident that left him with a spinal injury, forcing the couple to hold it off again.
When they finally made it down the aisle successfully, Brosnan’s kids were glad to see their dad pursue his happiness finally. Charlotte reflected:
“Just seeing the ultimate love that these two people have for each other was unbelievable. My dad found it again, and that makes me happy.”
PIERCE AND KELLY ARE STILL ROMANTIC COUPLE TWO DECADES AFTER WEDDING
Over twenty-one years later, Pierce Brosnan and Kelly Smith are still together. The actor’s love for his second wife has only strengthened over the years.
The pair have also strived to uphold their romantic lives, remaining the loved-up, inseparable couple they were when they first geared off their relationship.
Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith attend the Saint Laurent Menswear Spring/Summer 2016 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 28, 2015, in Paris, France. | Source: Getty Images
The “James Bond” star strived to begin and end his day with Keely to make every day of their lives perfect. They also go on vacations to keep the spark alive, especially as their kids have each grown into adulthood and forged their paths in life.
These days, the couple experience even greater joy in the romance, having welcomed three grandchildren, including two from Charlotte, who passed away in 2013 following her battle with ovarian cancer.
The doting grandparents marked their 21st wedding anniversary in August 2022, with Brosnan sharing a photo from their wedding. Via the caption, he described Smith as the love of his love, also admitting they spent their anniversary dancing as they did on the night of their wedding.
