Christopher Brosnan, the stepson of legendary actor Pierce Brosnan, has had a complicated journey. After the death of his mother, Pierce did his best to be there for him but ultimately had to make the difficult decision to cut Christopher off.
Pierce Brosnan at the 18th Annual Oscar Wilde Awards on March 7, 2024, in Santa Monica, California. | Source: Getty Images
Now, 20 years later, recent street photos of the actor’s stepson have surfaced, sparking reactions from social media users. See the astonishing images that caused some to leave critical comments for the iconic star’s stepson.
Pierce Brosnan courtside on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on July 13, 2024, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Pierce’s Complex Family Life
Pierce is a beloved Hollywood actor known for his charming roles, most famously his portrayal of the suave spy James Bond. But, beyond the glitz and glamour of the film industry, the actor has faced significant challenges in his personal life, particularly when it came to his family.
Pierce Brosnan and Cassandra Harris at the screening of “The Year of Living Dangerously” in Los Angeles on January 26, 1983. | Source: Getty Images
The actor’s first wife, Cassandra Harris, played a pivotal role in shaping his family life. When the couple married in 1980, she already had two children, Charlotte and Christopher, from her previous marriage to British producer Dermot Harris.
Pierce Brosnan and Cassandra Harris at the 10th Annual People’s Choice Awards afterparty on March 15, 1984, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
The couple went on to welcome their son, Sean Brosnan, in 1984. After the father of his wife’s children passed away in 1986, Pierce adopted both children, solidifying his bond with them and creating a blended family that seemed close-knit and loving.
Pierce Brosnan, Cassandra Harris, Charlotte Brosnan, and Christopher Brosnan at the “Cats” opening night on January 11, 1985, in Century City, California. | Source: Getty Images
Tragedy struck the family in 1991 when Cassandra lost her battle with ovarian cancer, a devastating event that left a lasting impact on all of them. A widowed father, the celebrity was tasked with raising their children while balancing his acting career.
Pierce Brosnan, Cassandra Harris, Charlotte Brosnan, and Christopher Brosnan at the First Annual Beverly Hills St. Patrick’s Day Parade Celebrity Brunch on March 17, 1985, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
“I don’t look at the cup as half full, believe me,” the Hollywood star said following his wife’s passing. The pain resurfaced years later in 2013 when his daughter Charlotte also succumbed to the same illness, bringing back painful memories for Pierce.
Pierce Brosnan, Cassandra Harris, Christopher Brosnan, Charlotte Brosnan, and her boyfriend Alex Smith at the “Postcards from the Edge” premiere on September 10, 1990, in Century City, California. | Source: Getty Images
Pierce openly shared his grief during this difficult time, saying, “On June 28 at 2 p.m., my darling daughter Charlotte Emily passed on to eternal life, having succumbed to ovarian cancer.”
Despite the overwhelming heartbreak, the actor found love again, and in 2001, he married Keely Shaye Smith, a television personality who later became a renowned environmental activist and documentarian.
Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith at the 25th Annual Women in Film Crystal Awards on June 8, 2001, in Century City, California. | Source: Getty Images
The couple welcomed two sons, Dylan and Paris, expanding the family further. Pierce cherished his role as a father and acknowledged the complexities of raising boys.
Pierce Brosnan and his son Dylan Brosnan at the Sunset Marquis Hotel and Rock Against Trafficking Grammy Afterparty on February 8, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
“I know what it’s like to bring up sons, and it can be a very arduous road. My fatherly instincts are purely my own. They relate back to no one because there was no one,” he shared. Sadly, one of his sons ended up being estranged.
Pierce Brosnan with his sons Paris Brosnan and Dylan Brosnan at the premiere of “Love Is All You Need” on April 25, 2013, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
The Estranged Son – Christopher’s Journey and Struggles
Through their mourning of Cassandra, the Brosnan family became closer than ever. “You just feel more deeply now. You hug more deeply, you love more deeply,” Pierce said.
The actor ensured he spent time with his sons, playing with them, taking them to the beach, or inviting friends over for swimming parties. But, he knew that their grief would linger for a while.
Pierce Brosnan, Christopher Brosnan, and Sean Brosnan at the “Mrs. Doubtfire” premiere on November 22, 1993, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
As the family navigated their grief, the celebrity became acutely aware of the emotional weight his children carried. So he kept an eye on them, allowing them to see him weep, and showed them that even though he was also lonely, things would work out in the end.
He admitted, “I can see the pain in Christopher’s eyes, the absence in his heart for his mother.” For a time, the star’s stepson tried to follow in his stepfather’s footsteps, pursuing a career in film and enrolling in a screenwriting course at UCLA.
Christopher, Charlotte, and Pierce Brosnan at the premiere of “Love Affair” on October 13, 1994, in West Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
He even worked on some of Pierce’s films, such as “GoldenEye” and “Tomorrow Never Dies.” But, despite his early promise, Christopher struggled with addiction, which eventually led to the actor cutting him off.
Pierce had always been open about the challenges addiction brought to his family, especially for his stepson. He explained that addiction appeared to have genetic roots, noting that both Charlotte and Christopher’s biological father had passed away due to alcoholism.
Christopher Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan’s mother May Smith, Pierce Brosnan, Keely Shaye Smith, and Charlotte Brosnan at the “GoldenEye” premiere party on November 13, 1995, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
While Charlotte eventually found her way to recovery, her brother’s path was much harder. Pierce expressed his deep concern over his stepson’s struggles, saying that Christopher was “still very lost. Shockingly so.”
The situation came to a head when Pierce had to make the difficult decision to distance himself from his son. “It’s painful because you shut down. You never completely cut them off, but I have to cut Christopher off. I had to say ‘Go. Get busy living, or get busy dying,'” he elaborated.
Christopher Brosnan, Charlotte Brosnan, May Smith, Pierce Brosnan, and Sean Brosnan at “The Matador” after-show party on February 21, 2006, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Although the decision pained him, Pierce revealed it was necessary due to Christopher’s ongoing battle with addiction. “For all his waywardness and addiction, I adore Christopher and just want him well and healthy,” he confessed. Despite cutting him off, the actor’s love for his stepson remained evident.
In 2022, despite their strained relationship, Pierce took to Instagram on Father’s Day to express his love for all of his sons, including Christopher. His caption read, “My love forever to you dear sons, Paris, Dylan, Sean, and Christopher, thank you deeply for your love ❤️ on this Father’s Day.”
His public message demonstrated that even though Christopher had faced challenges, Pierce had never truly stopped caring for him. In later years and recent ones, the celebrity’s estranged stepson was seen out and about and criticized.
Netizens React to Seeing Christopher Now
Christopher was eventually spotted in 2019, and the sighting led to speculation about how he had been living after years of estrangement.
In June 2024, Christopher reappeared in public once again, sparking a reaction on social media. His appearance left fans buzzing, with many commenting on how the star’s stepson looked after so many years away from the spotlight.
“Wow, sad!” one person wrote. Another added, “He looks older than his father. Sadly, drugs will do that to a person.” A third person shared the same sentiment, typing in part, “Son looks so much older than his dad.”
“Hasn’t aged well,” another person commented. “Not good when you look older than your dad,” someone else shared. “He doesn’t look well. Not at all,” another social media user added.
Although Pierce Brosnan’s decision to distance himself from Christopher was difficult, the actor continues to hold onto hope that his stepson will eventually find peace. The “GoldenEye” star revealed that his stepson had his prayers and that he was optimistic Christopher would recover and move past the dark chapter of his life.
