Inside Pierce Brosnan’s ‘Dream House’ Where He Raised 5 Kids with Wife after 10 Years as a Single Dad

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan built a large family home with his first wife, Cassandra Harris, whom he married in 1980.

The Australian actress died from ovarian cancer in 1991, leaving Brosnan to raise their children as a single father. The couple had one child together, Sean, whom they welcomed in 1983.

Brosnan became a stepfather to Harris’s two older children from her previous marriage, Chris and Charlotte, and later adopted them.

Despite being devastated by his wife’s death, the “GoldenEye” star remained strong for their children. In December 2002, Brosnan reflected on Harris’s death in an interview with Orange Coast Magazine.

He admitted that starting over after losing her was unbearable because he grieved for her both in public and in private and felt hollow:

“Starting over was terrifying. It was a road that I knew nothing about. There was emptiness and great sorrow and a sadness, which was private and also public.”

Though Brosnan had to endure the experience in the public eye, he said people were comforting and understanding, with many reaching out to support him. As a single parent, he also had to move forward and provide for his children, so he immersed himself in his work.

When Brosnan Met Keely Smith, She Made Him Stronger

It was his job that he began after Harris’s passing that brought him to his second wife, Keely Smith. Brosnan became an activist for women’s causes, especially cancer, and later found a link between the disease and the environment.

The “Black Adam” star joined the board of the American Oceans Campaign and later traveled with his son to Mexico, where he crossed paths with Smith, a journalist for the “Today” show. When speaking about their first interaction, Brosnan said the chemistry was undeniable:

“There was great chemistry between us from the start. Personally, I had had enough of the dating game. I was not looking.”

Smith was working on an environmental piece for the TV program when she walked past Brosnan, who was sitting alone and reading his script. He was struck by her presence, later recalling that she was a beautiful woman dressed in Armani who carried herself with purpose. They locked eyes and smiled at each other.

She was interviewing actor Ted Danson at the time, and after being done with the interview, she walked past Brosnan again, and they smiled once again. He later saw her again at the beach, at the cocktail hour, and saw her later that night.

They eventually struck up a conversation and talked until the early hours of the morning. The couple married in 2001 and went on to build a family together, welcoming two sons, Dylan and Paris.

In September 2021, Brosnan exclusively told Closer Weekly that not a day goes by without thinking about his late wife, Harris, and that he cherishes the life they created together. He talked about finding love again and said one should follow their hearts and try to meet the best people in life:

“When Keely looks at me, I go weak. I love her vitality, her passion. She has this strength that I wouldn’t be able to live without.”

Brosnan has credited Smith with bringing fatherhood back into his life, saying he is grateful to have her as the mother of their two sons. He has also spoken about how much fatherhood means to him, describing it as deeply satisfying despite the enormous responsibility that comes with raising children.

The Brosnans’ Dreamhouse

After his James Bond sequel “Die Another Day” became a massive success, Brosnan revealed to The Wall Street Journal in September 2020 that he was in the kitchen of his Malibu ranch when he turned to his wife and told her it was time to build her dream home:

“I said to Keely, ‘Go build your dream house.’ And she did.”

The project resulted in a 12,500-square-foot, Southeast Asian-style mansion inspired by Brosnan’s time filming 1997’s “Tomorrow Never Dies” in Thailand. He and Smith raised their sons at the property, which became their family home for years.

The property, named “Orchid House,” sits on an acre along Broad Beach and boasts 12 feet of ocean frontage. Smith and Brosnan purchased the land in 2000 for $5.1 million, then bought the neighboring lot for about $2.25 million.

The family lived in the existing ranch-style house for several years, but the “Survivor” star said it was too small for them. They eventually hired architects Ralph and Ross Anderson to design a new residence, with Smith overseeing the process. The Thailand-inspired house took roughly a decade to design and build.

The completed home features wide-plank teak floors and a green clay-tile roof inspired by temples the couple saw in Thailand. Smith said finding the exact shade of green was a labor of love. The compound has five bedrooms and seven fireplaces across the main house and guesthouse.

The primary bedroom spans about 4,000 square feet and features his-and-hers fireplaces, an art studio, and an expansive deck overlooking the ocean. The house also includes a music room, a gym, and a travertine-walled spa with two soaking tubs.

The Brosnans Partake in Numerous Activities in Their House

The Brosnans are a close-knit blended family who often spend time together at home. They share household responsibilities, including raising animals and growing their own food.

Brosnan is also passionate about art and enjoys drawing, making the home’s dedicated art studio a natural extension of his creative interests.

In November 2019, Brosnan shared a photo of his artwork on Instagram, posing beside one of his paintings with a paintbrush in hand. Creativity also appears to be part of the family’s time together, from singing and playing musical instruments to celebrating holidays at home.

The Brosnans have also used their home as a gathering place for family and friends. In March 2018, the family hosted a market day in their backyard.

In January 2019, family friend Peter Kater played the piano in an entertainment room with floor-to-ceiling windows and green-and-white tile flooring. Later that month, their son Dylan celebrated his 22nd birthday by performing with his group, Raspberry Blond The Band, in an outdoor area beside a stonewall fireplace.

The Brosnans also breed chickens which they have shown feeding on the lawn. In April 2020, the family celebrated Easter Sunday with a family photo taken in a cream-colored room decorated with artwork and a bookshelf.

The following month of May, Brosnan celebrated his 67th birthday and shared a photo of himself and Smith kissing on the beachfront near their home.

In July 2020, he shared a video of a breathtaking view of his grounds with palm trees and a mountain view. He captioned his post by writing that it was his morning routine to feed the wild chickens.

In June of that year, the veteran star posted a photo of himself sitting on a white couch on the veranda. The space featured wooden floors, a nearby sitting area, and a white roof supported by matching pillars. In August, the film producer shared a photo of himself and his son Paris at Makai Princeville, with the ocean stretching out behind them.

In September 2020, Brosnan posted a selfie with his wife on the veranda, with some of his latest artwork visible in the background. One of the paintings featured his old chair. In January 2021, he shared a photo of himself signing silkscreen prints in his studio.

In March 2021, he posted a photo of a large wooden table surrounded by matching chairs, with several of his chickens gathered around it. Two months later, he shared a photo of himself blowing out the candles on a birthday cake placed on a small antique round table.

In March 2022, Brosnan posted a photo of himself standing outside his garage studio. A few days earlier, he had shared a picture of himself and his wife with their son, Paris, seated around a round table.

In May 2022, Brosnan shared a photo of himself posing with a golf club in a room with wooden floors and paintings hanging on the wall. That same month, he gave fans another glimpse inside his studio, where artwork was on display.

Brosnan was trained in the commercial arts and told Orange Coach Magazine that he wanted to continue pursuing painting as one of his passions:

“I find it a great source of relaxation. I do oil and acrylics. I started as a commercial artist and kept up with painting and drawing over the years. There’s two paintings I’ve sold, and one hangs in the Essex House in New York.”

Brosnan’s studio at his Malibu beach home features purple armchairs, a wooden console, and a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf displaying some of his paintings. A chandelier also hangs in the room.

The “Mamma Mia!” star shared that he and his family have hosted memorable parties at their home. He also revealed that their piano once belonged to his friend, saxophonist Kenny G, who had played it there several times.

They purchased it from him, and after a year of staring at it, Brosnan learned how to play, and now his musician son Dylan uses it more often. The lower level of the abode has a screening room with custom sound, a bar, and tiered seating for roughly 20 people, and he revealed:

“We screen first-run movies every weekend when we’re home. It’s dinner and a movie.”

The Hollywood star also disclosed that there is saltwater in the outdoor pool with a waterfall and glass-enclosed areas for outdoor dining.

His spouse, Smith, added that they bought their sand to create their private beach above the beach so the kids could play near the house. Brosnan expressed that his family is his greatest achievement and an essential part of his life.