Pierce Brosnan and the Perks of Being James Bond | Late Night with Conan O’Brien

(Original Airdate: 2/7/97) Pierce Brosnan talks about his experiences playing James Bond and the success of GoldenEye, his encounter with American law enforcement, and the people of Ireland.
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ABOUT LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN
Running from 1993-2009, Late Night with Conan O’Brien is one of the most beloved late night shows in television history. Known for its absurdist humor, hilarious celebrity interviews and featuring the best stand-up comedians and musical acts of the ‘90s and early 2000s. Hosted by Conan O’Brien alongside sidekick Andy Richter and house band Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg 7, Late Night with Conan O’Brien featured unforgettable segments like “If They Mated”, “In the Year 2000”, “Desk Drive”, and made a breakout star of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

[@HouseOfJamo]

He may not have been given the best material to work with, but I think Pierce Brosnan is the best encapsulation of the Bond character we’ve ever seen

[@bookswithbenjamin8902]

Without a doubt

[@Matticus87]

Looks wise. Definitely! A cracking actor

[@Zodroo_Tint]

The first mistake was dropping the Aston Martin for the BMW.

[@bradavon]

Dalton. Apparently Timothy Dalton is closest to the books.

[@Euruk1]

Goldeneye is probably favorite Bond movie.

[@Markmeister1989]

Brosnan casually smoking a cigar while during the interview is so Bond.

[@syamillim3332]

Exactly

[@96libertytt]

A couple of decades earlier the host would be smoking too.

[@pedroper859]

Casually smoking is so Canceeeerrr

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

The cigar is not lit, as he would not have been allowed to smoke it, even back then.

[@Teh1nternetPerv]

@@einundsiebenziger5488 1:41 uhhhhhh

[@QuantumBraced]

This guy just looks like James Bond, perfect cast.

[@TheCoppoy]

Goldfinger look alike

[@Indeana]

I grew up watching Daniel Craig as James bond but during lockdowns I decides to watch all previous James bond series and I can say that Sean Connery is legend among all but Pierce Brosnan is someone I can't get over .....he's just wow ....😍

[@mediocreman2]

Craig is unfortunately the worst there's ever been.

[@Indeana]

@@mediocreman2 For me Timothy Dalton was the worst bond

[@Morgue12free]

@@Indeana Trust me, it's Craig. The guy is literally the anti-bond. He even had to kill bond, imagine that.

[@g_lorn]

​@@Morgue12free I don't think so, he played his role very well. Of course he's not like the 90s Bond's, rather a more modern, more serious version of 007 but still with a lot of charm. And I think Craig pulled the franchise out of it's hole again because Brosnan had the character and that face, but the films weren't particularly good. The franchise must also develop and keep up with the times. Hardly anything had changed before Craig. Skyfall and the new Casino Royale were damn great.

[@Indeana]

@@Morgue12free For death .....I will not blame Craig but for sure to director , writers and producer . They put death unnecessarily in the franchise. I don't know what's going on in their brain of new directors and writers .......because these people are killing all the male Heroes and giving birth to female centric movies . Everywhere I look or listen ......all I can hear is women empowerment.....bullshit.

[@Olinad209]

Pierce Brosnan was the best James Bond for every 90s kids 😅

[@TheEmpireOfThomas]

Correction pierce brosanan was the best Bond ever other than Connery because he’s the og

[@Olinad209]

@@TheEmpireOfThomas yeah that's my take I just put every 90s kids coz there are a lot that would react haha

[@Olinad209]

@@superbrooklynite007 the best bond movie for me I watched all of them and golden eye was on another level it was like way ahead of its time hehe

[@TheEmpireOfThomas]

Golden eye was good but so was dr no and live and let die it really depends on if you like action espionage or comedy

[@johnhernandez7587]

I would like to add that Pierce Brosnan was very humble about taking on the role as Bond and brought so much energy a creativity to the character, in the same way Sean Connery and Roger Moore did as well. Daniel Craig was a great success as well

[@Missjunebugfreak]

He's ridiculously handsome. I grew up with his Bond films so I have a nostalgic fondness for them.

[@dylanfinlayson5556]

Pierce Brosnan's pretty good looking, too.

[@chubbygallasso]

The only guy to play Bond who was actually cooler than Bond.

[@ashleysilver5594]

Really which other Bond actors do you know?

[@HughMorristheJoker]

He's just making a comment on KZbin. Settle down

[@kljmaq]

@@HughMorristheJoker Which of the Bond actors do you know?

[@matthewgallagher1761]

I've personally known them all and had beers with them many times. Chubby is right: Brosnan is the coolest of all of them. In fact, it's not even close.

[@ashleysilver5594]

@@matthewgallagher1761 Its not possible that you could have known them all unless you worked on the Bond films or for Pinewood Studios or Eon Productions. And if you did interviews show us the link.

[@jamesphilipson1289]

The hair, the leather, the stogie. The dude was just made to be Bond

[@RobertJones-q1c]

Robert Jones be like, I'm a Nazi with spiked grunge hair. to short. Just devil worship wearing a German Flecktarn Army jacket.

[@yutehube4468]

He fitted the part better than anyone else. I don't care if Sean Connery and Roger Moore did more movies, Pierce Brosnan was in another league as far as playing this specific character goes. He was always a great actor. The oldest movie I have seen him in was "Long Good Friday" and he's hardly in it at all but you remember him after seeing it.

[@Brian6587]

When I think of James Bond Brosnan's image always comes right to mind. I miss him as Bond so much!

[@mav9428]

That's one handsome and classy man. And Pierce Brosnan is there too.

[@villelouekari4408]

Yes I adore Andy

[@justindenney-hall5875]

@@villelouekari4408 Alonzo Harris: My Nigga! (Chuckles fondly)

[@kamuelalee]

ANDY!!!

[@RobertJones-q1c]

I wish I had acted like one.😢😢😢😭😭😭

[@HanneloreJanssens]

Love you Pierce!

[@haydnmarsh9971]

Brosnan for me is my favourite Bond. I do like the raw grittiness of Craig but Pierce had the look and also did the action very well I think and delivered the humor just right

[@ChristopherSibert]

Goldeneye was a great film, it was the first new Bond film that I saw in a theater when it was new, I was 13 years old. I've seen every one of them in the theater since then.

[@RobertWalsh-vp5ui]

It's my favourite Bond movie

[@fridakahlo4225]

He will forever be my favourite Bond. And he is even better at comedy too.

[@DeathofSteel-gt9rk]

Pierce Brosnan looks so handsome here. And I love how that one strand of his hair falls down in front of his eye. 🥰😍❤

[@youthwave]

Pierce Brosnan looked the real James Bond with so much action in his limbs. Great video. Thanks.

[@EetsBack]

Brosnan turned Bond super suave bringing Remington Steele into it.

[@ScottZupek]

He appears to have become more humble as he's gotten older. I thought he was a bit cocky and disrespectful here. Which is odd because he seems like such a different person (for better) as he progressed through life. That's always nice to witness.

[@ab8jeh]

He kept getting interrupted. He was about to talk about meeting Connery and got interrupted. Think he was starting to get a bit annoyed.

[@Blashmack]

Maybe a bit of flair to build some kind of image during his Bond days.

[@thankyoukanyeverycool7798]

he never jumped on conans jokes 😂 i guess he hasn‘t got any humour or didnt like conans jokes. 😂

[@ab8jeh]

@@thankyoukanyeverycool7798 he has got humour clearly, just not that low level crap.

[@cuckoonut1208]

Time changes a person priorities. One must adapt.

[@jillcampbell8019]

Sean and Pierce - my favorite 007 James Bond men.

[@revokdaryl1]

The BMW 850ci is such a classic today and they're only going up in value! People are starting to appreciate them more these days which is nice to see. That model was the TOTL back in they day.

[@BulentBezduzOfficial]

He is a true legend.

[@rceravolojnr]

Hes the epitome of bond remember goldeneye on VHS and nintendo 64 best days ever

[@OriginalPuro]

Temple. Pistols. Golden gun. Oddjob not allowed.:D

[@rceravolojnr]

@@OriginalPuro the BEST!!

[@mrwifi1206]

Excellent interview, love both Pierce and Conan! Two great Irishmen

[@MrKAKARONALDOMESSI]

How I wish I could go back to 2/7/97

[@bloodflower2141]

amen brother

[@mkbull123]

I would start working on 7/7/97 at NBC exactly 5 months later and would see CB on the 6th floor in the hallway outside the studio and he would actually say “HI” to me because I had a cockroach of a job ((when the lights went on I had to disappear)) there fixing things in the studio that was annoying to everyone else…out of all the famous guys he was the most sincere, down to earth person I remember from my time there, Max Weinberg was full of himself

[@neverstoplearningchannel]

Very handsome Pierce Brosnan

[@frostedflakes55]

Pierce Brosnan interviews Conan Obrien while thinking about putting a cigar out in his eye 😂

[@ThedaVutheda]

My favorite Bond of all time ❤

[@faizelbobat1165]

He was the best. And ranked the most deadly. The most kills from any Bond.

[@QuantumKy]

I think Andy would make an incredible James Bond villain.

[@RaniaBhatti]

Yea he’s got the furrowed brows and evil laugh

[@MattWells-89]

Andy can play the role of “Swedish German”.

[@dextercarrie8131]

😂

[@cucurezenita]

One of my friends was running a pub in the 90's and his girlfriend's mum was dating Pierce Brosnan. My friend said he was such a chill and nice guy.

[@lukedaley17]

If I had to choose one Pierce Brosnan James Bond film as the best it would be Goldeneye.

[@natedetailscars]

Peak Brosnan. Man knows how cool he is.

[@Rascal19617]

Pierce Brosnan

[@monkelmann]

Tarantino once said that he thinks Brosnan was the best Bond decision to this day. I kind of agree

[@michaeljohn1978]

Tarantino directing Brosnan in Casino Royale is one of the great movie “What ifs”. But we still got a bloody good Casino Royale

[@Laukki]

Dalton is my absolute favourite but I definitely enjoyed Brosnan's take. I think true Bond films ended with Die another day. Doesn't mean I think DAD was that good but it felt like a Bond picture.

[@mlondon1157]

Yes! Love Timothy Dalton too, so underrated as Bond.

[@ab8jeh]

Complements of Sharkey.

[@miqotesoulia8620]

this guy never fuckin aged. holy moly! what a chad.

[@rjmacready9828]

Still the best James Bond. My childhood hero

[@IrishGuitarGaz]

I must have seen every Bond film at least a few times, and to this day I still think Brosnan somehow captures the essence of Bond's emotional disassociation better than any of his contemporaries. Physically, Fleming said once whilst writing his books that Bond resembled Hoagie Carmichael - I'm not sure that any of the Bond actors really looked like him, but in my mind, Brosnan's mix of good looks, thick dark hair, slim build and relaxed demeanour just fitted the aesthetic of the character perfectly. It's a shame that his tenure came at the end of an era where humorous quips, ridiculous gadgets and dodgy CGi was still the norm for Bond - whilst more grounded competition like Jason Bourne (and even TV shows like 24, with Jack Bauer) were starting to make waves and revitalising the spy/secret operative genre. I think if they had taken the more gritty/realistic approach of the Daniel Craig films, but with Brosnan starring, it could have been incredible.

[@DeadPixel1105]

Well said. A gritty Bond film starring Brosnan would be awesome.

[@busydad4858]

Ridiculously cool guy, particularly in his prime. Might not have had the best Bond films (had great moments if not great films) but a fantastic version of the character. Physically he is the closest to the description of Bond in the books alongside Connery and Dalton.

[@emsferns2692]

My favorite actor ❤️

[@QuantumBraced]

So he smoked a cigar the entire time and they didn't even address it LOL. Imagine that today.

[@MrJimheeren]

This was filmed in 1997 smoking indoors was very much allowed back then. So it’s not that weird. Heck my dad smoked indoors when I was a baby. The 80s and 90s were a very different time

[@segueoyuri]

today actors have a need to show how nice and good and polite and whatever they are... Once upon a time a guy just wanted to like a guy.

[@MrDaubigne]

Didn't see him take a drag once and the thing stayed lit? I need to get off these machine-rolled cigars.

[@highlanderc]

@@happysappy21 They still do

[@SAIYANjin80Dz]

wen i was young i like to play as pierce brosnan on ps2 007 night fire and evry thing or nothing it was a new story line of bond it was fun to play as pierce bond

[@AchtungBaby77]

Classy & suave - that is Mr Brosnan.

[@smileyscrubs2262]

The times when you could still smoke on talk shows, gosh, how i miss those days

[@bloodflower2141]

god me too..

[@kamuelalee]

Carson

[@ClassicTor]

here in the netherlands your not even allowed to have a smoke room anymore so no inside cigar smoking overhere unfortunatly

[@cpm4778]

The ending went a little left and Pierce had a good *sigh* at the end. But this a classic interview either way.

[@davinahandley2043]

I think because he said Dylan Thomas was a good Irish name in fact it is the name of a famous Welsh Poet think Pierce was a bit gob smacked

[@kamuelalee]

Bond was not happy

[@tristanclark7795]

No he wasn’t it went kindof downhill there at the end 😂

[@davinahandley2043]

@keepitsecret-dl1pr I did not say Conan was an Idiot I would not be so rude I just said I thought Pierce was surprised at Dylan Thomas being thought an Irish name

[@TRJ2241987]

As another guy, I've never seen anyone else so impossibly handsome, yet so equally likeable. He was "I hate your guts" good looking......Doubtfire & Goldeneye were so special to me growing up

[@MaheshWalatara]

He hardly let him finish his sentences. 😂

[@louk231]

I know. I wanted to hear the story about the speeding ticket...Conan just kept stealing the moment in an attempt to be funny.

[@MichaelChengSanJose]

Pierce just oozes suave so effortlessly that Conan seems more thrown off his beat than being with a hot actress.

[@persnickety369]

I can't see those chairs they sit in without thinking of Tom Green. 😄

[@bloodflower2141]

haha yea..

[@masaharumorimoto4761]

Wow I totally remember seeing Dante's Peak in the theater, back then we just went to the theater without knowing what was playing.

[@Markrobinson-bb3ti]

I see why women dig him

[@Llamadosalvaje]

ONE OF THE BEST!

[@VishaManilal-ms7jv]

Worlds most handsome man

[@pauledangerously1077]

They should bring pierce back for one more

[@Chitownsfinest36]

They should bring the bonds together or maybe some of them. Like an alternate universe Bond film.

[@Parischick11]

My favourite Bond ever 👏

[@jessesands4099]

Pierce Brosnan Was A Very Good James Bond Fitting Well Into The Role!😎🕴🍸🍾🥂🚘🚗🇮🇪🇬🇧

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

No need for all caps, and have your emoji addiction treated.

[@ngkokwei6114]

Dante’s Peak definitely one of the most iconic movies of all times!

[@michaeljohn1978]

It was peak cinema. Literally

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

It's the worst movie PB ever made.

[@krishayden3177]

PB driving a 850 ci is a perfect mental image.

[@aazarzabal9250]

Two things: Pierce Brosnan was a very handsome dude and Conan is the best host.

[@childofthesun32]

Try watching Graham Norton, if you want to see a skilled host. Conan and all American hosts just interrupt the guests and use them as a platform for their own shit standup routine.

[@aazarzabal9250]

@childofthesun32 I do watch him a lot too, never seen the people so relaxed, they drink and have fun. That is great. I hate all the american hosts, but conan is not that fake. At least my opinion

[@childofthesun32]

@@aazarzabal9250 I guess Conan is not as bad as the others, that's fair, but he does focus too much on his own routine, I feel and doesn't get the guests to open up as much as Norton.

[@gonnahavemesomefun]

the cigar lol

[@sanjayraju988]

Brosnan seemed like such a stuck up jerk in this, Conan carried this whole interview. He truly was the goat 🐐🔥

[@wictoriaojheden]

He is actually from Navan in County Meath he lived there for 12 years. Navan is a beautiful town and the " capital " of Co.Meath

[@thuydoan7496]

I liked Pierce Brosnan as 007 that I wanted to be him. The only way to do that is to play a James Bond video game, that has Pierce Brosnan as Bond himself.

[@cascade1873]

I like Pierce Brosnan. I like Dante's Peak. And I like his James Bond

[@gauravgummaraju]

Classy as ever

[@yutehube4468]

Brosnan was the best James Bond. He is the only James Bond that was 100% serious the whole time. he might have had the odd comedy line, but he was the darkest and the most convincing Mi6 agent of all the actors that have played this role.

[@johnkeenan9495]

Wish pierce stayed as bond

[@KyloRen4238]

Pierce Brosnan 🖤 Show 1. Pierce Brosnan - The Simpsons 2001 Movies 2. James Bond - Die Another Day 2002 3. James Bond - The World Is Not Enough 1999 4. Professor Donald Kessler - Mars Attacks! 1996 5. James Bond - Golden Eye 1995

[@KyloRen4238]

Happy Birthday Pierce Brosnan. UR awesome legend. I love Die Another Day, The World is not Enough, and GoldenEye is awesome. Watching spy movies is pretty kool...! Mars Attacks is great. I love watching alien movies. U got to enjoy the action. Love this guy. May the Peace be with u James Bond. From Harlingen Texas. May 16, 1953 May 16, 2023 through May 16, 3023

[@fireball_55]

Holy shit, he’s SO HANDSOME!!!😍

[@rksabz]

He was a brilliant Bond to me. I don’t need to read other peoples opinions. I have the ability to form my own

[@Zodroo_Tint]

But you still insecure enough to say it. :)

[@gandharaorganicfoods]

This guy along with Jamie dornan of fifty shades of grey both are good looking actors from Ireland

[@DeathofSteel-gt9rk]

What about Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy?

[@gandharaorganicfoods]

@@DeathofSteel-gt9rk what? They are also Irish??

[@DeathofSteel-gt9rk]

@@gandharaorganicfoods Yes.

[@shunae86]

This is the first Bond that I was introduced to, and I’m so glad. Cos no disrespect to other actors, but Pierce Brosnan is the OG.

[@ClassicTor]

How can he be the OG when he is the previous bond

[@trabuco81]

Great Bond persona look

[@ecwashere8735]

Nobody: Family Friendly Dante's Peak: "Gramma just melted her legs in acid"

[@Mark-ij2nh]

Timothy dalton was scripted to be bond in goldeneye but the lawsuit with the studios led to delays and he got fed up of waiting so left as bond. Such a shame

[@dbreiden83080]

1997 when you could still smoke inside..

[@haraldsletterod]

He was almost too perfect for the role.

[@eggruns2370]

dam this cat is smooth.

[@HazemArthSuyong]

In Philippines many of kids here he acting action move and he always said, I'm James Band❤️😅

[@pilararriazu4768]

Excelente Actor!!👏👏👏

[@graceonfilmsnstuff]

"he's talking, isn't he "

[@creativesource3514]

Every Bond actor was good for different reasons. But Sean C was 'the' Bond. He had the best scripts.

[@SK-S2N]

The perfect Bond.

[@Eire_Go_Deo]

Ah jesus he's a handsome fella

[@michaelknoppke7057]

Echt super, der Mann. !

[@minerva-265]

To cool for school. 😄

[@ahlads]

You could see Brosnan was a bit irritated here with Conan not letting him finish his sentences.

[@mariodoblado668]

Dude couldn't be more handsome if he tried

[@anabermejo2480]

Es terriblemente atractivo; y buena persona un James Bond perfecto para mi el mejor

[@Cheekiemoney]

This makes smoking look cool

[@jamesbennett9962]

Dylan thomas is a welsh name😂

[@codezero7981]

hottest Bond ever.

[@LocoJunius]

Conan had no idea where his family was from

[@Chyeahokay]

He was the best bond. Even better than Connery...

[@vice4134]

Yes, I agree. Pierce is the best looking bond ever.

[@kamuelalee]

No, but he was still a great Bond.

[@michaeljohn1978]

Shame he only got one really good movie

[@kamuelalee]

@@michaeljohn1978 Which one...Goldeneye?

[@michaeljohn1978]

@@kamuelalee Of course

[@DreamFearless]

Tbh the slightly combative tone shift at the end was the only interesting part of this interview. 😅 The Q&A was flat and Conan didn't have max charisma yet. Pierce just felt it and gave a little spice to the clip.

[@chrisfarr4886]

Vote Connan for next Bond

[@dextercarrie8131]

Pierce can do no wrong, screw Yellowstone National Park. He is my 2nd favourite James Bond after Sean Connery.

[@guileniam]

Thats one cool cat

[@sharoncarter4086]

Adore you Pierce, I named my son after you, so handsome!!!!!

[@teamshaboobalu2887]

I love how Conan annoys him hehe.