Pierce Brosnan Once Postponed Lavish Wedding to Longtime Fiancée as His Injured Son Was Unable to Attend

Pierce Brosnan was merely days away from walking down the aisle with the love of his life in a special wedding ceremony in Ireland. However, an unspeakable tragedy turned his life topsy-turvy, after which he decided to call off the wedding.

Pierce Brendan Brosnan is an Irish American actor and film producer, most popularly known as the fifth actor to star as the secret agent James Bond in the highly acclaimed "Bond" series. He was first married to Cassandra Harris from 1980 until she died in 1991.

Over the course of their marriage, Brosnan and Harris welcomed a boy, Sean, born in September 1983. The "GoldenEye" actor also adopted Harris' daughter, Charlotte, and son, Chris, from a previous marriage after their father's death.

After his wife's demise, Brosnan opened up about coping with the loss. In an interview, The "Die Another Day" star expressed how everything changed for him after Harris was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. He said that his family cherished every moment they had with her. Further, he added:

"Cassie was very positive about life. I mean, she had the most amazing energy and outlook on life. She could read people extremely well. She had, above all, the greatest sense of humor. She had this wonderful laugh, which her children have inherited."

Brosnan got a second chance at love a few years later when his path crossed with Keely Shaye Smith.

THE COUPLE'S FIRST MEETING

Brosnan and Smith first met in 1994 by pure chance. They were at a party in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where Smith was set to interview actor Ted Danson. When Danson couldn't show up for the interview, she and Brosnan got a chance to talk, and the rest was history. About Brosnan, Smith said:

"He was captivating. Tall, dark, and handsome — everything that everybody would immediately be attracted to. He had this mischievous sparkle in his eyes. I thought, 'Wow! Wow!'"

The pair went on their first date days later, where they sat under the starry sky watching fireworks, listening to music, and chatting. Smith also described Brosnan as an appealing man who knew how to appreciate women.

Over time, Brosnan gained worldwide notoriety with his role as James Bond in GoldenEye, but he and Smith continued to progress in their relationship. Regarding Smith, "The No Escape" actor expressed:

"Wherever I went in the world I missed her, and I'd send her tickets to come so we could be together. We just seemed to fit."

Smith was born on September 25, 1963. Before meeting and falling in love with Brosnan, she grew up in Vallejo, California. Like the love of her life, she is immensely talented and happens to be a journalist, TV personality, and author.

Smith has also done some modeling and acting as she once starred in "General Hospital" as Valerie Freeman. She also made a cameo in a Huey Lewis video for the song "Stuck With You." She became the environmental correspondent for ABC's "The Home Show," which earned her many laurels.

Moreover, she was also a correspondent for NBC's hit classic show "Unsolved Mysteries" from 1994 until 1997. After years of dating, Brosnan and Smith were finally set to marry.

However, just days before they were supposed to tie the knot, the couple faced an enormous challenge. It turned out that Brosnan's beloved son was in a life-threatening situation.

A HEARTBREAKING INCIDENT

The iconic Hollywood star's 13-year-old son, Sean, met with a horrific car accident when the vehicle went down a brush-covered embankment near Malibu, California. Resultantly, he suffered multiple fractures and spinal injuries. Sean was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.

Meanwhile, Brosnan was contacted at his home in Malibu shortly after the accident, and he accompanied his son in the helicopter. According to the authorities, Sean was the most injured passenger in the accident, and he was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit.

In the wake of Sean's accident, Brosnan decided to postpone his wedding, which was due to be held in County Mayo, Ireland. The "Mamma Mia" alum was to marry Smith in the 800-year-old Ballintubber Abbey, followed by a reception in the historic Ashford Castle.

A fleet of limousines and a wedding car were booked to ferry the couple and guests from Dublin to Mayo for the ceremony. But, Brosnan postponed his wedding to his fiancée, Smith, because his son was still recovering and not well enough to attend.

No new date for the wedding was announced, and according to the couple's spokesperson, $40,000 worth of flowers ordered for the event were donated to local children's hospitals.

BROSNAN NEARLY TURNED DOWN A ROLE

The driver, who reportedly injured Sean in the horrific accident in Malibu, surrendered to authorities in Los Angeles and was sentenced to a six-month jail term. He was said to be driving under the influence of alcohol. The car crash left Brosnan's son with serious abdominal injuries.

The 007 actor was so profoundly affected by the accident that he almost turned down a role because the storyline closely reflected what happened to Sean in 2000. "The Greatest" told the story of two parents struggling to move on after their son died in a car accident. Brosnan recalled:

"When I first got the script, I looked it over and put it under my bed for a week."

Eventually, Brosnan said he decided to do the film because he liked it. Regarding the accident, Sean expressed that he wasn't driving the car, and he and his friends had returned from a party that day. He noted that the driver went over the speed limit, and the vehicle crashed.

Sean also explained that the accident broke his back, shattered his tailbone and pelvis in five spots, and broke his left femur. Following the harrowing accident, Sean said he had to learn to walk again.

MARRYING THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE

The "Dante's Peak" alum finally tied the knot with Smith in a secret ceremony in Ireland. The couple wed in August 2001 at Ballintubber Abbey in County Mayo. The nuptials took place amid tight security. Brosnan arrived in a car with 00MO7 number plates, while his bride traveled in a white Rolls Royce.

White sheets were thrown over the cars as they pulled up at the abbey to deny photographers access to the couple. The abbey was originally built in 1216. The wedding ceremony was conducted by Brosnan's friend, Monsignor John Fleming, Limerick priest and rector of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome.

The newlyweds then headed for a reception at the 13th Century Ashford Castle Hotel in the small village of Cong, about 28 miles from Galway City. The pair looked glorious on their big day, with Smith dressed in a stunning white gown embroidered with French lace.

Brosnan matched her style by donning a smart suit with a white buttonhole flower. On April 9, 2022, the Irish-born actor shared a throwback image from his wedding with Smith to celebrate 28 years of togetherness.

He called his wife "the light, love, and joy of his life." The caption of Brosnan's Instagram post read:

"Twenty eight years ago this day, April 8th, 1994 we met in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We married at Ballintubber Abbey, Ireland then celebrated for three days at Ashford Castle."

During an interview in 2008, Brosnan talked about finding joy in his life amid heart-wrenching grief. While reflecting upon reeling from the loss of his first wife's death and being fortunate enough to find love again, the "Cinderella" star expressed:

"I had a great marriage which sadly had its own ending, and I was lucky enough to find love again. We were meant to find each other. I thank God for her [Keely] every day."

Brosnan and Smith have been married for more than 20 years and are parents to two lovely children. The couple welcomed their son, Dylan Thomas, in January 1997. Smith gave birth to their second child, Paris Beckett, in February 2001.

This year in August, the Brosnans will be celebrating their 21st wedding anniversary, and we hope this beautiful couple continues to grow and prosper in love.