Cassandra Harris

Background

Cassandra Harris was born Sandra Colleen Waites on December 15, 1948, in Sydney, Australia. She began performing under the name Sandra Gleeson and entered professional acting while still young, connecting her early career with the expanding Australian theatre and television industries of the 1960s.

Harris was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1987. She died from the disease on December 28, 1991, at the USC Cancer Center in Los Angeles, thirteen days after her forty-third birthday. Her mother had also died from ovarian cancer.

Education

Harris studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, enrolling in 1961 under the name Sandra Gleeson. NIDA had been founded in 1958 as Australia's first professional theatre-training school and operated in association with the University of New South Wales, whose campus provided the institution's early setting. The school formed part of the development of Australia's modern professional theatre during the postwar period.

She was also associated with the University of New South Wales through NIDA. In the early 1960s, the university supported NIDA's student productions and helped establish the Old Tote Theatre, linking formal acting training with Sydney's developing repertory theatre culture.

Career

Harris began her career in Sydney theatre and appeared in the successful stage production of Boeing Boeing during 1964 and 1965. She also worked in early Australian television, including appearances credited under the name Sandra Gleeson in My Brother Jack and The Wednesday Play, and subsequently developed a career in British television and film.

Her screen work included the films The Greek Tycoon in 1978 and Rough Cut in 1980. She appeared in British television productions including Space: 1999, Enemy at the Door, and Dick Barton: Special Agent. Her career also included stage work in England, including an association with the National Theatre.

Harris achieved her widest film recognition as Countess Lisl von Schlaf in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, released in 1981. She later appeared as Felicia in several episodes of Remington Steele, the television series in which Pierce Brosnan starred. Her career was curtailed by ovarian cancer during the late 1980s.

Achievements

• Harris established a professional acting career spanning Australian theatre, British television, international film, and American television, including prominent roles in The Greek Tycoon, Rough Cut, For Your Eyes Only, and Remington Steele.

Works

• film

  • For Your Eyes Only

    (Harris played Countess Lisl von Schlaf in the James Bond ...)

    1981

  • School for Sex

    (Harris appeared as Jenny, credited under the name Sandra ...)

    1969

  • The Greek Tycoon

    (Harris appeared as Cassandra in this feature film directe...)

    1978

  • Rough Cut

    (Harris played Mrs. Lloyd Palmer in this crime comedy dire...)

    1980

• television film

  • My Brother Jack

    (Harris appeared in this Australian television adaptation,...)

    1965

• TV series

  • Space: 1999

    (Harris appeared in the science-fiction television series ...)

    1975

  • Remington Steele

    (Harris appeared as Felicia in several episodes of the tel...)

    1982

  • Enemy at the Door

    (Harris appeared as Trudi Engel in this British television...)

    1978

  • Dick Barton: Special Agent

    (Harris appeared as Melissa in this British television pro...)

    1979

  • The Wednesday Play

    (Harris appeared as Jan, credited under the name Sandra Gl...)

    1969

Connections

Harris was married first to William Firth from 1964 until their divorce in 1970, and then to Dermot Harris from 1970 until their divorce in 1978. Dermot Harris was the brother of Irish actor Richard Harris. They had two children, Charlotte and Christopher.

She married actor Pierce Brosnan in 1980 and had a son, Sean Brosnan, with him. Brosnan adopted Charlotte and Christopher after Dermot Harris died in 1986. Harris and Brosnan remained married until her death in 1991.

husband:

William Firth

Harris was married to Firth from 1964 until their divorce in 1970.

husband:

Dermot Harris

They were married from 1970 until 1978 and had two children, Charlotte and Christopher. Dermot Harris was the brother of actor Richard Harris.

husband:

Pierce Brosnan

They married in 1980 and had one son, Sean. Brosnan also adopted Harris's two children from her marriage to Dermot Harris.

Daughter:

Charlotte Brosnan

Charlotte was Harris's daughter with Dermot Harris. She died from ovarian cancer in London in 2013.

Son:

Christopher Brosnan

Christopher was Harris's son with Dermot Harris and was later adopted by Pierce Brosnan.

Son:

Sean Brosnan

Sean was Harris's son with Pierce Brosnan and was born in 1983.

References

• Cassandra Harris; TV, Movie Actress The Los Angeles Times obituary documents Harris's death from ovarian cancer, her acting career, her role in For Your Eyes Only, her television appearances, and her three children.
  1991
• Cassandra Harris The professional film and television reference documents Harris's screen credits, alternative name Sandra Gleeson, birth and death details, and marriages.