Charles Dance is playing Roderick Burgess in the Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman's graphic novel series The Sandman. Roderick Burgess is an evil wizard who keeps Dream (Tom Sturridge) imprisoned on Earth after accidentally summoning him instead of Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste).
Dance is a well-known British actor who has been a familiar face in films and TV since the 1970s. He often plays villains, but is equally adept at non-evil and even heroic characters - such as his roles as Sergeant Guy Perron in The Jewel in the Crown and Lord Mountbatten in The Crown.
The Imitation Game (2014) - 8.0
Streaming on Netflix
The Academy Award-winning The Imitation Game is a biographical film about the life of Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his efforts during World War Two to solve the German Enigma code. Dance played Commander Denniston in the film.
Dance's Commander Denniston is inaccurate to the real-life figure, however, the role does show Dance's ability to play effective antagonistic parts. Reviews on IMDb describe Dance's portrayal as "brilliant" and "fine acting." His character is very rigid and sarcastic and tries to stop Alan Turing's Christopher project. Even though he is antagonistic towards Alan Turing, he is still kind to his secretary - which keeps Dance's portrayal from being completely cartoonishly evil.
The Professionals (1977-1983) - 8.0
Streaming on Tubi
The Professionals is about Bodie (Lewis Collins) and Doyle (Martin Shaw) two polar opposite agents for the UK's CI5 (Criminal Intelligence 5) and their controller George Cowley (Gordon Jackson). Dance appears in the episode "The Ojuka Situation" as Parker. This episode focused on C15 having to protect Colonel Ojuka, a past head of an African country from assassination while he is over for a conference. Dance's Parker is a vicious South African hitman.
It's fascinating to see Dance play a villain so early on in his career. In this very chilling performance, Parker is quiet, violent, and ruthless and he constantly hits, punches, and points his gun at the heroes. Also of interest is Dance's impressive South African accent, needed to play Parker. Oddly, years later Dance discovered on the series Who Do You Think You Are? that he has South African relatives that he didn't know about.
Strike Back (2010-2020) - 8.1
Streaming on Amazon Prime
Strike Back is an Emmy Award-nominated action drama thriller about Section 20, a confidential unit of British military intelligence that goes on missions around the globe. Dance plays Conrad Knox, the villain of season 3. Like Dance's role in The Professionals as Parker, Conrad Knox has ties to South Africa. However, unlike Parker Conrad Knox is English with a father who was a banker during the Apartheid.
Conrad is a complex villain with a noble goal: he wants to unite Africa as one country and create a global superpower for the good of the people. Dance excels at playing complex roles, and this is no exception. He believably portrays a character whose methods go too far - such as assassinating Walter Lutulu, collaborating with a terrorist organization, and an attempt to nuke Johannesburg.
Edward the King (1975) - 8.2
Streaming on Amazon Prime
Edward the King chronicles the life of King Edward VII. Dance played Prince Eddie in the episodes "The Royal Quadrille" and "Scandal." "The Royal Quadrille" is set in 1882-1888 and "Scandal" is set in 1890-1893. Prince Eddie is a far more sympathetic role for Dance. Instead of a villain, he is the soft-spoken prince who tragically dies before he can marry his fiance. Dance plays the role of the young prince's rather sad life with great depth of feeling.
He has a loving but stern relationship with his grandmother Queen Victoria (Annette Crosbie) who even gives her blessing to Eddie and his bride-to-be before he dies. His death is quiet but feels elongated as he got sicker and fainter beforehand.
Bleak House (2005) - 8.3
Streaming on Hulu
The Emmy-winning Bleak House based on the novel by Charles Dickens is a crime drama about the injustice of the 19th-century legal system. Dance played Mr. Tulkinghorn, the main antagonist. The series also stars X-Files Gillian Anderson who plays Lady Dedlock.
Dance's Mr. Tulkinghorn is a corrupt attorney who blackmails and exhorts to discover the secret of Lady Dedlock, and his murder shapes much of the plot in the latter half of the series. Unlike Dance's Prince Eddie in Edward the King, however, Mr. Tulkinghorn is far less sympathetic and several people wanted him dead. IMDb reviewers describe the performance as "outstanding" and "truly creepy."
The Jewel in the Crown (1984) - 8.4
Streaming on Amazon Prime
The Jewel in the Crown is about the English in India during WWII and the massive changes happening around them. Dance plays Sergeant Guy Perron who appeared in the last half of the series. The series also starred Geoffrey Beevers, who played The Master in classic Doctor Who episodes.
Sergeant Guy Perron is one of Dance's more sympathetic roles; an intelligent young sergeant who is an Indian history scholar and Intelligence Corps Field Security unit, and speaks fluent Urdu. With these skills, he is very helpful to Ronald Merrick, the local Indian Police Superintendent. It's impressive that for coming so late into the series he became a major character. One IMDb reviewer describes Dance's onscreen chemistry with another character as "quite palpable."
Retrospective (2014) - 8.5
Streaming on Amazon Prime
Retrospective is a short film about Jonathan Hoyle (Dance) a war photographer who needs the last photo he took in Palestine to save his life after he is taken by armed men the night before the retrospective of his career. The film also features Omid Djalili who was in HBO's His Dark Materials. Dance's Jonathan Hoyle is a complicated well-meaning yet somewhat morally grey character. While his photography does cause major conflict his original intentions are still good.
He isn't a villain, just someone who is disillusioned with his work and the lack of power to end a war they have. Johnathan is remorseful for the trouble the photo caused the subject's father. One IMDb reviewer describes the film as being "played in unnerving fashion," with Dance's performance certainly contributing to that feeling.
Foyle's War (2002-2015) - 8.6
Streaming on Acorn TV
Set on the south coast of England during World War Two, Foyle's War is a crime drama about DCS Foyle (Michael Kitchen) solving murders. Dance plays Guy Spencer in the episode "The White Feather." The episode is about the arrest of Edith Johnstone (Lisa Ellis) a young woman accused of sabotage near a military camp making Foyle have to deal with a group of English Nazi sympathizers.
Dance's Guy Spencer is one of his most charismatic villain roles, a truly evil man who uses his charm to radicalize people to join his pro-Hitler organization The Friday Club. He twists his words during his speech to his Nazi-sympathizing beliefs that sound reasonable and desirable, claiming to be nonviolent and peace-loving all while having thugs beat people up outside. Dance, described by one IMDb reviewer as having "impressive talent," portrays this very chilling individual with gusto.
The Crown (2016-) - 8.7
Streaming on Netflix
The Emmy-winning The Crown is a biographical drama series chronicling the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Dance plays Lord Mountbatten in seasons 3 and 4. Dance's Lord Mountbatten is a complicated figure who is more positive than negative but still has some questionable traits.
He is a war hero and an easy-going and loving grandfather, but he also becomes too over-ambitious and tries to overthrow the government. This is a strong role for Dance that explores his range as an actor.
Game of Thrones (2011-2019) - 9.2
Streaming on HBO Max
Game of Thrones is a fantasy series about noble families fighting for control of Westeros. Dance plays Lord Tywin Lannister, the head of House Lannister of Casterly Rock. Dance's Lord Tywin Lannister is one of his most ruthless evil characters and his most recognizable role to the current generation.
He is incredibly cruel and coldly calculating, even with his own family who he treats no better than his enemies. He psychologically abuses them and tells them constantly how they are a disappointment. He has a reputation as a skilled schemer, even more so than his own ruthless daughter Cersei. Lannister is definitely one of Dance's fiercest and most unredeemable roles.