The Actor Behind ‘Game of Thrones’ Most Diabolical Role Played a Ruthless Villain 25 Years Before Becoming Tywin Lannister

Charles Dance has had an extraordinary career playing fiendishly stuffy English villains. Most of the world knows the character actor as Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones, but in 1986, he was an unknown Brit who took on Eddie Murphy in what was a bit of an outlier for him in an era where everything he touched turned to gold (no pun intended). Director Michael Ritchie's The Golden Child is an underrated and underseen film (especially considering it was in the middle of his heyday in the 80s). The fantastical, dark comedy adventure was such a change-up from 48 Hours, Trading Places, andBeverly Hills Cop that audiences weren't necessarily prepared for it. The best part of the movie, however, is Dance as Sardo Numspa. If he had a handlebar mustache, he would have been twirling it in this movie. Playing a devilish demon in human form in pursuit of the powers of a mysterious young boy, he has perfected the art of the smooth-talking, narcissistic bad guy who you just want to punch in the face because he's so good at being snooty and creepy.