- Cary Grant was Bond producer Albert Broccoli’s friend and even best man at his wedding, but still declined the role of James Bond in “Dr. No.” Although many studio executives objected to the decision, Sean Connery was given the role. Even creator Ian Fleming said Connery “wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.” He later stated that Connery made a perfect James Bond.
- Sean Connery wears a toupee in all the James Bond movies.
- Sean Connery was said to be one of James Bond’s favorite actors in the novel “Scorpius.”
- Sean Connery was paid a huge sum to return as James Bond for Diamonds Are Forever in 1971. It was donated to his Scottish charity.
- Sean Connery’s favorite James Bond Movie is From Russia With Love (1963).
- Roger Moore succeeded Audrey Hepburn as goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.
- Roger Moore’s father was a policeman.
- Roger Moore was the oldest actor to debut as James Bond. He was 45 when Live and Let Die was filmed in 1973.
- Roger Moore was also older than any other actor to play James Bond when he portrayed him at the age of 57 in A View to a Kill (1985). Sean Connery was 52 when he last played Bond in Never Say Never Again. (1983).
- Roger Moore quit smoking cigarettes in 1971 following a lecture from Tony Curtis on the set of “The Persuaders!”.
- Roger Moore hated doing scenes that involved him shooting firearms. This fact caused him to ruin countless 007 takes!
- Roger Moore played James Bond in seven movies of the official EON series, the most of any actor to date. Sean Connery also played Bond in seven films, but one of them, Never Say Never Again (1983), was unofficial.
- Roger Moore drives or rides in a motor-powered boat in every James Bond movie he was in.
- Every scene in which Roger Moore’s Bond is running in his 7 movies was performed by doubles. Roger Moore felt that he looked awkward running.
- Roger Moore names The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) as his favorite Bond movie (of the ones he starred in), and A View to a Kill (1985) as his least favorite.
- Roger Moore suffers from hoplophobia , a fear of firearms.
- Ironically, though critics often accused him of not looking tough enough to play James Bond, Roger Moore once beat up tough guy Lee Marvin while they were filming Shout at the Devil (1976). Marvin recalled, “The guy is built like granite. Nobody will ever underestimate him again.”
- Roger Moore once gave the following explanation for his comedic approach to Bond, “To me, the Bond situations are so ridiculous, so outrageous. I mean, this man is supposed to be a spy and yet, everybody knows he’s a spy. Every bartender in the world offers him martinis that are shaken, not stirred. What kind of serious spy is recognized everywhere he goes? It’s outrageous. So you have to treat the humor outrageously as well. My personality is entirely different than previous Bonds. I’m not that cold-blooded killer type. Which is why I play it mostly for laughs.”
- After seeing Pierce Brosnan playing James Bond on the set of the film GoldenEye in 1995, Roger Moore said, “Both Sean and I will be forgotten after everybody sees Pierce.” (Great quote! Great Quote! – signed, the Hollywood Yesterday writer aka huge Pierce Brosnan fan)
- For Pierce Brosnan trivia, click HERE!
- Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny) is second only to Desmond Llewelyn (Q) for the number of appearances in James Bond movies. She was in 14 and he was in 18.
- Lois Maxwell was born in Canada in 1927. She died in 2007 from cancer.
- Desmond Llewelyn (Q) personally detested gadgets!
- Desmond Llewelyn died shortly after the release of The World Is Not Enough (1999).
A few more Roger Moore Quotes:
Today I am completely opposed to small arms and what they can do to children. I played every role tongue-in-cheek because I don’t really believe in that sort of hero. I don’t like guns.
I’m delighted to hear that Daniel Craig has been appointed the new 007. It’s a very exciting time and I would like to wish everyone at Eon much success, and welcome Daniel to the family.
My acting range? Left eyebrow raised, right eyebrow raised.
I’m working on a post dedicated to Daniel Craig and the newest Bond film, which from what I’ve been reading is an absolute beast among beasts!
