Roger Moore
Roger Moore (Sir) playing James Bond
Born in Stockwell, London, England on 14th October 1927
Starred In Live And Let Die (1973), The Man With The Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983) and A View To A Kill (1985).
After Sean Connery was persuaded to play James Bond once more in Diamonds Are Forever he declined another role as James Bond. The hunt was on to find a new James Bond, a new Bond that would fare better under the shadow of Sean Connery than George Lazenby.
Producers arrived at Roger Moore after seeing him in his previous roles including the TV series "The Saint".
Roger Moore makes his first appearance as James Bond in Live and Let Die. This was quite a crucial time in the history of James Bond films as it was deemed that James Bond's time had come to an end. With Sean Connery no longer wanting to do any more films and George Lazenby rejected by audiences the producers had one last chance to keep the series running. No doubt things would have been very different if Live and Let Die had not been a success. James Bond was substantially different in Moonraker however, as it managed to hold onto the title of "Biggest Grossing Bond Film" for an astonishing 16 years before it was smashed by Goldeneye - Pierce Brosnan's introduction to the world of James Bond.
Roger Moore has made other films since retiring from the role of 007 in 1985, but none to the scale of a James Bond film. Roger Moore is the UNICEF Good Will Ambassador, was awarded the CBE (Commander, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 1999, and the International Humanitarian Award in 2000 for his charity work.
Roger Moore brought a whole new style of character to the role of James Bond. From the very start of his first film, Live and Let Die, Roger Moore’s style of playing Bond was obvious and this helped him to establish himself in the role, and to break away from the image of Sean Connery. He did not have that 'tougher' side to him that Connery had, but instead added more humour, wit, sexual suggestion and sarcasm. However there are a few rare occasions when a darker side is seen of Roger Moore’s Bond. In For Your Eyes Only Bond gives Emile Leopold Locque’s car a decisive kick over a cliff sending him to his death after a suspense-full chase.
Throughout all his films Roger has provided Bond fans with excellent performances and truly comical moments. In The Spy Who Loved Me Bond is as calm as ever, and as smooth as ever. When he is in the telephone van with Major Anya Amasova trying to get away from Jaws, he seems perfectly relaxed even with Jaws ripping the van apart all around him. Roger sums up the Bond character by referring to Bond as being the worlds most un-secret, secret agent – everywhere he goes people know his name!
A View To A Kill featured Roger Moore in his last performance as 007 - James Bond. It was the decision of Roger Moore that he felt he was too old for the role and that at the end of A View To A Kill he would hang up his Walther PPK for someone else to use. Roger Moore spends a large amount of his time now in his UNICEF position hoping that by using his celebrity status he can make a difference, after playing Bond, James Bond. §
