Former James Bond Actor Roger Moore Dies at 89

James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore has died aged 89.
In a statement posted on the actor's official social media accounts it was revealed that Moore had passed away in Switzerland after a "short but brave battle with cancer".

Moore was the third actor to play British secret agent James Bond, in seven feature films released between 1973 and 1985 that were based on the books by Ian Fleming.
Moore, who played 007 in more films than any other actor, was one of the last of the old-style movie stars.

Born in Stockwell, London on 14 October 1927, he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts [RADA], where he was a classmate of future costar Lois Maxwell - the original Miss Moneypenny.
He became aware that he could be a contender for the role of 007 after Sean Connery announced in 1966 that he would no longer be appearing as the character.
He accepted producer Albert Brocolli's offer to star in the films in 1972, writing in his autobiography that he had to cut his hair and lose weight for the role before starring in 1973's Live and Let Die, and  continue to play the character for twelve more years and across six additional movies, including The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me. Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, and A View to a Kill. Of all the actors to play the roll, Moore still has the most appearances as the character in the official continuity of the series.

Moore first appeared on the big screen in the 1954 film The Last Time I Saw Paris. He stars in a few more MGM comedies and Warner Bros. films before diving into television work, starring in the likes of Ivanhoe, The Alaskans, and Maverick. In 1962, he takes on the title role in the series The Saint, starring in the series for seven years and setting up his tenure as 007.

Following his tenure as Bond, Moore had limited roles in feature films but continued his charity work. Moore also wrote four autobiographies including Roger Moore as James Bond: Roger Moore’s Own Account of Filming Live and Let Die (1973), My Word is My Bond: The Autobiography (2008), Bond on Bond: The Ultimate Book on 50 Years of Bond Movies (2012), and Last Man Standing (2014).

Moore is survived by his wife Kristina Tholstrup and his three children, Deborah, Geoffrey, and Christian.

May 23, 2017