There are eight of them who played the famous double agent among the 25 included in the license. By Dean Connery in 1962 with James Bond 007 vs. Dr. Nountil Daniel Craig's performance in Dying Can Wait In 2021, the James Bond franchise has spanned the ages and is considered one of the most lucrative in Hollywood. While we are still waiting to see the next face of the agent in the service of his majesty for the sequel, which should bring about a real artistic shift, let's return to these 8 actors who have changed a lot since their class at MI6, and some of whom have passed the weapon to the left.
#1 Sean Connery – died in 2020
After having worked in several professions (apprentice butcher, delivery driver, bodybuilder or mason), Sean Connery turned to the theater then revealed himself to the whole world by playing the hero imagined by Ian Fleming in the very first James Bond: James Bond vs. Dr. No. He will return for five more films, until Diamonds are forever in 1971. Beautiful face, imposing but fine musculature, Sean Connery perfectly embodies the English gentleman spy of those years. He is still considered today as one of the best actors to have donned the black tuxedo. He continued his career by starring in great successes like Highlander (1986), The Name of the Rose (1986), The Untouchables (1987) or even Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). In 2020, he dies of old age in his sleep at Lyford Cay, a residence located in Nassau, Bahamas, at the age of 90.
#2 George Lazenby
The least known of the six. After five James Bonds played by Sean Connery, MGM calls on George Lazenby to “On Her Majesty's Secret Service” in 1969, a film considered one of the best feature films in the saga. The Australian actor will only play the double agent once. The producers promised him a juicy contract of several opuses, but the 29-year-old actor refused on the advice of his agent, thinking that the success of James Bond would not last. A mistake, since he had no other successes in his career. At today, 85 years old, the actor has just announced his retirement on the networks : “It was not an easy decision, but it is time to announce my retirement,” he wrote. Therefore, I will no longer perform, make public appearances, give interviews or sign autographs, starting today.”
#3 Roger Moore – died in 2017
In 1973, producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli brought in a new face to play the spy. Exit the Scotsman Sean Connery, make way for the Englishman Roger Moore. The talking heads actually had the actor in mind all along, but ran into TV contracts. Now free from any commitment, Roger Moore then signs for Live and let die, as well as six other films (he is the actor who has played the double agent the most times). The license is undergoing a real turning point under the aegis of its new actor, to the point that fans will miss Sean Connery's virilism, and will criticize Roger Moore's gamethat of playing Bond in a way that is too humorous or even parodic, more suited to family audiences. On May 23, 2017, the actor, then aged 89, died of cancer.
#4 Timothy Dalton
In 1987, two years later Dangerously yours, Timothy Dalton takes over from Roger Moore for two films: Killing is not playing Then License to kill in 1989. Just like Roger Moore, Albert R. Broccoli was already considering him for the role years before, but his youth (22 years old at the time) ultimately decided otherwise. He then beats Pierce Brosnan, unavailable due to television contracts. It was also he who was to play in Goldeneye, but the film was ultimately postponed due to disputes between the famous MGM and Eon, which managed the rights to the franchise. He finally refused the role which then went to Brosnan.
#5 Pierce Brosnan
We owe Pierce Brosnan four James Bond films, two of which are recognized for their video game adaptations: the cult Goldeneye which has shaken up the codes of semi-automatic aiming and The world is not enoughboth released for the Nintendo 64. Some fans consider Pierce Brosnan's James Bond to be the most accomplished, adjoining between very British humor, a certain charm, while having speed of execution as well as this ability to get out of a seemingly lost situation. We owe him some of the most beautiful action scenes in the saga. After 2002 and the very bad Die another day, producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli decided to rejuvenate the character and offer him a darker and tortured side, particularly following the events of September 11. This is where Daniel Craig enters the picture.
#6 Daniel Craig
When Daniel Craig takes up the torch for Casino Royal (film that Tarantino wanted to make) in 2006, the tone changed. After the vanity and elegance of Pierce Brosnan, make way for the icy charm and tough-guy attitude of Daniel Craig. If at the start, fans protest over MGM's choice, notably due to the actor's blond hair, his performance in Casino Royal (one of the very best opus of the saga) definitely silences the critics. Daniel Craig plays a violent character, but complex and more sensitive (notably through his relationship with Vesper), who brings a new lease of life for the character at the dawn of the 2010s. Fewer gadgets, and more hand-to-hand combat which is good for the saga. In 2021, the then 54-year-old actor officially leaves his position in Dying can wait, second commercial success of the year, but which divided critics. It will soon be showing in Queer, which has just revealed its trailer. He radically changes tone by playing William Lee, a homosexual writer in exile in Mexico in the 1940s.
And to go further, you can find what happened to the actors of Casino Royale in 2024 right here.
