Sir Roger Moore, a British actor who some may know for portraying Simon Templar on “The Saint” and everyone will definitely know for portraying James Bond for over a decade across seven films (a record that still has yet to be broken by Bond actors since), has sadly passed away at the age of 89 in Switzerland.
Moore’s kids announced his passing on Twitter
Moore’s children released a mournful but heart-warming tribute to their father in a post on Twitter, in which they announced he had “passed away” following “a short but brave battle with cancer.” They shared the announcement “with the heaviest of hearts,” adding that they “are all devastated” by his tragic demise.
Leaving behind a terrific legacy, Moore became famous for playing James Bond 007 in a total of seven films in the franchise, including two of the best the series has to offer, “Live and Let Die” and “The Spy Who Loved Me.” Roger Moore was the one who skied off the edge of a cliff and opened up his Union Jack parachute, and it’s sad that he’s gone. Moore was the third actor to play Bond, following Sean Connery and George Lazenby, and he shook the character up with a refreshing wit, a beautiful voice, and very suave use of his eyebrows.
Moore was born in London in 1927, and studied alongside Lois Maxwell (who coincidentally went on to play Moneypenny in the Bond movies) at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
After he graduated, he worked initially as a model in the early 1950s until he managed to score a contract with the MGM studio, under which he starred in a handful of small movies that led him into a career in TV. That’s when his career really took off, with “Ivanhoe” on ITV in the mid-to-late ‘50s, and then roles in “The Alaskans” and “Maverick.” Then came his biggest hit to date, “The Saint,” an explosively successful crime show that ran for over 100 episodes.
Then Hollywood came calling
Soon afterwards, Moore was offered the role of James Bond in 1972 by producer Albert Broccoli. The role required him to cut his hair and lose some weight, but it paid off, since it gave Moore a job for 13 years, which is the longest any actor has had the role, a testament to the popularity and suitability of Moore in the role.
Moore played a Bond who was too cool for the mission, and it influenced further interpretations of the character for generations to come. He starred as 007 in “Live and Let Die,” “The Man With the Golden Gun,” “The Spy Who Loved Me,” “Moonraker,” “For Your Eyes Only,” “Octopussy,” and “A View to a Kill.” And where some celebrities known for just one role tend to get frustrated with it or cocky, Moore always wore it proudly: “Being eternally known as Bond has no downside. People often call me Mr. Bond when we’re out and I don’t mind a bit. Why would I?”
