Acutely aware that the press were keen to hype up the two productions as a huge 'Battle of the Bonds', Connery and Moore agreed between themselves not to play that game or let any rivalry become 'personal'. The two actors made it very clear in interviews that they remained good friends and respected each other's work.
Ever the suave charmer, Moore later spoke of the situation in his autobiography, My Word Is My Bond. He said: "There was no animosity between Sean and me. We didn't react to the press speculation that we had become competitors in the part.
Connery made it clear that after playing 007 six times, he'd had enough, telling the screenwriter that his "obligation to play James Bond" had to end at some point. Connery gave his successor, Roger Moore, his approval and labeled him “the perfect Bond” to carry on the James Bond franchise.
Connery was married to French-Moroccan painter Micheline Roquebrune (born 4 April 1929) from 1975 until his death. The marriage survived a well-documented affair Connery had in the late 1980s with the singer and songwriter Lynsey de Paul, which she later regretted due to his views concerning domestic violence.
3. Roger Moore – AGE! Over his seven Bond outings, Roger Moore became the oldest actor to play 007, as he was 58 years old when he made his final Bond movie, A View to a Kill. And it seems like age was very much a factor in Moore deciding to quit the role, but it wasn't because he couldn't do the stunts anymore.
Sean Connery: Did he like Roger Moore as Bond? His reaction to on screen kissing!
Did Roger Moore wear a wig in James Bond?
The 30-year old actor was blessed with a natural full head of thick, dark hair - genetics were on his side! Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton, who played Bond in the 1980s, didn't wear hairpieces for men either, but they did get their hair touched up.
Originally Answered: Are there any actors who have turned down the role of James Bond? Yes. There's actually been quite a few actors who have turned down the role. Adam West, Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood all turned it down as they felt the part should be played by a Brit.
Who was supposed to be James Bond instead of Sean Connery?
David Niven: 1967
When Sean Connery had been cast in November 1961, David Niven had been Fleming's choice for the role; the actor reflected the author's image of the character. In 1965 producer Charles Feldman signed Niven to play Sir James Bond for Casino Royale, a film not made by Eon Productions.
His death certificate was retrieved by the publication TMZ and showed that he died of “respiratory failure” caused by pneumonia, old age, and an irregular heartbeat. But according to those closest to him, Connery had also been struggling with dementia for the two years leading up to his death.
Dalton revealed that he had initially signed a three-film contract, and a third movie was in the works, but it was scrapped because of the lawsuits. Dalton declined the opportunity to return as Bond in another movie when he was asked to sign a longer contract, leading to Pierce Brosnan taking on the role.
In terms of timespan, Daniel Craig is the longest-serving Bond of all time, with 15 years passing between his debut in Casino Royale (2006) and his swan song in No Time To Die (2021). But both Sean Connery and Roger Moore actually played the character in more films than Craig.
Key Points. 1 After countless legal battles on Sean Connery's estate, Connery's family has inherited all of his wealth. 2 Sean Connery had a net worth of $400 million at the time of his death. 3 He was best known for playing James Bond.
How old was Roger Moore when he stopped playing James Bond?
Moore starred in his final Bond film, A View to a Kill (1985). He was the oldest actor to have played Bond – he was 45 in Live and Let Die, and 58 when he announced his retirement on 3 December 1985, having played the part for over 12 years.
With that in mind, Connery isn't our first choice (cue gnashing of teeth from hardcore fans), but he's an inescapable part of the franchise's legacy. The Scottish actor was the first Bond to take up the reins seriously and make the role his own. As the original, he is what many would see as the best Bond.
He brought a unique blend of sophistication, wit, and physicality to the character, making him the definitive James Bond in the eyes of many. Connery's portrayal set the standard for the suave secret agent, and his legacy in the world of cinema endures as an integral part of the Bond franchise's history.
Fleming favoured either David Niven, Moore or his cousin, Christopher Lee, with his neighbour in Jamaica, Noel Coward, as Dr No, all of whom were deemed unsuitable for one reason or another. In fact Coward himself turned down the part, famously sending a telegraph to the producers which simply read: "Dr. No? No!
Broccoli and Harry Saltzman originally sought Grant for the role of James Bond in Dr. No (1962) but discarded the idea as Grant would be committed to only one feature film; therefore, the producers decided to go after someone who could be part of a franchise after James Mason would only agree to commit to three films.
In 1958 Peter Lawford was chosen to play the first James Bond in the movie project Dr.No. But he declined the offer as he was unable to do a 5 picture deal. But Richard Todd was Ian Fleming's choice. That apart a CBS TV movie episodes based on Casino Royale was aired in 1954 as a part of the Climax TV series.
He was reportedly on good terms with Sean, who had left their neighborhood behind to pursue bodybuilding and then acting before making a name for himself as Bond in 1962's Dr. No. The two had been close growing up, and Neil told press that Sean often gave him suits and shoes.
Then, Connery wed French-Moroccan artist Micheline Roquebrune, who had three children from previous marriages, Oliver, Micha, and Stephane, all of whom became Connery's stepchildren.
Other potential Bonds through the years included Michael Caine, who passed because didn't want to be typecast after playing several other spies; Dick Van Dyke, who couldn't nail the accent (see: Mary Poppins); Clint Eastwood, who felt Bond should be British; and Mel Gibson, who was rejected by the studio for not being ...
At 58 years old at the time of release in 1962, Grant felt he was too old for the role of Bond. Although that's the age Roger Moore was when his seventh and final 007 movie A View to a Kill hit cinemas in 1985. The Hitchcock movie star also only wanted to commit to one movie, not five.
