The oldest actor to play Bond was Roger Moore, portraying 007 from 45 to 57 years old, deviating from Ian Fleming's preferred age of mid-thirties. Daniel Craig, at 38 in Casino Royale and 51 in No Time to Die, retired as 007 after 15 years, the longest continuous role as James Bond.
With the death of actor Sean Connery, October 31st 2020, Lazenby is now the earliest and oldest living actor who has portrayed James Bond. During the 1970s and 1980s he raced motorcycles and in the 1990s he backed a restaurant chain, the Spy House.
Daniel Craig has had the longest tenure as James Bond, spanning from 2006 to 2021, and is credited with rejuvenating the franchise with a grittier and more realistic approach.
Sean Connery defined the role of James Bond and originated the character on the big screen, playing him in the first five films.
George Lazenby was the youngest actor to play Bond, having turned 30 the year that On Her Majesty's Secret Service came out in 1969 (with Sean Connery following at the age of 32). The oldest was Roger Moore, at 46 a full four years ahead of the second oldest, 42-year-old Pierce Brosnan.
Having appeared in only one film, Lazenby's tenure as Bond is the shortest among the actors in the series. Beginning his professional career as a model, Lazenby had only acted in commercials when he was cast to replace original Bond actor Sean Connery.
Monica Bellucci in Spectre became the oldest Bond girl at the age of 50, although she stated that she does not consider herself to be a "Bond girl", but a "Bond woman".
Connery was married to actress Diane Cilento from 1962 to 1974, though they separated in 1971. They had a son, actor Jason Joseph. Connery illustrated the cover of Cilento's 1967 novel: The Manipulator.
He made it known to EON Productions, the company in charge of the franchise, that he wanted a $1 million salary for the sixth movie. When his request was refused, Connery decided he was done with the James Bond role, and he was replaced by George Lazenby for 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Why Sean Connery Retired After Making The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Sean Connery's health had played a small role in his decision to officially retire in 2006, as the actor cited successful surgery to remove a tumor on his kidney at the AFI ceremony.
3. George Lazenby – 1969. The only actor to portray Bond only once – in a serious role, that is – is George Lazenby: an unjustly hated replacement for Sean Connery at the time.
1. Roger Moore. Roger Moore will perhaps always be remembered as the man who replaced Sean Connery in the James Bond series, arguably something he never lived down.
Daniel Craig is the incumbent Bond in the Eon series and has played the character five times, most recently in No Time to Die released in 2021. Connery and Moore have played the character the most times, appearing in seven films each (including Connery's non-Eon film portrayal in 1983's Never Say Never Again).
The latest actor to be rumored as the next 007 is “Kraven the Hunter” star Taylor-Johnson. According to the Sun, an inside source said "Bond is Aaron's job, should he wish to accept it. The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back."
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.
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.
Who Inherited Connery's Wealth? Following his death, all of Sean Connery's assets were distributed to his wife, children, and siblings by his Will Document.
How many illegitimate children does James Bond have?
As far as I'm aware, the canonical James Bond does not have any illegitimate children. I'm certain the Ian Fleming novels do not contain any references to offspring, illegitimate or otherwise. Of course, Bond often engages in casual sex, which raises the possibility of illegitimate children.
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.
For example, Madonna would be far and away the wealthiest ex-Bond Girl – with a net worth of $850 million – except she only made a cameo in “Die Another Day” (2002) as the fencing instructor, Verity. The Bond Girl title is usually reserved for the main female character in the film with whom 007 spends the most scenes.
Christmas Jones. This one may be controversial due to Denise Richards' performance as the character, but on paper, Dr. Christmas Jones is the most intelligent Bond girl. She is a nuclear scientist who helps Bond on his mission to topple Elektra King's plans in The World is not Enough.
The three big loves of Bond's life were Tracy (Diana Rigg) from 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Eva Green's Vesper from Casino Royale and Léa Seydoux's Madeleine Swann, who was introduced in Spectre. Of course, it could be argued that 007 developed strong feelings for many of the women he courted along the way.
