What better way to pay homage to the character that has endured in movies for 50 years than than to recognize the many people who have played the super spy. Most people know of the movie versions and even debate which one is the best. But here's a list of people who played the character over the years.
Barry Nelson
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| Barry Nelson in Casino Royale |
The first actor to play James Bond was Barry Nelson in a live TV broadcast of "Casino Royale" in 1954. CBS paid Ian Fleming $1000 to adapt his book into an hour long episode for a show of theirs.
Bob Holness
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| Bob Holness |
Bob Holness played as James Bond in a radio broadcast in South Africa of the novel "Moonraker" in 1956.
Sean Connery
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| Sean Connery in Goldfinger |
The most recognizable Bond is Sean Connery, who was the first to play Bond in a movie. He starred in 7 Bond movies total (1962's Dr. No, 1963's From Russia with Love, 1964's Goldfinger, 1965's Thunderball, 1967's You Only Live Twice, 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, and the non-official 1983's Never Say Never Again).
David Niven
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| David Niven in Casino Royale |
In 1967, a non-official Bond movie was released as a spoof of the spy movie and was called Casino Royale. It starred David Niven as Sir James Bond, and a number of other fake Bonds. I could put them up here as well, but the real Bond of the movie was Niven.
George Lazenby
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| George Lazenby |
The second Bond on the movie screen was George Lazenby. Most don't like Lazenby for the simple reason that he was replacing Connery. He only appeared in On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969.
Roger Moore
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| Roger Moore in Live and Let Die |
Roger Moore starred in 7 official Bond movies, which makes him the longest tenured Bond. His movies are 1973's Live and Let Die, 1974's The Man with the Golden Gun, 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me, 1979's Moonraker, 1981's For Your Eyes Only, 1983's Octopussy, and 1985's A View to a Kill. Most Bond fans are separated by Moore: you either love him or hate him without much in between.
Timothy Dalton
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| Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights |
Timothy Dalton is another Bond that usually separates fans into two camps. He made two movies in the role: 1987's The Living Daylights and 1989's License to Kill.
Michael Jayston
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| Michael Jayston |
Jayston played as James Bond in 1990 when BBC Radio 4 broadcast a 90-minute radio play of "You Only Live Twice".
Pierce Brosnan
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| Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye |
After a lapse of a few years between movies, Pierce Brosnan took over the Bond mantle. Many enjoy Brosnan, but some do have some negative feelings as his movies went on. He was in 4 Bond movies: 1995's Goldeneye, 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies, 1999's The World Is Not Enough, and 2002's Die Another Day.
Daniel Craig
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| Daniel Craig in Casino Royale |
A blonder Bond was chosen as the next Bond. Daniel Craig added some life into the Bond series but many were disappointed with his second appearance as the spy. To date, he has been in 3 Bond movies: 2006's Casino Royale, 2008's Quantum of Solace, and 2012's Skyfall.
Toby Stephens
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| Toby Stephens as the villain from Die Another Day |
BBC Radio 4 decided that the 1990 Bond broadcast play was popular enough to make another. Toby Stephens (who played as the villain in Die Another Day) was cast to play the voice of Bond. So far, he has been in 3 of this radio plays: 2008's Dr. No, 2010's Goldfinger, and 2012's From Russia with Love.
And those are your James Bonds. More than you thought, right?
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