After a short battle with cancer, James Bond star Roger Moore has passed away at the age of 89.
While the character of James Bond is more than likely the first role that pops to mind when you think of Roger Moore, the versatile actor also had a long television career as well. He was the third actor to take over the role of 007 after Sean Connery and George Lazenby, and played it for seven films in the ’70s and ’80s. Before that however he starred in several TV shows, including Ivanhoe, Maverick and The Saint. It was the role in The Saint where he played spy Simon Templar that got him noticed as a possible replacement for Connery after Lazenby wasn’t able to get the fans behind him. Moore played a different sort of Bond than Connery did, but still brought the suave, sophistication that fans of the super spy liked. He currently holds the record for the longest stint playing Bond, owning the role for 12 years from 1973 to 1985. He was also the oldest when he finally retired from the role, as he was 58 years old.
Moore’s passing was announced by his children on Twitter. They posted a short note that stated Moore had died after a “short but brave battle with cancer.” They went on to say that “We are all devastated.” They also noted Moore’s work, telling the world that “We know our own love and admiration will be magnified many times over, across the world, by people who knew him for his films, his television shows and his passionate work for UNICEF which he considered to be his greatest achievement.”
Moore was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990, and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2003.
