James Bond star Roger Moore dies at the age of 89
James Bond star Roger Moore has died at the age of 89.
The 007 actor passed away after a short illness, his family confirmed in a statement.
“It is with a heavy heart that we must announce our loving father, Sir Roger Moore, has passed away today in Switzerland after a short but brave battle with cancer,” the statement from Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian read.
“The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone.
“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.”
It continued: “The affection our father felt whenever he walked on to a stage or in front of a camera buoyed him hugely and kept him busy working into his 90th year, through to his last appearance in November 2016 on stage at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
“The capacity crowd cheered him on and off stage, shaking the very foundations of the building just a short distance from where he was born.”
Moore played Bond in seven films between 1973 and 1985, with his run lasting from Live and Let Die to A View To A Kill.
Controversially two years ago, Moore said that he did not think Bond should ever be a female or gay character.
“I have heard people talk about how there should be a lady Bond or a gay Bond,” he said at the time
“But they wouldn’t be Bond for the simple reason that wasn’t what Ian Fleming wrote.”
He added: ““It is not about being homophobic or, for that matter, racist – it is simply about being true to the character.”
Later in his career, Moore had a cameo as gay character Lloyd Faversham in the 2002 comedy Boat Trip.
“It was a complete switch for him but he kind of liked it,” Moore’s Los Angeles publicist Jerry Pam said at the time.
The publicist added: “It’s an outrageous film and it’s very funny. He plays an old queen taking a trip on the cruise ship.”
Prior to his time as James Bond, Moore found fame in a series of TV series, including The Saint from 1962 to 1969 and The Persuaders! from 1971 to 1972
As per his wishes, Moore will have a private funeral in Monaco.
The actor was awarded a CBE in 1999 and advanced to a KBE in 2003.
In 2008, Moore received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was appointed a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres the same year.
