i want you to hit me as hard as you can the name's moore
roger moore the man who took james bond in a fresh direction
and shook not stirred the franchise into a new era through equal parts stellar and embarrassing
moore staked his place as one of the most memorable bonds in the franchise's history
with an undeniable on-screen charm humor and admirable humanitarian contributions
more was widely respected both in the arts and society we remember roger moore
roger george moore was born on october 14 1927 in london relocating later due to world war
ii moore initially studied animation but was soon canned from accidentally destroying numerous cells
but the cinematic arts wouldn't stray far
as the story goes he met director brian desmond hurst who later helmed 1951's scrooge with
alistair sim when his police officer father was investigating a break-in at hurst's home
the director tossed the still teen a background role in 1945's caesar and cleopatra believing in
him so much that he later financed moore's studies at london's famed royal academy of dramatic art
as world war ii erupted moore joined the royal army service corps making his way to captain
he would be active as a leader of the combined services entertainment
the british counterpart to the united states uso which served to entertain
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now back to the show more made do with small uncredited roles on screens both big and small
in addition to print ads after signing a contract with mgm in 1954 moore finally started getting
screen credit and working under major hollywood names like elizabeth taylor lana turner and glenn
ford as the 50s waned and with television long solidifying itself as a medium with staying power
moore landed the role of ivanhoe on the eponymous british series moored had numerous
one-offs on various anthology series but ivanhoe helped him get a contract at warner brothers
although he would later call it my most appalling television series ever moore's
starring role on western series the alaskans led to a breakout on iconic series maverick
on it he essentially replaced james garner turning up for 16 episodes in a role originally
offered to sean connery what did connery have something else in mind in the early 60s
but moore's biggest television role would come in 1962
the same year connery first portrayed james bond for its entire six season 118
episode run moore played rich robin hood type simon templar on the uk series the saint
indeed the character demeanor mannerisms and undeniable charm play like an audition for bond
the series which was popular enough to have its own fan club led the roles in 1969's the
cross plot in 1970s the man who haunted himself a psychologically driven role that more later cited
as the one he was most proud of quote it was a film i actually got to act in unquote still
the self-deprecating more was a subpar actor by his own admission saying quote i've never had a
part that demands much of me unquote noting his eyebrows did most of the heavy lifting
from there came the persuaders alongside tony curtis the action comedy made more the highest
paid tv actor in the world but curtis got to kiss marilyn monroe so who really came out on top
following sean connery's official departure from the james bond series with 1971's diamonds are
forever there was an open spot for the next double 07 and since eon certainly
wasn't going back with george lazenby the door was wide open for more and why not
he already played the spy on british sketch comedy series mainly millicent in 1964
at 45 moore was and remains the oldest actor to be cast as james bond take also into account
that connery was 41 when he retired from the gig moore would also play the role seven times
a singular record if you don't count connery's non-eon never say never again moore's tenure began
with 1973's live and let die far from widely praised but at least let more get his footing
next was 1974's the man with the golden gun which time magazine criticized moore for saying he
lacks all connery's strengths and his several deep deficiencies moore turned that criticism around
completely with 1977's the spy who loved me which wasn't just named by more as his personal favorite
but received overall praise and ranks as one of the best entries of the franchise's 60-year
history of personal note the year after the spy who loved me's release more went into a
self-imposed tax exile citing exorbitant income taxes on high earners interestingly the likes
of sean connery four-time bond director guy hamilton frequent series composer john berry
and goldfinger singer shirley basie also went into a similar exile making tax evasion as
much of a bond tradition as a shaken not stirred martini while moore would skip off to switzerland
bond would go to outer space no really like outer space in 1979's ridiculously over-the-top
star wars capitalization attempt moonraker undoubtedly one of the franchise's low points
around the time of for your eyes only moore was starting to age out of the role
this is of course suggesting he was age appropriate for live and let die
as such aeon began considering other actors for the role michael billington lewis collins
michael jason who later voiced bond in a radio production of you only live twice
and timothy dalton who would succeed more with 1987's living daylights moore was rightfully
pissed that producers were going behind his back but was coerced into staying on
next came 1983's octopussy with more competing against another bond movie at the box office
the non-eon never say never again starring connory octopussy came out of the gate in june
and bested never say never against october box office by more than 20 million dollars
moore's final outing as double 7 came with 1985's a view to a kill as moore put it quote i was
only about 400 years too old for the part unquote that's quite old especially by hollywood standards
actually nearly 60 moore ended his 12-year reign a feat bested only by daniel craig
roger moore's legacy as james bond is one up for debate
but he deserves his place for making the character his own and taking him on signature departures
he wasn't a connery knockoff or an inadvertent spoof but an exclusive interpretation
moore wanted to show quote bond as a lover sean was a killer i was a lover
unquote it too was harnessed in more humorous elements he could be a tough guy but he was also
quite goofy and didn't expect the audience to take the fare too seriously whether at
the number one spot of your top bonds or not more irrefutably made his incarnation distinct
during his run moore starred in forgettable fare thriller gold italian crime flick street people
and war adventurer shout at the devil there was at least the cannonball run which let him have
a little more fun with the bond persona moore even made a pit stop to play two other iconic
characters sherlock holmes in sherlock holmes in new york and a cameo as inspector clouseau and
curse of the pink panther though he went credited as the very porn sounding turk thrust the second
moore took a five-year hiatus after bond turning out fair you probably never heard of fire ice and
dynamite bullseye and the man who wouldn't die which at least sounds like a bond title
the rest of his career would find him in movies like spice world earning a razzie nomination and
boat trip but he mostly focused on voice work two had trivia-worthy ties to his most famous roles
1997's the saint a take on the simon templar character moore played in his own 1960s
tv series and sequel cats and dogs the revenge of kitty galore playing tab lassenby a clear play
on fellow bond george he also played santa in a strange ass cartoon called the fly who loved me
for unicef for which he served as goodwill ambassador in his position moore did some of his
proudest work including an international venture supporting children who lost parents to aids
other notable accolades from more include being knighted in 2003 and earning a star
on the hollywood walk of fame located at appropriately enough 7007 hollywood boulevard
moore suffered from various ailments in his life from his childhood through an early 90s prostate
cancer diagnosis and an onstage collapse in his mid-70s after a tumor was spotted
on his liver moore was diagnosed with lung and liver cancer on may 23 2017 roger moore died
he was 89. tributes poured in unicef the world has lost one of its great champions for children
he was a passionate and highly persuasive advocate for children eon producers barbara broccoli and
michael g wilson noted how more quote reinvented the role of james bond with tremendous skill
charisma and humor even duran duran who wrote the title song for a view to a kill paid tribute
fellow bonds also paid respect sean connery said simply i will miss him pierce brosnan stated
the world will miss you and your unique sense of humor for years to come daniel craig played off
an oscar-nominated bond song with nobody does it better moore ranked himself the fourth best bond
many would passionately disagree and to his most loyal fans perhaps nobody really did do it better
you