The official EON Productions film series, based on novels by British author Ian Fleming, got a recharge when Craig—at the time an actor best known for playing the heavy in Road to Perdition and Layer Cake—signed on in 2005, becoming the latest in a line of big-screen Bond actors that began in the early 1960s. “He brought so much heart and soul into the character,” says Rubin. “He’s a throwback to Connery.”
James Bond Actors Through the Years
Sean Connery: 1930–2020
Stats: Six films: Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever (1962–67; 1971, plus the non-EON-produced Never Say Never Again in 1983) His Bond Was… Slick and quick with dry-as-martini one-liners (“Shocking, positively shocking,” he quips in 1964’s Goldfinger as an ill-fated foe meets an electrifying end). Bond on Bond: “Well, I took it seriously on one level, which was one had to be menacing, one had to be strong enough to do all this stuff. And the humor was one element that was missing from the books of Fleming himself.” (Variety, 2012)
George Lazenby: 1939–
Stats: One film: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) His Bond Was… The only Australian in the bunch. Bond on Bond: “I had no desire to be an actor—I just took this on as a challenge and quite liked it. I can take it or leave it. I’m glad I didn’t do another Bond.” (USA Today, 2017)
Roger Moore: 1927–2017
Stats: Seven films: Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill (1973–85) His Bond Was… Light and occasionally comically absurd (in 1983’s Octopussy, he defuses a bomb while dressed as a clown). Bond on Bond: “My whole reaction was always, he is not a real spy. You can’t be a real spy and have everybody in the world know who you are and what your drink is. That’s just hysterically funny.” (The Guardian, 2017)
Timothy Dalton: 1946–
Stats: Two films: The Living Daylights, License to Kill (1987–89) His Bond Was… Poker-faced and more in line with author Fleming’s characterization. Bond on Bond: “We wanted to take it back to that earlier toughness. But, of course, it’s got to be funny; it should be funny. Out of great danger often comes great humor.” (Entertainment Weekly, 2020)
Pierce Brosnan: 1953–
Stats: Four films: GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day (1995–2002) His Bond Was… Dashing and not afraid to up the ante on the body count. Bond on Bond: “It changed my life. It was the gift that kept on giving.” (Parade, 2020)
Daniel Craig: 1968–
Stats: Five films: Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, No Time to Die (2006–21) His Bond Was… A hard-nosed, gritty throwback not fazed by getting his hands dirty. And the first blond Bond. Bond on Bond: “He’s kind of a f—k-up. Because this job would f—k you up.” (GQ, 2020) Next, So Bad They’re Good: The Best James Bond Villains
