Best known for playing James Bond, British actor Roger Moore enjoyed a long career in both TV and film. He was also a dedicated philanthropist. Moore has passed away in Switzerland following a battle with cancer.Sir Roger Moore’s three children announced Tuesday on Twitter that their father had died following a short battle with cancer. He was 89.
In the announcement, they not only emphasized his work in television and film but also his commitment to UNICEF, “which he considered to be his greatest achievement.”
Roger Moore portrayed the fearless secret agent James Bond – whom he fondly referred to as “Jimmy Bond” – seven times between 1973 and 1985. He debuted his part as “007” in “Live and Let Die” at the age of 45 and continued to shape the adventurous role over the next 12 years.
“I’m not that cold-blooded killer type. Which is why I play it mostly for laughs,” Moore once said.
At a ceremony for his star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2007, Moore commented, “Sadly, I had to retire from the Bond films. The girls were getting younger and I was just getting too old.”
He was 57 when he made his final Bond film, “A View to Kill,” in 1985. He was succeeded by Timothy Dalton.
Roger Moore’s start in TV
While James Bond may be his most famous role, Moore was already a household name when he took the part. After moving from the UK to the US in 1953, he made a name for himself in TV shows like “Ivanhoe,” loosely adapted from Sir Walter Scott’s 1819 novel, and “Maverick” – a part his fellow Bond actor Sean Connery had turned down.
Moore was catapulted to global fame in the 1960s as the clever hero Simon Templar in the British television series “The Saint,” which ran from 1962 to 1969. He also played alongside Tony Curtis in the 1970s series “The Persuaders.”
Other notable films of recent years include “The Quest” (1996), directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme, “Spice World” (1997), a quirky comedy about the British girl band Spice Girls, and the romantic comedy “Boat Trip” (2002).
Life of luxury – and philanthropy
Considered one of the last of the old guard of actors, Moore lived a life of luxury, maintaining houses in Switzerland and Monaco. Nevertheless, he was passionate about philanthropy as well.
In 1991, he became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and worked to raise funds for under-privileged children. His work with UNICEF earned him his knighthood in 2003.
Roger Moore was married four times and had two sons and a daughter. A private funeral will be held for Moore in Monaco, in accordance with his wishes.
kbm/ss (dpa, AFP)
