Former James Bond star Roger Moore has died after a battle with cancer, his family confirmed Tuesday. He was 89.
Moore, who epitomized James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985, died in Switzerland “after a short but brave” cancer fight, according to a statement released by his three children.
“The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone,” said Moore’s kids, Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian. “Thank you Pops for being you and for being so very special to so many people.”
The blue-eyed London-born actor was approached to play Bond but his schedule filming TV shows never allowed him to commit.
It was only when Sean Connery stepped down that Moore agreed to take on the role of 007, filming his first Bond movie “Live and Let Die” in 1973 and “The Spy Who Loved Me” four years later.
He retired from the iconic role in 1985 as the longest-running actor to play the British secret service agent.
“Being eternally known as Bond has no downside. People often call me Mr. Bond when we’re out and I don’t mind a bit. Why would I?” Moore told The Guardian in 2014.
Moore told Time that he thought Daniel Craig was the best Bond after seeing “Skyfall” and praised the actor’s performance in 2006’s “Casino Royale.”
“I think that he is the Bond. He’s quite brilliant. I wrote to [producers] Barbara [Broccoli] and Michael [Wilson] and said … they’ve guaranteed Bond another 50 years of life,” he told the magazine in 2012.
Moore also modeled in the early 1950s and starred on hit crime shows “The Saint” and “The Persuaders.”
“During my early acting years I was told that to succeed you needed personality, talent and luck in equal measure,” Moore told The Guardian. “I contest that. For me it’s been 99 percent luck. It’s no good being talented and not being in the right place at the right time.”
After his acting career slowed down in the 1990s, Moore became a dedicated philanthropist and was knighted for his charity work in 2003. He became a goodwill ambassador to UNICEF through his friendship with actress Audrey Hepburn, who also worked with the organization.
“The knighthood for my humanitarian work meant more than if it had been for my acting,” Moore said. “I’m sure some people would say, ‘What does an actor know about world issues?’ But [working for UNICEF] I’ve become an expert on things from the causes of dwarfism to the benefits of breastfeeding. I feel very privileged.”
The dad of three also wrote two books about playing Bond and penned two autobiographies, the last in 2014 titled “Last Man Standing.”
Moore’s private funeral will be held in Monaco. He is survived by his three children and wife of 15 years, Kristina Tholstrup.
“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,” the family statement said.