Tuesday brought sad news to the film community as it has been reported that legendary British performer Roger Moore has passed away at the age of 89. The cause of the death, due to complications with cancer, was confirmed by a family statement on Twitter. While most famous for his iconic portrayal of James Bond, the rogue secret agent with the license to kill based on the novels by Ian Fleming, Moore had a long-lasting career that includes revered work on screens both big and small. His output continued consistently throughout.
Born in Stockwell, a district in South London, Moore made an early mark starting with largely uncredited roles in British films in mid 1940s, before beginning a prominent career in television. He started his career, inauspiciously, with extra work in movies before a director encouraged a young Moore to study acting; in 1944, he entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His first credited film roles were The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954), a romantic drama starring Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson and Interrupted Melody (1955), a musical biopic starring Eleanor Parker. Moore become more well-known to audiences (particularly American audiences) due to his work on admired television shows including Ivanhoe, The Alaskans, The Saint, The Persuaders! and in a stint replacing James Garner in the fourth season of the beloved ABC western Maverick.
It was his stint as James Bond – a role he played in seven features from 1973-1985 – in which Moore made his biggest contribution to cinema. He took over the role from Sean Connery, beginning his tenure with Live and Let Die. His other Bond films were The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy and A View to a Kill, his final Bond film.
In 1999, Moore was made a Commander of the British Empire and in 2003, he was knighted.
Moore is survived by his wife Kristina Tholstrup, sons Geoffrey and Christian, daughter Deborah and his grandchildren.
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