The Spy Who Loved Me: A Roger Moore as James Bond retrospective

British actor Roger Moore posing with a gun, early 1980s. (Photo by Terry O’Neill/Getty Images)

Roger Moore, best known for playing James Bond  in the 1970s and 1980s, has died of cancer.  He was 89 years old.  He is survived by his children, Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian, and all of us who loved him as the famous British spy.

Roger Moore, who died earlier today, took over the role from Sean Connery and ushered the franchise out of the 1960s with 1973’s Live and Let Die.  He went on to play the character six more times before passing it on to Timothy Dalton.

Though some of the films don’t hold up to modern scrutiny (I’m looking at you, Dr. Kananga in Live and Let Die), they remain some of the most beloved action/adventure films of all time nevertheless.

Moore’s chiseled good looks and piercing gaze along with a remarkable acting talent made him an excellent successor to the 007 throne.  He went on be the longest tenured Bond of the franchise so far and face off against iconic villains like Jaws and Francisco Scaramanga in some of the franchise’s classic films like The Spy Who Loved Me.

Follow the link for more on each of Moore’s seven Bond films as we look back on his career in a way to remember him today.