Sir Roger Moore dies aged 89

May 23, 2017

James Bond and The Saint star Sir Roger Moore has died aged 89.

Sir Roger talks to the Loose Women on ITV.

The family of Sir Roger Moore have announced the 89-year-old actor has died. Roger became best known for his television roles in The Saint and The Persuaders! and on the big screen as 007 agent James Bond.

“It is with a heavy heart that we must announce our loving father, Sir Roger Moore, has passed away today in Switzerland after a short but brave battle with cancer. The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone. We know our love and admiration will be magnified many times over, across the world, by people who knew him for his films and his television shows and his passionate work for UNICEF which he considered to be his greatest achievement.” – Moore Family Statement

Roger, born in October 1927, in Stockwell, London, had studied at art school with the intention of becoming a cartoonist, and had a spell working for a newspaper in such a role. He gave up his drawing to study drama at RADA, then went into repertory theatre appearing alongside future ATV star Noele Gordon in 1947.

World War II cut his acting career short, however while in the Army he later joined their entertainment unit, including appearing in some Army instructional films. He made his big screen acting debut in the 1945 movie Caesar and Cleopatra, as an extra. Other work during this time saw him working as a model advertising a range of products including toothpaste and knitwear.

He made his television debut as an actor on the BBC in March 1949 in the live play The Governess. During the early part of the 1950s Roger tread the boards of London’s West End as well as touring with the Embassey Theatre company. In 1952 he flew out to America in the hope of making it big stateside. He landed a part in the television series World By the Tail starring alongside Diane Lynch. During this production he made a screen test for MGM, but at the time nothing came of it and Roger returned to London to appear in I Captured The Castle co-starring Richard Greene. Then came a telephone call from MGM…

However his time with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movies, he self confessed, had been a disappointment and not very successful. His seven year contract was terminated after only two years and three films made. He did however get to co-star alongside Elizabeth Taylor in The Last Time I Saw Paris.

Related Story: Picture Special, Remembering Sir Roger Moore

Sir Roger in a behind the scenes moment from ITC-ATV series The Saint.

“With the passing of Sir Roger Moore, the world has lost one of its great champions for children – and the entire UNICEF family has lost a great friend. In his most famous roles as an actor, Sir Roger was the epitome of cool sophistication; but in his work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, he was a passionate – and highly persuasive – advocate for children. He once said that it was up to all of us to give children a more peaceful future. Together with Lady Kristina, he worked very hard to do so. All of us at UNICEF extend our deepest sympathies to the Moore family, and join his many friends and admirers from around the world in paying tribute to his life and mourning his loss. He will be deeply missed.” – UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake

Following MGM, Moore signed up to appear in Warner Bros’ movies, as well as a number of television series. His first major TV success was the ITV series Ivanhoe, which aired for 39 episodes from 1958 and saw Roger star in the title role. Other shows followed including The Alaskans in 1959 and 1960’s Maverick. It was however The Saint for ITC-ATV which would prove his next long running success.

Moore was seen around the world thanks to ITC Distribution’s sales of the series, making him a global star. The Saint saw Roger in the title role of Simon Templar ‘The Saint’ in the adaptation of novels by Leslie Charteris. The action drama, while made for ITV, had a lavish budget which saw scene shot abroad on location and interiors recorded at the Elstree Film Studios. The Saint ran for 118 episodes over six series from 1962 to 1969. The production established Moore as suave with quick wit, qualities which saw him cast as James Bond.

“Animals have lost a dear friend with the passing of Sir Roger Moore. The long-time PETA supporter may have been best known for his suave portrayal of James Bond, but we believe some of his greatest achievements were his efforts on behalf of animals – including fronting a campaign pushing British department store Selfridges to stop stocking foie gras (it did!), boldly calling for the Queen’s Guard’s bearskin hats to be replaced with synthetic materials, and offering to pop a champagne cork with Theresa May if she brought forward a long-awaited ban on wild-animal circuses. Sir Roger was always an inspiration to work with. He called out animal abuse with wit and charm, and PETA will continue campaigning to help the animals he cared so deeply about.” – Mimi Bekhechi, Director of International Programmes PETA

Sir Roger in an ATV Network publicity photograph.

Before Bond, however, there was to be a further major television role for Roger. One he didn’t really want. ATV’s Lew Grade signed up Moore to co-star in The Persuaders! alongside American actor Tony Curtis. Only Lew didn’t, legend goes, tell Roger until all the deals were done. Roger however was focusing on his film career by this time and declined the job, until Lew himself noted Britain needs the money, Roger was lured in to appear in 24 episodes of the series which aired on ITV in 1971.

In 1973 he became the third big screen actor to take on the role of 007 agent James Bond in the movie franchise. He would remain in the part until 1985, becoming the longest running bond performer. His first outing was, aged 45, in Live and Let Die, finally retiring from the role at 58 in A View to a Kill – his seventh Bond movie.

After the 007 spy era Roger took a few years out returning to the big screen in 1990 in Fire, Ice and Dynamite. Several movies followed with his last in 2011’s A Princess for Christmas. During the latter part of his career he also appeared more on television in guest appearances, including promoting his releases as an author on QVC and ITV’s Loose Women. Moore was also dedicated to his charity work, notably UNICEF. He was made a CBE in 1999 and became Sir Roger Moore in 2003. In 2008 the Hollywood Walk of Fame unveiled a star dedicated to the actor and five years ago he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Hertfordshire, for his outstanding contributions to the UK film and television industry.

Sir Roger will have a private funeral held in Monaco, at his request. The 89-year-old passed away from cancer.

“The affection our father felt whenever he walked on to a stage or in front of a camera buoyed him hugely and kept him busy working… through to his last appearance in November 2016 on stage at the Royal Festival Hall. The capacity crowd cheered him on and off stage, shaking the very foundations of the building just a short distance from where he was born. Thank you pops for being you, and for being so very special to so many people. Our thoughts must now turn to supporting Kristina [his wife] at this difficult time, and in accordance with our father’s wishes there will be a private funeral in Monaco.” – Moore family statement.