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How Many James Bonds Are There?

Ian Fleming created a timeless character in that of Agent 007, James Bond. Many actors have had the chance to play this legendary character. Seven actors have shared the role amongst the growing franchise of twenty-two Bond films.

Possibly the most well-known Bond is Sean Connery. This handsome, charismatic Scot played the character in no less than seven films., beginning with ."Dr.No" (1962), followed in 1963 with "From Russia With Love" (1963), then "Goldfinger" (1964), "Thunderball" (1965), "You Only Live Twice" (1967), and “Diamonds are Forever (1971). After taking a twelve-year hiatus, Connery returned as 007 in “Never Say Never Again” (1983), his final Bond film.

Following Connery, with one film, George Lazenby starred in the adaptation of Fleming’s 11th Bond Novel, “On His Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969). Sir Roger Moore starred in: "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977), "Moonraker" (1979), "For Your Eyes Only" (1981),and "Octopussy" (1983). After two years, Moore returned in "A View To Kill” (1985). Timothy Dalton appeared as Bond in two films -- "The Living Daylights" (1987) and "License to Kill" (1989), followed by Pierce Brosnan in the films "GoldenEye" (1995), "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997), "The World Is Not Enough" (1999) and "Die Another Day" (2002).

Daniel Craig, now the seventh Bond, is a well-established British actor. The closer adaptation of Fleming’s first Bond novel, “Casino Royale” (2006) was Craig’s first film and made considerable money at the box office. Craig’s second and hopefully not his last Bond film is “Quantum of Solace” (2008). While “Quantum of Solace” is not a novel adaptation, the title comes from a Bond short story in Fleming’s book “For Your Eyes Only.” The title was chosen by Craig, who felt that it fit perfectly with the context of the film and the short story.

Film was not the only media where Bond was dramatized. In 1954, in a television broadcast of “Casino Royale,” actor Barry Nelson portrayed Bond, thus, making him the first actor to ever play Bond. When one thinks of James Bond, they usually recognize the character for his slick suits, his suave style, charm and dashingly good looks. None of these particularly describe legendary comedians Peter Sellers or even Woody Allen, but they shared the Bond role alongside Terrence Cooper and David Niven in the Bond spoof film titled, “Casino Royale” (1967).

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