James Bond star Sir Roger Moore died seven years ago aged 89 on May 23, 2017.
The acting legend starred in more official 007 movies than any other actor – even surpassing Sir Sean Connery whose Never Say Never Again wasn’t made by EON Productions.
In fact, when The Saint actor was cast in 1973’s Live and Let Die he was 45, three years older than the original Scottish star.
By the time Roger starred in 1985’s A View To A Kill he was 57, the oldest official Bond captured on screen.
Aside from the lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek nature of his 007 movies, in real life he was known for being a true gentleman.
When shooting 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun – which is on ITV4 today – future Bond producer Barbara Broccoli was just a teenager and has fond memories of her time with Roger.
Barbara’s father Cubby Broccoli helmed the 007 movies in those days and The Man with the Golden Gun was the second film starring the new Bond after Connery and George Lazenby’s incarnations.
Speaking previously with Empire and commenting on a photo from the movie, Cubby’s daughter who now heads up EON Productions remembered: “Charm was Roger’s middle name. He was such a gentleman. I’d known him since I was a kid. I remember we were night-shooting at about 3 o’clock in the morning and some people came over. He had just sat down to eat something. He didn’t take a beat. He got straight up.”
Introducing himself with his incredible charm when anyone else probably would have been rather frustrated to be interrupted, Roger said: “Where are you from? Nice to meet you.”
Broccoli remembered: “I was just like ‘Wow.’ It was very unusual. These films were so impactful to him. He travelled all over the world and obviously saw both sides of life. Audrey Hepburn was sick and asked him to take over as a Unicef ambassador and he did. He was an incredible man.”