The James Bond Legacy: Actors, Films, and More

James Bond, a fictional British Secret Service agent, has captivated audiences worldwide for decades. The iconic character has been portrayed by several actors, with each adding their unique flavor to the role. In this article, we explore the complete list of actors who have played the role of James Bond, the films under which they appeared, and additional content beyond the films, including books, comics, and musicals.

Actors and Their Representations of James Bond

Throughout the years, the James Bond character has been brought to life by a total of seven actors: David Niven, Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Let's take a closer look at each of them:

Sean Connery (1962-1971)

Sean Connery, the first official Bond, established the character's suave and sophisticated persona. Connery portrayed Bond in seven films: Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, and Diamonds are Forever.

David Niven (1959, unofficial)

David Niven played Bond in an unofficial film, Casino Royale, released in 1959, further solidifying the character in popular culture.

George Lazenby (1967-1969)

George Lazenby played the role for one film, The Man with the Golden Gun, before stepping away from the franchise.

Roger Moore (1973-1985)

Roger Moore brought humor and charm to the Bond role, starring in seven films: Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, and A View to a Kill.

Timothy Dalton (1987-1991)

Timothy Dalton played Bond in two films: The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill. This marked a return to the character after a 6-year absence.

Pierce Brosnan (1995-2002)

Pierce Brosnan injected a more contemporary edge to Bond, starring in five films: GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day, and Casino Royale.

Daniel Craig (2005-2021)

Daniel Craig brought intensity and authenticity to the role, starring in five films: Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die.

James Bond Films: A Comprehensive List

Counting both the official and unofficial films, the number of James Bond films is substantial, altogether amounting to 25:

Official Films:

Dr. No (1962) From Russia with Love (1963) Goldfinger (1964) Thunderball (1965) You Only Live Twice (1967) On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) Diamonds are Forever (1971) Live and Let Die (1973) The Man with the Golden Gun (1175) The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Moonraker (1979) For Your Eyes Only (1981) Octopussy (1983) A View to a Kill (1985) The Living Daylights (1987) Licence to Kill (1989) GoldenEye (1995) Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) The World is Not Enough (1999) Die Another Day (2001) Casino Royale (2006) Quantum of Solace (2008) Skyfall (2012) Spectre (2015) No Time to Die (2021)

Unofficial Films:

Casino Royale (1967) Never Say Never Again (1983)

Additional Media and Content

Beyond the film series, James Bond has been portrayed in other formats:

Books

While the films adapt from the works of Ian Fleming, there are numerous other books about James Bond that expand the franchise. A Wikipedia link is provided if you wish to explore these titles further. Note that while these books share the same titles as the films, the stories are often significantly different.

Comics

James Bond has also appeared in various comic books, further exploring the world of these fictional adventures.

Musical

A musical about James Bond was performed in 2021, showcasing the enduring popularity of the character in different formats.