James Bond actors: where are they now

Seven men have played James Bond across 26 films. Below we take a look at those actors and what they've done since leaving the role.

Commander James Bond, secret agent 007, began life as a creation of British author Ian Fleming in 1953 with Casino Royale. Its success led to the movie rights being sold and Fleming reprising the character in an additional 11 novels and two short-story collections before his death in 1964.

Before that first book could reach the screen, Eon Productions, formed by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, purchased the rights to the rest of Fleming's Bond novels. Sean Connery debuted the character onscreen in 1962's Dr. No.

During Connery's run, Casino Royale finally got made, albeit in a version far different than what fans expected. The film, starring David Niven as Bond, spoofed the genre, and was closer in tone to Mike Myers' vision of the Swinging Sixties in the Austin Powers franchise than Fleming's novels. (Fleming and Niven were actually friends; the actor was name-checked in the You Only Live Twice book).

Connery walked away from 007 after 1967's You Only Live Twice, and Eon chose George Lazenby, an Australian-born model, to star in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. But Lazenby, who never acted before, caused problems on the set, so Connery was enticed back a few years later for Diamonds Are Forever before leaving Eon for good.

Enter Roger Moore, who, as the lead character in the British TV show The Saint, had experience in playing a spy onscreen. He debuted in 1973's Live and Let Die and remained in the role for seven movies over a dozen years, during which time Connery came back once more for 1983's Never Say Never Again, a remake of Thunderball for a different studio.

The Shakespearean-trained Timothy Dalton then took over the James Bond mantle, seeing out the '80s in two films before protracted litigation between Eon and its distribution company carried on until his contract expired. Dalton was replaced in 1995 by Pierce Brosnan, who'd been hyped as a potential James Bond since breaking through with the TV show Remington Steele. GoldenEye was the first of his four Bond films; he left after Die Another Day in 2002.

By 2006, Eon was finally able to make its own version of Casino Royale, which marked the debut of Daniel Craig as the spy. Four more films followed, with 2020's No Time to Die expected to be his last turn as Bond.

Below, James Bond Actors: Where Are They Now? outlines 007 and the men who played him over the years.

Sean Connery

United Artists

Sean Connery

Sean Connery was a journeyman actor in Britain for about a decade when he signed on to play James Bond in 1962's 'Dr. No.' The decision not only defined the part - he's still considered by many to be the best 007 - but also his career. He starred in the first five Bond films made by Eon Productions, up through 1967's 'You Only Live Twice,' and returned for 1971's 'Diamonds Are Forever' and 1983's 'Never Say Never Again.' After leaving the role for good, he continued to be a major movie star, and won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1988 for 'The Untouchables.' He retired from acting after the 2000 release of 'Finding Forrester.' Connery died in October 2020 at the age of 90.

David Niven

Columbia

David Niven

Ian Fleming's ideal choice to play James Bond was his friend David Niven, but the debonair actor, who'd been a star since the '40s, was rejected in favor of Connery. Niven got his chance in 1967 with the parody 'Casino Royale,' the first of only two Bond films that weren't produced by Eon (1983's 'Never Say Never Again' was the other). Niven continued working regularly until 1981, when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He died in 1983.

George Lazenby

United Artists

George Lazenby

After Connery's first departure, Eon looked to George Lazenby, an Australian-born model with no prior acting experience, for 1969's 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service.' But Lazenby clashed with everybody on the set and never played Bond again, though he would claim he turned down a seven-film contract. His time as Bond earned him a reputation for being difficult, and while he has continued to act, the roles, more often than not, have been in low-budget pictures and made-for-television movies.

Roger Moore

United Artists

Roger Moore

Connery was wooed back for 'Diamonds Are Forever' before leaving Eon for good. The producers turned to Roger Moore, who'd had experience playing a British spy, starring for seven years as Simon Templar in the British TV series 'The Saint.' Beginning in 1973 with 'Live and Let Die,' Moore played James Bond seven times over the next 12 years, leaving the role following 1985's 'A View to a Kill,' by which time he was in his late 50s. He then spent five years on the sidelines before returning to acting in 1990, taking small roles. His work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, which began in 1991, earned him a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2003. Sir Roger Moore died on May 23, 2017, at the age of 89.

Timothy Dalton

United Artists

Timothy Dalton

In 1986, Timothy Dalton, a stage-trained actor who'd spent some time with the Royal Shakespeare Company, was named as Moore's successor to the role of James Bond. A year later, he made his debut in 'The Living Daylights' and reprised the part in 1989 with 'Licence to Kill.' But during pre-production for his third film, Eon and MGM/UA's new parent company engaged in litigation over the broadcast distribution rights that lasted through 1992 - by which time Dalton's contract had expired. Dalton chose not to extend the deal, preferring instead to focus on more diverse roles, although he played a British spy in 2003's 'Looney Tunes: Back in Action.'

Pierce Brosnan

MGM

Pierce Brosnan

As the dashing, mysterious star of 'Remington Steele,' Pierce Brosnan was pegged as a natural to play James Bond from the time it premiered on television in 1982. But he was contractually obligated to NBC, so Dalton didn't get to play 007 when Moore retired. Brosnan eventually got his chance in 1995 with 'GoldenEye,' and remained as the spy until 2002's 'Die Another Day.' Brosnan has remained a highly visible and prolific actor, earning a Golden Globe nomination for 'The Matador,' and starring in the two 'Mamma Mia' films built around the ABBA catalog. He was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003.

Daniel Craig

MGM

Daniel Craig

The choice of Daniel Craig to play James Bond was met with skepticism, since his blond hair and shorter stature set him apart from all the other men who played 007. But he came with a strong pedigree, having trained at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and logged nearly a decade and a half of stage, television and film work. Beginning with 'Casino Royale' in 2006, he's been Bond on four occasions. He said he will leave the franchise after 2020's 'No Time to Die.'