Roger Moore

Roger Moore
Allan warren · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Roger Moore
Birth date	October 14, 1927
Birth place	Stockwell, London, England
Death date	May 23, 2017
Death place	Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1945-2017
Spouse	Dorothy Squires (1946-1963), Luisa Mattioli (1969-1996), Kristina Tholstrup (2002-2017)

Roger Moore was a renowned English actor, best known for his portrayal of James Bond in the official film series produced by Eon Productions. Born in Stockwell, London, England, Moore's early life was marked by his attendance at Battersea Grammar School and his interest in Gaiety Girls, a theatrical troupe that performed at the Adelphi Theatre in West End. Moore's career spanned over seven decades, during which he worked with notable actors such as Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Frank Sinatra. He was also a long-time supporter of UNICEF, an organization he was introduced to by his friend, Audrey Hepburn, and later became a Goodwill Ambassador for the organization, following in the footsteps of Peter Ustinov and Danny Kaye.

Early Life

Moore was born to George Alfred Moore, a policeman from Kilburn, and Lillian Pope, a housewife from Streatham. He grew up in a middle-class family and was educated at Battersea Grammar School, where he was a classmate of Michael Caine and Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond series. Moore's interest in acting was encouraged by his mother, who took him to see performances at the Old Vic Theatre and the Savoy Theatre, where he watched actors like Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh perform. He also attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he studied alongside Diana Rigg and Siân Phillips.

Career

Moore's acting career began in the 1940s, when he appeared in small roles in films such as Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) and Perfect Strangers (1945), alongside Robert Donat and Deborah Kerr. He later moved to Hollywood, where he worked with MGM Studios and appeared in films like Ivanhoe (1952) and Diane (1956), starring Lana Turner and Pedro Armendáriz. Moore's breakthrough role came in 1958, when he played the title character in the television series Ivanhoe, which was produced by Syndication and aired on CBS. He also appeared in other popular television shows, including The Saint and The Persuaders!, alongside Tony Curtis.

James Bond

Moore's most iconic role was that of James Bond, which he played in seven films, starting with Live and Let Die (1973) and ending with A View to a Kill (1985). He took over the role from Sean Connery and was followed by Timothy Dalton. Moore's Bond films were produced by Eon Productions and included The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), and Octopussy (1983). He worked with notable Bond girls, including Jane Seymour, Barbara Carrera, and Maud Adams, and faced off against villains like Christopher Lee and Louis Jourdan.

Personal Life

Moore was married three times, first to Dorothy Squires from 1946 to 1963, then to Luisa Mattioli from 1969 to 1996, and finally to Kristina Tholstrup from 2002 until his death in 2017. He had three children, Deborah Moore, Geoffrey Moore, and Christian Moore, and was a long-time resident of Monaco and Switzerland. Moore was also a close friend of Michael Caine, Tony Curtis, and Frank Sinatra, and was a frequent guest at Hollywood parties and events, including the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards.

Later Work and Legacy

In his later years, Moore continued to act in films and television shows, including The Quest (1996) and Spice World (1997), alongside Victoria Beckham and Melanie Brown. He also wrote several books, including his autobiography, My Word is My Bond (2008), and Bond on Bond (2012), which was published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film series. Moore was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1999 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 2003 for his services to charity, particularly his work with UNICEF and the Red Cross. He passed away on May 23, 2017, at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most iconic actors of his generation, alongside Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, and Charlton Heston.

Filmography

Moore's filmography includes over 70 films and television shows, spanning a career of over seven decades. Some of his notable films include The Miracle (1948), Drawing Room Detective (1950), Ivanhoe (1952), Diane (1956), The Saint (1962), The Persuaders! (1971), Live and Let Die (1973), The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983), A View to a Kill (1985), The Quest (1996), and Spice World (1997). He worked with notable directors, including Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, and Steven Spielberg, and appeared alongside actors like Marlon Brando, James Stewart, and Harrison Ford. Category:English actors