007 James Bond | International Spy

by Danielle Combs

James Bond—code number 007—is a fictional character created by the British journalist and novelist Ian Fleming in 1952. The character appeared in a series of twelve novels and two short story collections written by Fleming and a number of continuation novels and spin-off works after Fleming's death in 1964. Seven actors have played Bond in 26 films.

Fleming portrayed Bond as a tall, athletic, handsome secret agent in his thirties or forties; he has several vices including drinking, smoking, gambling, automobiles and women. He is an exceptional marksman, and skilled in unarmed combat, skiing, swimming and golf. While Bond kills without hesitation or regret, he usually kills only when carrying out orders, while acting in self-defense and occasionally as revenge.

American actor Barry Nelson was the first to portray Bond on screen, in a 1954 television adaptation, "Casino Royale". In 1961 Eon Productions began work on Dr. No, an adaptation of the novel of the same name. The result was a film that began a series of 24 films that celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2012. After considering the likes of "refined" English actors such as Cary Grant and David Niven, the producers cast Sean Connery as Bond in the film. Fleming was appalled at the selection of the uncouth, 31-year-old Scottish actor, considering him to be the antithesis of his character. However, Connery's physical prowess and sexual magnetism in the role came to be closely identified with the character, with Fleming ultimately changing his view on Connery and incorporating aspects of his portrayal into the books.

Following Connery's portrayal, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig have assumed the role in twenty-six feature film productions. These screen versions have retained many traits from Fleming's depiction, although some of Bond's less fashionable attitudes have been dropped, such as racism, homophobia, retaining the services of a maid, and in the more recent films, smoking. Despite playing the same character, there have been notable differences among the portrayals. Daniel Craig is the incumbent Bond in the long-running Eon series, and played the part for a fourth time in the latest film, Spectre, released in October 2015.

Sean Connery 
Dr. No 1962 
From Russia With Love 1963 
Goldfinger 1964 
Thunderball 1965 

Roger Moore 
Live and Let Die 1973 
The Man with The Golden Gun 1974 
Moonraker 1979 

Timothy Dalton 
The Living Daylights 1987 
Licence To Kill 1989 

Pierce Brosnan 
Golden Eye 1995 
Tomorrow Never Dies 1997 
The World Is Not Enough 1999
Die Another Day 2002 

Daniel Craig 
Casino Royale 2006 
A Quantum of Solace 2008 
Spectre 2015 

Photos courtesy of Getty Images.