Those connected with the James Bond franchise have been responding to the death of Roger Moore, who died Tuesday morning after a brief battle with cancer.
Sean Connery, who originated the role of 007, remembered Moore fondly.
“I was very sad to hear of Roger’s passing. We had an unusually long relationship by Hollywood standards, that was filled with jokes and laughter, I will miss him,” he said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Bond movie producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli issued a joint statement, in which they shared that they “are heartbroken at the news of Sir Roger Moore’s passing,” and added, “On the screen, he reinvented the role of James Bond with tremendous skill, charisma and humor. In real life, he was a genuine hero working as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for many years dedicating his life to alleviating the suffering of children all over the world. He was a loyal and beloved friend and his legacy shall live on through his films and the millions of lives he touched. We shall miss him enormously. Our love and thoughts are with Deborah, Geoffrey, Christian his grandchildren and his wife Kristina.”
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George Lazenby, who preceded Moore as the consummate British secret agent, wrote in a statement, “I liked Roger, he was a genuine fellow, a really good guy.” On Facebook, Moore’s successor as Bond, Pierce Brosnan, shared an open letter to the actor: “It is indeed with a heavy heart that I hear the news of your passing this morning. You were a big part of my life, from The Saint to James Bond … you were a magnificent James Bond and one that lead the way for me, the world will miss you and your unique sense of humor for years to come. My sincerest condolences to your family and children. RIP.”
