George LazenbyĪnother interesting choice for Bond was that of Aussie model-turned-first-time-actor George Lazenby, who starred as the British agent in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Considered himself as an unusual choice to play Bond, Niven depicted the character as a no-nonsense, strategic (yet still classy) spy who could see past the charms of the ladies.įleming originally modeled his Bond character after Niven, but considering the actor was getting up there in his age, he never had the chance to reprise his role. Feldman had originally wanted EON Productions to develop the film, negotiations fell through, thus making fans view the film as an anomaly to the franchise. Regardless, Connery will be remembered for bringing the character onto the international stage and charming audiences with his martinis 'shaken, not stirred.' David NivenĪfter Connery took a break from the role in 1967, actor David Niven took his place in Casino Royale, a satirical take on Fleming's 007. For many fans, Connery's portrayal of the British agent is viewed as the quintessential Bond.īond would ignite Connery's career, and he would go on to portray him in six more films, although his 1983 reprisal in Never Say Never Again remains controversial because it was made outside of EON Productions, which was known for producing the film franchise. Fleming was so impressed with Connery's Bond that he wrote his subsequent novels closer to the actor's personality and background. What I did is just a curio.' Sean ConneryĮight years after Nelson's 007 hit television, Sean Connery signed on to transform the role of Bond, turning the MI6 agent into a big-screen hotshot with charisma and sophistication, starting with the film Dr.

I always thought Connery was the ideal Bond. Looking back at his portrayal compared to that of his successor Sean Connery, who's credited as putting Bond on the map, Nelson said, 'I don't spend much time regretting. Nelson was the first to introduce Bond to the world on screen, and he made his debut through a live TV adaptation of Casino Royale on CBS' anthology series Climax! Nelson was the only American Bond (known as Jimmy Bond), and he was well-received by audiences when the show aired in 1954. Barry Nelson as James Bond in the TV show 'Casino Royale' Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Imagesīarry Nelson built his acting career as a huge Broadway star before he decided to take on the role of Bond, albeit a 'sexless and glum' version dressed in a 'crooked bow tie,' observed the Los Angeles Times.

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