Legendary James Bond actor, Roger Moore died in Switzerland on Tuesday after a “short but brave battle with cancer” his family said in an official statement signed by his three children Deborah, Geoffrey Robert and Christain Moore, posted on the actor’s twitter account. The tweet read “With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated.”
“We know our own love and admiration will be magnified many times over, across the world, by people who knew him for his films, his television shows and his passionate work for UNICEF, which he considered to be his greatest achievement,” the statement said.
Read the full statement here:
With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated. pic.twitter.com/6dhiA6dnVg
— Sir Roger Moore (@sirrogermoore) May 23, 2017
Roger Moore was the third actor to take on the role of James Bond and he took over after Sean Connery’s exit in 1972. Incidentally, Moore was 45 then, three years older than Connery, who was giving up the role. He featured in seven Bond films between 1973 and 1985 thus making him the longest serving Bond (twelve years and seven films) and also the oldest actor to have played the iconic spy with a license to kill.
Born in Stockwell, London, the actor had already enjoyed a long career in films and television, before landing the James Bond role. Some of his popular TV series include Maverick, The Alaskans and England’s long running TV hit The Saint.
In 1991, Moore became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF which helped him extensively work against commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Kabir Bedi, who worked with Roger Moore in the 1983 Bond film set in India, shared his condolences on twitter.
Farewell Roger! What a wonderful life you had! Honoured to have fought your #JamesBond in "OCTOPUSSY". Many memories. RIP ? https://t.co/dF0Wn7Cuuo
— KABIR BEDI (@iKabirBedi) May 23, 2017
Moore was divorced three times, from skater Doorn Van Steyn in 1953, English singer Dorothy Squires in 1969 and Italian actress Luisa Mattioli, the mother of his children Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian, in 2000. He married Swedish socialite Kristina Tholstrup for the fourth time in 2002.
R.I.P Sir!!
