Roger Moore - Biography

Last Editor: HK1106				Roger Moore Biography -   Name : Roger Moore Birth Name : Roger George Moore Date of Birth : 14 October, 1927 Place of Birth : Stockwell, London, England, UK Height : 6' 2'' Nationality : British Profession : Actor, Director, Producer, Costume Designer Claim to Fame : As James Bond. Sometimes Called : Sir Roger Moore Turk Thrust II

Roger Moore Trivia -

During the early stages of his career Roger collected towels from the hotels he stayed in. However, he stopped when a British newspaper printed a story entitled 'Roger Moore is a towel thief'. He revealed on "So Graham Norton" (1998) that he still has the collection in his Swiss home. He succeeded Audrey Hepburn as goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. Father of Geoffrey Moore, Christian Moore, and Deborah Moore. Awarded CBE (Commander Of The Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire) in 1999. Was scheduled to make his musical theatre debut as Sir George in "Aspects of Love" in 1990. He left the production days before his escape clause expired due to his own concerns over his singing ability. He was replaced by Kevin Colson. In May 2000 he received an International Humanitarian Award from the London Variety Club for his charity work. His father was a Policeman. Whilst doing National Service, Moore served with Military Intelligence. In just few days after he had arrived in USA in 1952, he was in a television play "World by the Tail". He is a good friend of Lois Maxwell, who played Miss Moneypenny in Bond movies. They first met in mid 1940s at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Roger and a companion, 'Christina 'Kiki' Tholstrup' , escaped injury when another vehicle collided with the actor's car. Airbags were attributed to preventing injury. [13 January 2001] In 1990, he participated as a guest host in 33 Zecchino d'Oro. Received an honourary doctorate from Ryerson Polytechnic University in 1999. His contract for the 007 films provided him with an unlimited supply of Montecristo cigars during filming. The bill for this typically ran to thousands of pounds. 2002 - lives in Switzerland and Monte Carlo with current fiancee Christina 'Kiki' Tholstrup. In 1954, he was offered contracts with the Royal Shakespeare Company or MGM. Noel Coward advised him to go for the money. Despite playing James Bond in seven Bond films, he never ordered a vodka martini shaken not stirred. Oldest person to debut as James Bond. He was 46 when Live and Let Die (1973) premiered. Was Air France's 8,000,000th passenger. [21 May 1964] Collapsed during a matinee performance of the Broadway comedy "The Play What I Wrote", but finished the show after a 10-minute break. Roger was playing the part of the mystery guest star, which the cameo role is filled by celebrities, when he fainted toward the end of the second act. He was taken to the hospital after the show. The following day he was fitted with a pacemaker - something he had been previously told he would eventually have to get. [7 May 2003] Knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours, June 2003. Was best man at friends Bryan Forbes and Nanette Newman's wedding Ironically for his first Razzie nomination (Worst Supporting Actor in Spice World (1997)) he went head to head with another former Bond, Sean Connery in The Avengers (1998), also receiving his first Razzie nomination. Neither man won, however. Was marginally the shortest actor to play James Bond, being about an inch shorter than Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan. However, Woody Allen, who was one of many actors to play "James Bond" in the spoof Casino Royale (1967), is the shortest unofficial James Bond. Was older than any other actor to play James Bond when he portrayed him at age 57 in A View to a Kill (1985). Sean Connery was 53 when he last played Bond. A close friend of the Danish Royal Family, especially the Princess Alexandra, attended the Christening of Princess Alexandra and Prince Joachim's youngest son, Felix. Attended the wedding of the Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary on May 14th 2004. He was born in the same Labour Ward in London as the actor Brian Weske, five years previously. Attended the wedding of Joan Collins and Percy Gibson. He says his favorite Bond film is The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 1993. Speaks Italian perfectly, former wife Lisa Mattioli is an Italian citizen. Was cast in two roles that were originally offered to Patrick McGoohan: Simon Templar in "The Saint" (1962) and James Bond in Live and Let Die (1973).

Roger Moore Detailed Biography -

Perhaps he will always be remembered as the guy who replaced Sean Connery in the James Bond series, arguably something he never lived down. Roger Moore was born in Stockwell, London, in 1927, the son of a policeman. He first wanted to be an artist, but got into films full time after becoming an extra in the late forties. Moore also served in the British Military During the Second World War. He came to America in 1953. Suave, extremely handsome, and an excellent actor, he got a contract with MGM . His initial foray met with mixed success, with movies like Diane (1956) and Interrupted Melody (1955), as well as The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954). Moore went into television in the 1950s in shows like "Ivanhoe" (1958) and "The Alaskans" (1959), but probably got the most recognition from "Maverick" (1957), as cousin Beau. In 1962 he got his big breakthrough, at least internationally, as "The Saint" (1962). The show made him a superstar and he became very successful thereafter. Moore ended his run as the Saint, and was one of the premier stars of the world, but he was not catching on in America. In an effort to change this, he agreed to star with Tony Curtis in ITC's "The Persuaders!" (1971), but although hugely popular in Europe, it did not catch on in the US and was cancelled. Just prior to making the series, he starred in the dark The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970), which proved there was far more to Moore than the light-hearted roles he had previously accepted. Next, he was offered and accepted the role of James Bond, and once audiences got used to the change of style from Connery’s portrayal, they also accepted him. Live and Let Die (1973), his first Bond movie, grossed more outside of America than Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - Connery's last outing as James Bond. He went on to star in another six Bond films, before bowing out after A View to a Kill (1985) in 1985. He was 57 at the time the film was made and was looking a little too old for Bond - it was possibly one film too many. In between times, there had been more success with appearances in films such as That Lucky Touch (1975), Shout at the Devil (1976), The Wild Geese (1978), Escape to Athena (1979), and North Sea Hijack (1980). Despite his fame from the Bond films and many others, the US never completely took to him until he starred in The Cannonball Run (1981) alongside Burt Reynolds, a big hit there. After relinquishing his role as Bond, his work load tended to diminish a little, though he did star in the American Box office flop, Feuer, Eis & Dynamit (1990) (Fire, Ice & Dynamite), as well as the comedy, Bullseye! (1990), with Michael Caine. He did the overlooked comedy Bed & Breakfast (1992/I), as well as the TV movie _Man Who Wouldn't Die, The (1995) (TV)_ , and then the major Jean-Claude Van Damme flop, The Quest (1996/I). Moore then took second rate roles such as Spice World (1997), and the American TV series "The Dream Team" (1999). Although his film work may have slowed down, he is still very much in the public eye, be it appearing on TV chat shows or hosting documentaries.