7 interesting facts about Roger Moore
British actor Roger Moore, best known for playing James Bond in the film series, sadly passed away earlier this year at the age of 89 after a battle with cancer. In memory of the actor on what would have been his 90th birthday today, we take a look at some interesting facts about the life of the talented and suave actor and humanitarian.
1. He wanted to be an artist
Moore initially wanted to be an artist but got into the film industry after becoming an extra in the late 1940s. Moore also served in the British military during WWII. He moved to the US in 1953 and landed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
2. He had an unlimited supply of cigars
Included in his contract for the Bond films was an unlimited supply of Montecristo cigars during filming. The cost of his cigars usually accumulated to thousands of pounds.
3. He never ran on screen
Every scene that showed Moore running was performed by a body double. Moore thought he looked awkward running, so the producers allowed him not to do it.
4. He suffered from hoplophobia
Moore had hoplophobia, a fear of firearms, due to a childhood accident. When he was young, he was shot in the leg with an air rifle by his brother.
5. He was the first Bond to get help from computer modelling
One scene in The Man with the Golden Gun was the first Bond stunt to be calculated by computer modelling. The stunt involves the corkscrew car jumping over a canal and it was captured in one take.
6. He had a passion for helping children
Moore was Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF from 1991. He worked on behalf of children who were being exploited and in 1996, at the World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploit, he revealed how he was a victim as a child. “I was molested when I was a child - not seriously - but I didn't tell my mother until I was 16, because I felt that it was something to be ashamed of," he told The Associated Press.
7. He felt “too old” to play Bond
Moore was the oldest person to debut as Bond, which he did at the age of 45 when Live and Let Die was filmed in 1973. In 1985, he officially announced his retirement from playing James Bond. The movie star was quoted as saying that he felt embarrassed he was performing love scenes with beautiful actresses who were young enough to be his daughters.
What is your favourite movie with Roger Moore? Let us know in the comments below.