James Bond dies at 89 after cancer battle

Roger Moore, who captivated audiences as the suave and unassailable superspy James Bond in seven of the iconic franchise’s films, died 23^rd may 2017 after a short battle with cancer. He was 89.

The beloved actor’s death was announced by his family with a statement posted to his official Twitter page.

“It is with a heavy heart that we must announce our loving father, Roger Moore, has passed away today in Switzerland after a short but brave battle with cancer,” his children Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian wrote in the statement.

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“The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone.”

A private funeral service will be held for the actor in Monaco, the family said.

Moore, who succeeded original Bond actor Sean Connery in the role in the 1970s, could never surpass him in the public eye as the definitive 007. But he gave the world-class secret agent an arch sense of humor that seemed like a commentary on the absurdity of the films.

“To me, the Bond situations are so ridiculous, so outrageous,” he once said. “I mean, this man is supposed to be a spy, and yet, everybody knows he’s a spy. Every bartender in the world offers him martinis that are shaken, not stirred. What kind of serious spy is recognized everywhere he goes? It’s outrageous. So you have to treat the humor outrageously as well.”

Moore made his Bond debut in “Live and Let Die” in 1973 before going to star in similarly legendary 007 movies “The Man with the Golden Gun” (1974) and “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977). He officially hung up his character's trademark tuxedo in 1985 after starring in “A View to Kill.”

He provided a clever sense of wit and humor in his portrayal of Bond, in addition to embodying the character’s longstanding traits as a charming playboy and skilled assassin.

Moore got his start in acting with a series of smaller — and often uncredited — roles in the 1940s before truly breaking out as a television actor in the late 1950s, first in the series “Ivanhoe” before landing roles in notable shows like “Maverick,” “The Saint” and “The Persuaders” in the subsequent decades.

James Bond

“During my early acting years I was told that to succeed you needed personality, talent and luck in equal measure,” Moore told the Guardian three years ago. “I contest that. For me it’s been 99% luck. It’s no good being talented and not being in the right place at the right time.”

His death was met with an outpour of condolences Tuesday from major figures within the film industry, including actor Pierce Brosnan, who took over the Bond role in the mid-1990s.

"Dear Sir Roger Moore, It is indeed with a heavy heart that I hear the news of your passing this morning," Brosnan wrote on Instagram. "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. 

The most recent Bond actor, Daniel Craig, also commemorated Moore with a short-but-sweet tribute shared by the official James Bond Twitter account.

"Nobody Does It Better - love Daniel,".

Moore did not appear in another film for five years after his final Bond flick, and mostly took on smaller roles for the remainder of his career.

He took major pride in his charity work during his later years, becoming a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in 1991. He had drawn inspiration from his close pal Aubrey Hepburn’s contributions to the organization, which defends the rights of children.

Moore's kids said in their statement Tuesday that the actor considered his work with UNICEF to be “his greatest achievement.”

In addition to his three children, Moore is survived by his wife Kristina.