George Lazenby
Who was George Lazenby?
Actor who portrayed James Bond in the 1969 film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', serving as the iconic spy for only one official film.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on George Lazenby (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
George Robert Lazenby was born on September 5, 1939, in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. He started his career as a model and appeared in TV commercials before moving into acting. Despite having no film acting experience, he was chosen to replace Sean Connery as James Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, making him the second actor to play the famous character in the official film series.
Lazenby's role as Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service became his most notable role. The film, based on Ian Fleming's novel, showed a more emotionally open Bond who falls in love and marries Tracy di Vicenzo, played by Diana Rigg. The movie featured elaborate action scenes filmed in the Swiss Alps and had a tragic ending, setting it apart from other Bond films of the time. Although the film later received critical acclaim, Lazenby decided not to return for future Bond movies.
After leaving the Bond series, Lazenby explored various acting roles in different genres and international markets. He appeared in the war film Universal Soldier (1971), the Italian thriller Who Saw Her Die? (1972), and the martial arts comedy The Shrine of Ultimate Bliss (1974). He also starred in The Man from Hong Kong (1975), an Australian-Hong Kong co-production, demonstrating his willingness to work in different film industries and take on diverse roles beyond the secret agent type.
Later in his career, Lazenby made occasional appearances in films and TV shows, mostly stepping away from the limelight. He married former professional tennis player Pam Shriver, adding another aspect to his public life beyond acting. Throughout his life, Lazenby has stayed connected to the Bond world through fan events, interviews, and discussions about his unique place in the franchise's history as the actor who played 007 in just one official film.
Before Fame
Before becoming famous as James Bond, George Lazenby was a successful model in Australia and later in London. His good looks and natural charm made him popular in advertising, especially for TV commercials. This modeling work gave him experience in front of cameras and taught him how to project confidence and appeal, skills that came in handy when he suddenly landed one of cinema's toughest roles.
The late 1960s were a time of change for the James Bond series, with Sean Connery leaving and creating a rare chance for a relatively unknown actor. Lazenby's lack of formal acting training was balanced by his strong presence, adaptable Australian accent, and ability to capture the sophistication needed for the role. His selection showed that the producers were ready to take risks as the Bond series grew and adapted to the changing tastes of audiences.
Key Achievements
- Portrayed James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), the only actor to play 007 in just one official film
- Successfully transitioned from modeling to major motion picture starring roles without formal acting training
- Starred in international co-productions across multiple film industries including Australian, Italian, and Hong Kong cinema
- Became part of cinema history as the second official actor to portray the iconic James Bond character
- Maintained a decades-long connection to popular culture through his unique status in the Bond franchise
Did You Know?
- 01.Lazenby reportedly got his hair cut at the same barbershop as Sean Connery and wore a Rolex Submariner watch to his Bond audition to help him look the part
- 02.He performed many of his own stunts in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, including skiing sequences in the Swiss Alps
- 03.On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the only Bond film to feature the spy getting married, making Lazenby's Bond unique in the franchise
- 04.He turned down a seven-film contract worth millions of dollars to continue as Bond, believing the character would become outdated
- 05.Lazenby appeared uncredited as JW Pepper in a brief scene in the 2017 film Becoming Bond, a documentary about his life