You’ve seen the tux. You know the drink order. But if I asked you to name every single person who played 007, you’d probably trip up. Most people forget the Australian model who quit after one try or the "unofficial" movies that the big studios want you to ignore. Mapping out James Bond actors by movie isn't just a list of names; it’s a weird, messy history of contract disputes, exploding pens, and a few actors who probably stayed in the tuxedo a little too long.
Honestly, the timeline is a bit of a rollercoaster. It’s not a straight line from 1962 to now. We’ve had reboots, "fake" Bonds, and a Scottish legend who left, came back, left again, and then came back one last time just for the paycheck.
The Connery Era: Where it All Started (Mostly)
Sean Connery is the blueprint. He had this "panther-like" walk that producers Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzman fell in love with. He wasn't even the first choice—Cary Grant was—but Connery made the role his own starting in 1962.
- Dr. No (1962): The introduction. No cold open, just a man at a card table.
- From Russia with Love (1963): Still considered by purists to be the best "spy" movie of the bunch.
- Goldfinger (1964): This is where the gadgets and the "Bond Girl" tropes really solidified.
- Thunderball (1965): Huge budget, lots of underwater fights.
- You Only Live Twice (1967): Bond goes to Japan. This was supposed to be Connery’s final bow. He was tired of the fame and the pressure.
But then things got weird.
The 1967 "Other" Bond
While Connery was making the "official" movies, a legal loophole allowed another studio to make Casino Royale (1967). It’s a psychedelic mess where David Niven plays a retired Bond. It’s not part of the main Eon Productions timeline, but if we’re talking about every person who ever wore the code name, Niven is technically in the club.
The One-Hit Wonder: George Lazenby
When Connery quit, the producers panicked. They found George Lazenby, an Australian model with zero acting experience. He literally lied his way into the audition, punched a stuntman to prove he was tough, and got the job.
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- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): This is Lazenby’s only film.
It’s actually a fantastic movie. It’s more emotional than anything Connery did. But Lazenby’s agent convinced him that the hippie era was coming and Bond was "dead." He refused to sign a seven-movie contract and walked away before the movie even premiered. Talk about a bad career move.
The Return (and the Eyebrow)
The producers were desperate. They paid Connery a record-breaking salary to come back for one more "official" flick.
- Diamonds Are Forever (1971): Connery looks a bit older here, but he’s still got the charm.
Once Connery was officially done (again), Roger Moore stepped in. Moore was older than Connery but played the character with a wink and a nudge. He was less of a killer and more of a charming uncle who happened to have a submarine car.
- Live and Let Die (1973)
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977): This is peak Moore.
- Moonraker (1979): Bond in space. Yeah, it happened.
- For Your Eyes Only (1981): They tried to make it serious again.
- Octopussy (1983)
- A View to a Kill (1985): Moore was 57 here. He later admitted he felt way too old to be romancing women in their 20s.
The 1983 Showdown
While Moore was filming Octopussy, Connery came back again for a rival studio in Never Say Never Again (1983). It was a remake of Thunderball. For a few months, there were two Bonds in theaters. It was a total mess for the marketing teams.
The Dalton Shift: Dark and Gritty (Too Soon?)
After Moore retired, Timothy Dalton took over. He wanted to go back to the books. He wanted Bond to be a "bloody assassin" who hated his job.
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- The Living Daylights (1987)
- Licence to Kill (1989)
People hated it at the time. They thought he was too grumpy. Looking back now, Dalton was basically doing the Daniel Craig style twenty years before the world was ready for it. Legal battles between the studios stalled the franchise for six years after his second movie, and Dalton eventually just grew tired of waiting.
The 90s Revival: Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan was actually supposed to take over after Roger Moore, but he was stuck in a contract for the TV show Remington Steele. By the time he finally got the keys to the Aston Martin in 1995, he was ready.
- GoldenEye (1995): A massive hit that saved the franchise.
- Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
- The World Is Not Enough (1999)
- Die Another Day (2002): The one with the invisible car and the surfing on a tsunami. It was... a lot.
Brosnan was the perfect "greatest hits" Bond. He had Connery’s coolness and Moore’s looks. But the scripts got a little too silly by the end.
The Modern Era: Daniel Craig
In 2006, the world went crazy because the new Bond was blonde. "James Blonde" they called him. Then Casino Royale came out, and everyone shut up. Daniel Craig brought a brutality we hadn't seen before. He bled. He got hurt. He actually fell in love.
- Casino Royale (2006)
- Quantum of Solace (2008): Written during a writers' strike, and you can kinda tell.
- Skyfall (2012): A billion-dollar masterpiece.
- Spectre (2015)
- No Time to Die (2021): The big finale.
Craig is the only actor to have a definitive "end" to his story arc. Every other actor just sort of stopped showing up.
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Quick Reference of James Bond Actors by Movie
If you're looking for the fast version, here's how the official Eon Productions films break down:
- Sean Connery: 1962–1967, 1971 (6 films)
- George Lazenby: 1969 (1 film)
- Roger Moore: 1973–1985 (7 films)
- Timothy Dalton: 1987–1989 (2 films)
- Pierce Brosnan: 1995–2002 (4 films)
- Daniel Craig: 2006–2021 (5 films)
Don't forget the outcasts: David Niven (1967) and Sean Connery's return in Never Say Never Again (1983).
What’s Next for 007?
The search for the next actor is basically the biggest secret in Hollywood. Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have said they want someone who can commit for 10 to 12 years. They aren't just looking for a face; they’re looking for a decade of a person's life.
If you’re planning a marathon, start with From Russia with Love to see the classic Bond, then jump to Casino Royale to see how they reinvented him. You’ll notice that while the gadgets change and the cars get faster, the core of the character—that lone wolf survivalist—never really goes away.
Your Next Step for a Bond Marathon: If you want to understand the evolution of the character, watch On Her Majesty's Secret Service right after a Sean Connery film. The contrast between Lazenby’s vulnerability and Connery’s stoicism is the best way to see how much an actor's personality changes the entire "feel" of a movie. Once you've done that, you'll be able to spot the subtle nods to the past in Daniel Craig’s final films.