List of recurring characters in the James Bond film series

Summary

The James Bond film series is a British series of spy films based on the fictional character of MI6 agent James Bond, "007", who originally appeared in a series of books by Ian Fleming. There have been twenty-five films in total released between 1962 and 2021 and produced by Eon Productions, which now holds the adaptation rights to all of Fleming's Bond novels.[1][2] Bond has been portrayed in these films by six actors: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.

Several of the series' supporting characters, such as M, Q, and Miss Moneypenny, are MI6 posts, not character names, and some of the actor changes in these positions reflect in-universe replacements. Such change was explicit for M in GoldenEye (1995), with Judi Dench's character referred to as a newcomer, and in Skyfall (2012), as Ralph Fiennes' character Gareth Mallory replaces Dench's character as M; it was explicit for Q in Die Another Day (2002), as John Cleese's character replaces Desmond Llewelyn's Q after being his apprentice in The World Is Not Enough (1999). There is only one clear case of a single M, Q, or Moneypenny character switching actor: when Q, Major Boothroyd, switches from Peter Burton in Dr. No (1962) to Desmond Llewelyn in From Russia with Love (1963).

Overview edit

Film
Character
James Bond
007
         
Felix Leiter              
M            
Miss Moneypenny          
Q          
Sylvia Trench  
Ernst Stavro Blofeld        
Sheriff J.W. Pepper  
Bill Tanner          
General Gogol    
Sir Frederick Gray    
Jaws  
Rublevitch    
Smithers  
Jack Wade  
Valentin Zukovsky    
Charles Robinson  
René Mathis  
Mr White    
Dr. Madeleine Swann  
Dr. Vogel  

By era edit

1962–1971: Sean Connery and George Lazenby edit

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who have appeared in two or more Sean Connery films.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.
  •  V indicates a voice-only role.
  •  R indicates the actor reprises their role in a later era.
Character 1962 1963 1964 1965 1967 1969 1971
Dr. No From Russia with Love Goldfinger Thunderball You Only Live Twice On Her Majesty's Secret Service Diamonds Are Forever
James Bond
007
Sean Connery[3] George Lazenby[3] Sean Connery[3]
Felix Leiter Jack Lord[4] Cec Linder[4] Rik Van Nutter[4] Norman Burton[4]
M Bernard LeeR[5]
Miss Moneypenny Lois MaxwellR[6]
Q Peter Burton[7] Desmond LlewelynR[7]
Sylvia Trench Eunice Gayson[8]
Ernst Stavro Blofeld Anthony Dawson[9]
Eric PohlmannV[9]
Anthony Dawson[9]
Eric PohlmannV[9]
Donald Pleasence[9] Telly Savalas[9] Charles Gray[9]

1973–1985: Roger Moore edit

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who have appeared in two or more Roger Moore films.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.
  •  U indicates an uncredited appearance.
  •  R indicates the actor reprises their role in a later era.
Character 1973 1974 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985
Live and Let Die The Man with the Golden Gun The Spy Who Loved Me Moonraker For Your Eyes Only Octopussy A View to a Kill
James Bond
007
Roger Moore[3]
M Bernard Lee[5] Robert BrownR[5]
Miss Moneypenny Lois Maxwell[6]
Sheriff J.W. Pepper Clifton James[10]
Q Desmond LlewelynR[7]
Bill Tanner Michael GoodliffeU[11] James Villiers[11]
General Gogol Walter Gotell[11]
Sir Frederick Gray Geoffrey Keen[11]
Jaws Richard Kiel[12]
Rublevitch Eva Rueber-Staier[13] Eva Rueber-Staier[13]
Smithers Jeremy Bulloch[14]

1987–1989: Timothy Dalton edit

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who have appeared in both Timothy Dalton films.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.
  •  R indicates the actor reprises their role in a later era.
Character 1987 1989
The Living Daylights Licence to Kill
James Bond
007
Timothy Dalton[3]
Felix Leiter John Terry[4] David Hedison[4]
M Robert Brown[5]
Miss Moneypenny Caroline Bliss[6]
Q Desmond LlewelynR[7]

1995–2002: Pierce Brosnan edit

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who have appeared in two or more Pierce Brosnan films.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.
  •  R indicates the actor reprises their role in a later era.
Character 1995 1997 1999 2002
GoldenEye Tomorrow Never Dies The World Is Not Enough Die Another Day
James Bond
007
Pierce Brosnan[3]
M Judi DenchR[5]
Miss Moneypenny Samantha Bond[6]
Q Desmond Llewelyn[7] Desmond Llewelyn[7]
John Cleese[7]
John Cleese[7]
Bill Tanner Michael Kitchen[11] Michael Kitchen[11]
Jack Wade Joe Don Baker[15]
Valentin Zukovsky Robbie Coltrane[16] Robbie Coltrane[16]
Charles Robinson Colin Salmon[17]

2006–2021: Daniel Craig edit

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who have appeared in two or more Daniel Craig films.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.
  •  C indicates a cameo role.
Character 2006 2008 2012 2015 2021
Casino Royale Quantum of Solace Skyfall Spectre No Time to Die
James Bond
007
Daniel Craig[3]
Felix Leiter Jeffrey Wright[4] Jeffrey Wright[4]
Olivia Mansfield
M
[a]
Judi Dench[5] Judi DenchC[5]
René Mathis Giancarlo Giannini[18]
Mr White Jesper Christensen[19] Jesper Christensen[19]
Bill Tanner Rory Kinnear[20]
Gareth Mallory
M
[a]
Ralph Fiennes[5]
Eve Moneypenny Naomie Harris[21]
Q Ben Whishaw[22]
Franz Oberhauser
Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Christoph Waltz[9]
Dr. Madeleine Swann Léa Seydoux[23]
Dr. Vogel Brigitte Millar[24]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Olivia Mansfield (Judi Dench's M) dies in Skyfall (2012) and is replaced by character Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), appearing earlier in the same film. In Spectre (2015), Mansfield has a cameo appearance in a video she recorded before her murder.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Poliakoff, Keith (2000). "License to Copyright – The Ongoing Dispute Over the Ownership of James Bond". Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal. 18: 387–436.
  2. ^ Shprintz, Janet (29 March 1999). "Big Bond-holder". Variety. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2011. Judge Rafeedie ... found that McClory's rights in the Thunderball material had reverted to the estate of Fleming
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Scott, Hugh (8 October 2021). "All James Bond Movies In Order: From Sean Connery To Daniel Craig". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Ponniah, Gabriel (1 June 2021). "Why The James Bond Series Recast Felix Leiter So Often". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cremona, Patrick (7 January 2021). "What M stands for in James Bond and real names revealed". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d Gunning, Cathal (24 November 2020). "James Bond: Every Actor Who Has Played Miss Moneypenny In The Movies". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Ben Whishaw cast as Q in new James Bond film Skyfall". BBC News. 25 November 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  8. ^ "First James Bond girl Eunice Gayson dies at 90". BBC News. 9 June 2018. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Sonnack, Matthew (26 September 2021). "Blofeld vs Blofeld: How Each Version of Bond's Greatest Villain Stacks Up". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 14 October 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Clifton James, actor who played Sheriff JW Pepper in Bond films, dies at 96". The Guardian. 15 April 2007. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Smith, Rory (18 October 2021). "10 Characters Who Appear In The Most Bond Movies". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  12. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (11 September 2014). "Richard Kiel's Jaws: the Bond villain whose bark was worse than his bite". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  13. ^ a b Miss Charlize (4 March 2019). "Universal Filipinas". BusinessMirror. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  14. ^ White, James (18 December 2020). "Star Wars' Jeremy Bulloch, The Original Boba Fett, Dies Aged 75". Empire. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  15. ^ Taylor, Robert Brian (8 October 2021). "How to Watch the James Bond Movies in Order (Chronologically and by Release Date)". Collider. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Robbie Coltrane : larger than Life star with powerful legacy". The Scotsman. 26 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Salmon 'bored' of black Bond debate". Irish Independent. 9 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  18. ^ Stax (4 April 2008). "The Secrets of Quantum of Solace". IGN. Archived from the original on 13 November 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  19. ^ a b Williams, Owen (5 December 2014). "Mr White Will Return In Spectre". Empire. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  20. ^ Davies, Matilda (28 November 2021). "Bond star reveals why he doesn't do stunts". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  21. ^ Leadbeater, Alex (21 December 2021). "Naomie Harris Interview: No Time To Die". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  22. ^ Wolinsky, David (31 January 2022). "Ben Whishaw 'Unsatisfied' In No Time to Die's Handling Of Q's Sexuality". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  23. ^ Nicholson, Tom (7 December 2018). "Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Ralph Fiennes And The Gang Will Return For Bond 25". Esquire. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  24. ^ Sonnack, Matthew (5 September 2021). "Every Bond Character Returning in No Time to Die". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

External links edit

  • Official website for the film series