George Lazenby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Lazenby
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Lazenby at the 2008 Big Apple Comic Con
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George Robert Lazenby
5 September 1939 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1963–2024 |
| Known for | James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service |
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| Children | 6 (1 deceased) |
George Robert Lazenby (/ˈleɪzənbi/; born 5 September 1939) is an Australian actor. He is best known for playing the famous spy James Bond. He took on the role in the movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969).
Before becoming an actor, George Lazenby worked as a model. He had only appeared in commercials when he was chosen to replace the first Bond actor, Sean Connery. Lazenby played Bond in only one film, which makes his time as the spy the shortest among all the actors.
After his single Bond film, he decided not to return for more. Instead, he looked for other acting jobs. He appeared in movies like Universal Soldier (1971) and The Man from Hong Kong (1975). In 2024, George Lazenby announced he was retiring from acting. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
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Early Life and Career
George Robert Lazenby was born on 5 September 1939. His birthplace was Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. His father worked for the railway, and his mother worked at a store.
George went to Goulburn Public School and then Goulburn High School. When he was about 14, his family moved to Queanbeyan. There, his father ran a store.
Before acting, George Lazenby served in the Australian Army. After that, he worked as a car salesman and a mechanic.
Becoming James Bond
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In 1968, the original James Bond actor, Sean Connery, decided to leave the role. The movie producer, Albert R. Broccoli, met George Lazenby by chance. They were both getting their hair cut at the same barbershop.
Broccoli later saw Lazenby in a TV commercial. He thought Lazenby might be a good fit for James Bond. So, he invited him to try out for the part.
Lazenby prepared for the audition by dressing like Bond. He wore a Rolex watch and a special suit. This suit had actually been ordered for Sean Connery!
During his audition, Lazenby accidentally punched a professional wrestler. This wrestler was helping with the stunts. Producer Broccoli was impressed by Lazenby's ability to show aggression. However, the director, Peter R. Hunt, felt that Lazenby was not a true actor yet.
After filming On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Lazenby went back home. He told the press he had many film offers. But he felt most of them were not very good.
Leaving the Bond Role
Lazenby was offered the chance to play James Bond again. The next movie was The Man with the Golden Gun. However, before his first Bond film was even released, Lazenby decided to leave the role.
His agent believed that the secret agent character would seem old-fashioned in the 1970s. Lazenby also felt he was not treated well on the movie set. Some of his co-stars, like Diana Rigg, thought he made a mistake. But Lazenby was sure he had made the right choice.
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When On Her Majesty's Secret Service came out, people had mixed feelings about Lazenby's acting. Some thought he looked like Bond, but his lines were not delivered well. Over the years, more people have come to appreciate his performance.
Producer Broccoli defended Lazenby's acting. He said Lazenby was great for the Bond role. But he also admitted that Lazenby's attitude after the movie was annoying. He felt Lazenby was arrogant and did not respect the character.
Years later, Lazenby was considered to play James Bond again. This was for the movie Never Say Never Again. But Sean Connery was chosen for that role instead.
Lazenby has appeared as James Bond in other unofficial ways. He was in a 1983 TV film called The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.. His character was only called "J. B." He also appeared in a video game and a TV episode. In 2012, he spoofed the 007 series on a Canadian comedy show.
Career After Bond
A year after his Bond film, Lazenby made another movie. It was called Universal Soldier (1971). He even helped write the film. He said this movie was "anti-guns and anti-Bond."
Lazenby found it hard to get acting jobs after leaving Bond. His agent even said he was "difficult." He appeared in the 1972 Italian film Who Saw Her Die?. For this role, he lost a lot of weight and got good reviews.
He later said that he had spent all the money he earned from playing Bond. He felt that if he had continued as Bond, the stress would have been too much. He said, "I burnt some bridges behind me, and it was fun, really."
In 1973, Lazenby went to Hong Kong. He was supposed to meet the famous martial artist Bruce Lee. They planned for Lazenby to appear in Lee's film Game of Death. But the plan fell apart after Bruce Lee's sudden death.
Lazenby ended up making three other films in Hong Kong. These included The Man from Hong Kong (1975).
Acting in Australia and Hollywood
In the mid-1970s, Lazenby acted in TV movies in Australia. He also returned to modeling for advertisements. In an interview, he said he didn't really feel like an actor. He hoped to find more work.
In the late 1970s, Lazenby moved to Hollywood, California. He started taking acting lessons to get more roles.
In 1978, producer Broccoli said casting Lazenby was his biggest mistake. He claimed Lazenby was arrogant and couldn't handle fame. But Sean Connery defended Lazenby. Connery said Lazenby was not arrogant, but Broccoli was.
Lazenby later admitted he acted foolishly. He said, "It went to my head, everything that was happening to me." He wanted to convince people he was not the same person. He just needed another chance.
In 1978, he even placed an advertisement in a magazine. He offered to act in any role for very little money. He said the Bond movie got him into acting, but it cost him ten years of his career.
He had a good supporting role in the 1979 film Saint Jack. This was directed by Peter Bogdanovich. Many people consider this one of his best roles outside of James Bond.
Lazenby appeared in TV shows like Hawaii Five-O. He also played Jor-El in the TV series Superboy in 1990. In 1993, he had a part in the film Gettysburg.
In 2017, Lazenby appeared as himself in a film called "Becoming Bond". In 2019, he starred in an audiobook spy novel. In 2024, he announced his retirement from acting. He wanted to spend more time with his family.
Personal Life
George Lazenby has six children. One of his sons, Zachary, sadly passed away at age 19 in 1994.
In 1973, Lazenby married Christina Ross "Chrissie" Townson. They had two children, Melanie and Zachary. They later divorced in 1995.
In 2002, Lazenby married former tennis player Pam Shriver. They had three children together. They lived in Brentwood, California. Their divorce was finalized in 2011.
In late 2023, Lazenby had a fall and was briefly in the hospital. He returned home in December.
Filmography
See also
In Spanish: George Lazenby para niños
