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James Bond has been played by Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
Connery. Sean Connery.
He was the first James Bond, but is he now and forever the best?
We asked our readers on Facebook to share their thoughts about the six actors who've played super-spy 007 over the years. In our completely informal poll, Sean Connery came out on top by a mile.
Said Karen Willis: "Favorite Bond ACTOR is, of course, Sean Connery. But I found that the *plot* of some of the OTHER actors' movies really appeal to me more than Sean's! (scandalous!)"
But some viewers feel that it's hard not to have a fond feeling towards whichever actor was playing Bond at the time you grew up.
Says Shundra Stewart, who was born in 1980: "I was in high school going into college when (Pierce Brosnan) was James Bond. So I knew Pierce more than the other Bonds since I grew up watching a lot of his movie and of course Remington Steele."
Current Bond Daniel Craig gets a split decision.
Says Jay Isherwood: "Daniel Craig is doing well, but his Bond is completely humorless and I miss that...I liked Pierce a lot! But Roger Moore is my favorite!"
Joshua Harrington disagrees, writing "Daniel Craig is very very good as Bond. I like his no-nonsense version of Bond. The movies are much less campy and actually really good solid films."
No one on our page is a huge fan of one-movie-wonder George Lazenby, although Bill Salterelli does list him third on his Bond list.
Here's our most unscientific list, in order of preference.
1. Sean Connery
2. Daniel Craig
3. Roger Moore
4. Pierce Brosnan
5. Timothy Dalton
6. George Lazenby
Who's your top Bond? Give us your list, and any reasons, in the comments.
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Pierce is my favorite. Connery second.
Sean Connery, The best~
Pierce Bronson, A close 2nd
Roger Moore, a great job..
no prizes after 3rd place...ahhhhh
If we are going to talk about James Bond in movies and tv, this is the complete list in my order of preference:
Sean Connery (1962)
Timothy Dalton (1987)
Daniel Craig (2006)
Pierce Brosnan (1995)
George Lazenby (1969)
Roger Moore (1973)
David Niven (1967)
Peter Sellers (1967)
Terence Cooper (1967)
Ursula Andress (1967)
Joanna Pettet (1967)
Daliah Lavi (1967)
Barry Nelson (1954)
A real 007 fan knows well each one of them and when they played Bond. Period.
Sorry dude, but Ursula Andress was a Bond girl. What did you just cut and paste this list without checking the names? How about Joanna Pellet? I didn't realize there were female James Bonds.
Sorry dude, if you knew your Bond you would know he's right. Quick hint--look at the year he listed to differentiate her performance as Bond from that of Honey Ryder.
As far as the list, I would place Roger Moore just above Joanna Pettet. And you forgot Woody Allen, depending on how you define his role.
I agree with JW. Craig is the closest to the Bond characters in the Ian Fleming books, Connery 2nd. don't care about the rest!
Pardon my mistake that was RW 35**** on the first page.
Ultimately the purpose of the "Double O's" was to kill. In the Casino Royale with Daniel Craig we are reminded that you cannot be promoted to double o until your second kill. Daniel Craig and Sean Connery are the only two Bond's that I can actually see making the kill. The others were either too pretty or too funny. Connery has the longevity but Craig is more the killer.
Any way you look at it the Bond Franchise has delivered for its fans for years and seems to be in capable hands.
1. Connery (Made James Bond, James Bond. Without I truly believe the films never would have lasted this long)
2. Bronson (personally I think his movies overall have been the best in the series)
3. Craig (has the possibility to overtake Bronson, but I want to see a couple more movies first)
Connery was certainly my favorite... until Daniel Craig got the role. Prior to seeing his first Bond episode I was completely skeptical and couldn't imagine him being Bond.
But, he completely blew me away as Bond and restored a toughness to the character that had completely escaped the others after Connery. I didn't think anyone would ever replace Sean in my opinion as the best Bond ever, but I have to admit that I think Daniel Craig is better in nearly every regard.
They are very very close IMO, maybe too close to call. But, if I have to go with just one, I think Craig wins by a hair.
Roger Moore was tedious to watch and in my mind the worst of them all. I almost gave up on the Bond franchise when he was at the helm. I thought Brosnan and Dalton were passable, but not in the class of Connery or Craig in my book anyway. Add me to the list who never saw Lazenby as 007.
Definitely no. There was only one ( Connery)who could utter those words when asked his name ''Bond, James Bond.'' For the others , I rate both Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan equally for second place; and thanks to them for the marvelous movies.
Connery is Bond. Dr. No established the genre (translated....when we saw the movie, there'd been nothing it like before). Connery set the mold (translated....every other Bond is compared to him. He was the ultimate spy- cool, dashing, swaggering.....everything you wanted to be).
Daniel Craig's portrayal of Fleming's James Bond is the truest and most accurate rendering of the character. Craig brings out the brutal, cold-blooded amoral nature of what 007 is. He is an assassin. He kills people and destroys things. As such, I think Craig is the best Bond. Pierce Brosnan brought some of this to his take on 007, but put too much "finesse" into it. For the rest, including Connery, their portrayals were made for the culture and times the movies were made and took real liberties with the character.
Viva la liberte!!
After watching Bond movies for more than 40 years - Daniel Craig gets my vote! He's way too cool and will do whatever it takes even kill as 007's should. He shows emotion though, he shows anger, he shows revenge, and even sadness. All the rest of the Bond's made violence or killing seem like it "just happened to happen", almost as if they were surprised they punched or killed someone. It was like they were about to have sex with a gorgeous girl, then stopped momentarily to shoot someone. Daniel Craig is like; "I'm going to catch you first, then fight you, then kill you, then I'll have sex", and not necessarily in that order.
Granted special effects are better now and even stunt men are doing more dangerous stunts than years ago, but it's still the Bond character. Connery is definitely pushing 1st place, but Daniel Craig is the winner.
Totally agree.
Sean Connery was the one I saw 1st...excellent. The fact that some of the later Bond books have info like the Scottish background seemed like Ian Fleming liked Connery's portrayal of Bond.
Timothy Dalton by far played Bond closest to the books--LOVE his portrayal of Bond--he was known to be reading the books on set. When Sean Connery wanted out, the 1st replacement in mind was Timothy Dalton--who turned it down b/c he felt he was too young for the role (he was in his late 20s when 1st offered the role). They kept after him off & on for nearly 20 years until he signed on for The Living Daylights.
George Lazenby was good in On Her Majesty's Secret Service--it's considered one of the best Bond films. Roger Moore was awful--so campy & effete in the role, I think he stayed in just to break the # of Bond films Connery made. Pierce Brosnan was OK. Daniel Craig is one of the better Bonds--but I don't think he'll have the role for too many more years.
For those of you who read the Bond books as well--is it just me that's really irritated that some of the movies (think The Spy Who Loved Me) have nothing to do with the actual book?
Daniel Craig is just what I want Bond to be: A college-educated, borderline-sociopath, soccer-hooligan poured into a tuxedo. I really like that they brought the franchise down to earth, and I can't think of a better Bond for it right now. Pierce Brosnan had an invisible car. Please don't give Craig an invisible car!
Connery, Moore, Brosnan, Dalton, Lazenby, Craig.
If it were possible to put Craig lower than last, I would.
1st is Craig's sinister portrayal of Bond like the books - but - Richard Todd should have been the first Bond (but to busy). Niven is 2nd best - with Brosnan 3rd - Connery 4th. I like Moore but not a very good Bond - just "The Saint" or young cousin "Beau Maverick".
Connery
Craig (If he gets more movies at the calibre level of "Casino Royale" under his belt, he may get No. 1 at some point)
Brosnan
I'd like to see Pee Wee Herman take a crack at the role.
Daniel Craig #2? Are you serious? I saw his bond movies, he doesn't have enough swagger to play bond. I grew up in the late 1970's/80's so Roger Moore is my #1 007!
NO
Sean Connery will always be James Bond in my book. I'm old and have seen all of them through the years and Sean was just the smoothest.
No.
PS Bond don't work if it aint in the Cold War.
Never, Only one James Bond, thanks to Sean Connery!!
If you read the books you would know that Ian Flemings James Bond was totally humorless..........Daniel Craig is perfect with Connery second.......the rest just filled in the gap.
"On her majesty's secret service" is my favorite bond film. If it had been Connery it would easily be considered the best film of the franchise. It makes me sad to read all the comments from people who have never seen it.
Sean Connery is the best Bond!