James Bond has survived changing audiences, filmmaking styles and more than six decades of cinema. Some actors who played 007 brought effortless charm to the British secret agent, while others made him more vulnerable, ruthless and emotionally complex.
There are six main actors who have played official James Bond film series produced by EON Productions: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. Their portrayals reflect different eras of the franchise, from the original 1960s spy thrillers to the action movies of the 21st century.
Actors Who Played James Bond On Screen
| Actor | First Bond film | Last official Bond film | Number of films |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Connery | Dr. No (1962) | Diamonds Are Forever (1971) | 6 |
| George Lazenby | On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) | On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) | 1 |
| Roger Moore | Live and Let Die (1973) | A View to a Kill (1985) | 7 |
| Timothy Dalton | The Living Daylights (1987) | Licence to Kill (1989) | 2 |
| Pierce Brosnan | GoldenEye (1995) | Die Another Day (2002) | 4 |
| Daniel Craig | Casino Royale (2006) | No Time to Die (2021) | 5 |
1. Sean Connery
Sean Connery was the first actor to star in the cinematic James Bond series. His first film as James Bon in was Dr No, directed by Terence Young. Through the movie, Connery introduced the character’s trademark combination of composure, dry humour and understated menace.
His performance helped establish 007: tailored suits, calculated confidence, high-stakes missions and an ability to remain unruffled in dangerous situations. Goldfinger, directed by Guy Hamilton, became a particularly important entry, popularising elements such as the Aston Martin DB5 and the franchise’s increasingly distinctive gadget-driven action.
2. George Lazenby
Australian actor George Lazenby took over after Connery’s departure and appeared in just one official Bond film. Directed by Peter R. Hunt, the film cast Diana Rigg as Tracy di Vicenzo, a woman whose relationship with Bond becomes central to the story.
Unlike many entries built around Bond’s next mission, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service gives the character a consequential romantic arc. Its ending, in which Tracy is killed shortly after marrying Bond, remains one of the franchise’s most significant departures from its usual formula.
3. Roger Moore
Roger Moore played 007 in Live and Let Die. He brought a lighter, playful character. Moore was into action thrillers, and hence, his movies leaned into elaborate stunts, gadgets and extravagant villains.
The Spy Who Loved Me introduced the submarine-car version of the Lotus Esprit and became one of the defining films of his tenure.
Moore played Bond in seven official films, the highest total for any actor in the EON series. His run lasted 12 years, ending with A View to a Kill in 1985.
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4. Timothy Dalton
Timothy Dalton moved James Bond towards a harder-edged interpretation after Moore’s more comedic era. His 007 was less inclined to comedy, and put emphasis on professional duty, anger and the consequences of violence.
In The Living Daylights, Bond is drawn into an espionage operation involving a Soviet general and an arms conspiracy. Licence to Kill takes a more personal route, following Bond as he pursues revenge against drug lord Franz Sanchez after an attack on his friend Felix Leiter.
Dalton’s two-film tenure was brief, but his interpretation anticipated aspects of the more physically vulnerable and emotionally driven Bond seen in Daniel Craig’s films.
5. Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan made his 007 debut in GoldenEye, the first official Bond film since Licence to Kill in 1989. Directed by Martin Campbell, the film introduced 007 to a post-Cold War world and gave him a former colleague, Alec Trevelyan, as a central adversary.
Brosnan combined the character’s traditional sophistication with the action-oriented style of 1990s blockbusters. His run also included The World Is Not Enough, which gave Bond a more complicated relationship with Elektra King, played by Sophie Marceau.
6. Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig’s debut reset the character’s cinematic story. Casino Royale, directed by Martin Campbell, follows Bond as he earns his 00 status and faces financier Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game.
Craig’s portrayal emphasised physical exhaustion, emotional damage and the cost of being a professional killer. Craig's five-film run developed a more connected narrative than many earlier entries, with relationships and past events carrying into later instalments.
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From Connery’s defining debut to Craig’s final mission, the six official James Bond actors reflect how the franchise has adapted its central character across generations. Each brought a different interpretation to 007.
FAQs
Q1. How many actors have played James Bond?
A1. Six actors have played James Bond in the official EON film series.
Q2. Who played James Bond the most times?
A2. Roger Moore starred in seven official James Bond films, the most of any actor.
Q3. Who was the first actor to play James Bond?
A3. Barry Nelson first played Bond on television in 1954, while Sean Connery was the first official cinematic James Bond in Dr. No (1962).