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From Playing James Bond to His Humanitarian Work: Roger Moore's Life in Pictures

From Playing James Bond to His Humanitarian Work: Roger Moore's Life in Pictures

The actor, who was best known for playing James Bond, passed away on Tuesday after a brave battle with cancer

By Grace Gavilanes

May 23, 2017 11:49 AM

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Credit: AP

He may have made his on-screen debut in 1949's The Governess and got his big television break on Ivanhoe, but Moore — who passed away today after a battle with cancer — achieved international stardom with his role in the TV series, The Saint, which ran from 1962 to 1969. Of the show's celebrity fans, Moore revealed Frank Sinatra and then-wife Mia Farrow watched every week in bed, during an appearance on This Morning.

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Credit: Everett

Pictured here in The Saint, Moore is seen carrying a wounded Aimi MacDonald while filming a scene for the hit TV series in 1968.

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Credit: WENN

Although the veteran actor had public appearances did voiceover work up until his death, Moore's most memorable stint will forever be his turn as 007 secret agent, James Bond.

"When I got around to doing Bond they did think that my hair was a little long and that I was a little overweight," Moore told Entertainment Weekly in 2012. "So I started working out like bloody mad and starving and getting my hair cut. I finished up saying, 'Couldn't you get a thin, bald man to start with?' "

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Credit: Keith Hamshere/Getty

As the longest-running Bond — and the oldest, stepping down from the role at 58 years old — Moore has appeared in seven James Bond films: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983) and A View to a Kill (1985).

Moore was known for his suave, witty take on Bond — characteristics, he says, has been fine-tuned through the years. "In between each Bond there are imitators," he said on This Morning in 2016. "I'm not saying that Jason Bourne is an imitator, but there are films that are the same genre, and the action became wilder, and so I think they started making Bond a little wilder. Along the way, it became more serious." Despite the change, Moore considers the Daniel Craig-fronted Skyfall to be "the best Bond film without a doubt."

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Credit: Danjaq/EON/UA/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Jane Seymour and Roger Moore look on as they shoot scenes for the 1973 James Bond film, Live and Let Die.

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Credit: Jacques Dejean/Sygma/Getty

Moore was also a devoted father, serving as dad to three kids: Christian (pictured), Deborah and Geoffrey. The siblings confirmed the news of The Man with the Golden Gun star's death on Twitter. "Thank you Pops for being you, and for being so very special to many people," their group statement read.

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Credit: The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty

Back in 1981, Moore appeared alongside a star-studded cast — featuring Farrah Fawcett (pictured), Jackie Chan and Burt Reynolds — in The Cannonball Run.

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Credit: Everett

Inspired by his friend, Audrey Hepburn (pictured with Gregory Peck), Moore began his humanitarian efforts — eventually becoming a UNICEF amabassador in 1991 and working alongside PETA.

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Credit: SplashNews

In 2003, the actor was honored with the Humanitarian of the Year Award for his humanity and dedicated services to UNICEF. "Most of my time these days is spent with UNICEF, raising awareness and raising funds," Moore told Entertainment Weekly in 2012 when asked about upcoming projects.

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Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/WPA pool/AP

The honors continued to trickle in that same year, with Moore officially being granted knighthood at London's Buckingham Palace in 2003. Joined by his fourth wife, Kristina Tholstrup — whom he wed in 2002 — the 75 year old was knighted not for his acting career but for his extensive charity work.

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Pictured here in 2004, Moore visits kids in Beijing, China during the launch of a UNICEF-supported summer camp for children orphaned by AIDS.

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Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP

Following a storied career that spanned seven decades, Moore received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.

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Credit: Dave Benett/Getty

During a surprise performance in London's West End production of the comedy The Play What I Wrote, Moore suffered a heart attack while on stage in 2003. "I went to say my line at the end of the dance and then I thought: 'Where's the air gone?' " the actor recalled of the incident in 2007. "I heard a bang, which was my head hitting the stage as I fell headfirst, but luckily my skull was protected by the huge wig I was wearing."

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Credit: Keith Hamshere/Getty

In 2012, Moore released Bond on Bond, a book that consisted of his own memories and anecdotes of working on the James Bond franchise in connection with the film's 50th anniversary.

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Credit: Fabian Bimmer/AP

After a "short but brave battle with cancer," Sir Roger Moore died in Switzerland on Tuesday. He was 89 years old. "We know our own love and admiration will be magnified many times over, across the world, by people who knew him for his films, his television shows and his passionate work for UNICEF which he considered to be his greatest achievement," his kids' statement read.

The beloved actor's death comes nearly a year after Moore lost his stepdaughter Christina Knudsen, who was 47 at the time, to cancer. Moore announced the news on Twitter at the time, writing that the family was "heartbroken" after her death. "We were all with her, surrounding her with love, at the end," he added.

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