Why James Bond Star George Lazenby Is a Walking Punchline
George Lazenby was the first actor to play James Bond on the big screen after Sean Connery left the role. That might sound like a significant accomplishment, but Lazenby has been a walking punchline for decades for two very different reasons.
George Lazenby is the worst actor to play James Bond by far
Connery made Bond one of the most famous fictional characters of the 20th century through the first five 007 movies: Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, and You Only Love Twice. He left the franchise, only to be replaced by Lazenby for the following movie: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Lazenby had some big shoes to fill.
And fill them he did not. While 007 is supposed to be all about his wit and charm, Lazenby is wooden. Watching On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, it’s hard to imagine Lazenby getting the lead role in a community theater production of Our Town, much less a blockbuster movie. His failings are even more notable considering that other members of the film’s cast, like Diana Rigg and Telly Savalas, give pitch-perfect performances.
Lazenby left James Bond because he thought it was behind the times
The other reason Lazenby has faced so much derision over the years is his decision to leave the 007 series. During a 2017 interview with The Guardian, Lazenby revealed that he left the franchise because he was convinced James Bond wouldn’t appeal to anyone as the hippie movement took over. Little did he know Bond long outlasted the hippie subculture and most other trends of the 1960s.
If Lazenby had gone on to find success, no one would have looked down on him. Instead, he languished in obscurity, appearing in minor cult classics like The Kentucky Fried Movie and Who Saw Her Die? His decision to leave a massive series now looks ill-advised and arrogant.
George Lazenby has no regrets
Many fans might assume Lazenby regrets his decision to leave the Bond franchise. They would be wrong. During a 2022 interview with Woman’s Day, he explained his views on the situation. “I have no regrets whatsoever,” he said. “I guess I should have done at least one more based on the feedback I keep getting, but I was a hippie. I wasn’t a dedicated actor — I just wanted to have a good time, and I still have that spirit.
“But my real achievements are my kids,” Lazenby added. “Having lost my son, Zach, I realize time is precious. I bought a boat with the last bit of Bond money I had and then I sailed around the Mediterranean for 15 months with a wonderful girl who I married and had kids with.”
Lazenby admits he’s not the best actor to play fiction’s most famous superspy. “Well, let me say the all-time greatest Bond is obviously Sean Connery,” he opined. “Sean, for me, was always the man, the guy who inspired me to go for the part. I met him a couple of times in LA and he told me to my face I’d been good. Sean made it look easy but anyone who’s played Bond knows it isn’t.”
Lazenby might be a punchline but he’s happy with the life he lived.
