When it comes to the extremely elite club of James Bond actors, there are certain accepted truths.
Sean Connery is the most iconic. George Lazenby is perhaps the most-maligned. And, as of last week, Daniel Craig is the most likely to leave after Spectre. But today we celebrate Sir Roger Moore, he of the dry-martini wit and tongue-in-cheek demeanor, who embodied 007 in the 1970s and 1980s.
Moore was the longest-tenured Bond in franchise history, starring in seven movies over 12 years. They included the daringly named (Octopussy), the one with the best theme song (No, not Duran Duran’s View to a Kill; it’s obviously Paul McCartney’sLive and Let Die) and of course, the only Bond movie that took place in outer space (Moonraker).
Moore’s reign was marked by a light-hearted, gadget-heavy vibe that blended camp and cool. He was also the oldest Bond to ever kill an evil henchman, seduce a beautiful woman, or drive a Lotus Esprit underwater . Moore was already 45 when he took over from Connery in 1973’s Live and Let Die, and 58 when he bowed out with 1985’s A View to a Kill.
Some Bond obsessives will never forgive Moore for replacing Connery. But that’s OK, because they’re not getting any cake. Happy birthday, Roger Moore, and may 89 be just as fine.