Born George Robert Lazenby in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia on Sept. 5, 1939, he served in the Australian Armed Special Forces and worked at several jobs in his native country - car salesman and ski instructor, among others - before departing for London in 1964. But I couldn't even get one of those. When Roger Moore died last week at the age of 89, many tributes hailed him as the actor who'd played James Bond the longest. PICTURED: George Lazenby with first wife, CHRISTINA GANNETT. He previously owned a house in Pacific Palisades. --Lazenby in Daily News, November 26, 1995. Christina Gannett and George Lazenby were married for 22 years. Lazenby's favorite hobby is playing golf. (On his astrologer) Even before I made the Bond picture she said I would become famous, and that there would be big problems for a couple of years", he said. I used to be able to stroll into London clubs like Tramp. I truly don't feel that my Dad means to hurt anyone, but his temper does get the best of him and he is sometimes unable to control himself. I bent forward to pick them up when I was kicked so hard by George from behind that my head slammed against the wall. Sometimes he would attack me under the influence of alcohol, sometimes sober.'. George Lazenby born in 1939, about Christina Gannett we lack data on his year of birth,. If something good came along I'd stay, though. More about George Lazenby edit Dating History # 4 Pam Shriver 4 1 2001 - 2008 (1992), Hell Hunters Lazenby won the role based on a screen-test fight scene, the strength of his interviews, fight skills and audition footage. He did manage to secure roles in Hawaii Five-O and Evening in Byzantium. [56] Actor Paul McGann has described himself with good humour as "the George Lazenby of Doctor Who"[57] because, although he has continued in the role of the Eighth Doctor in other media, he made only two appearances on television as the eponymous Time Lord. He was widely known for an advertisement for Fry's chocolate bars. They scored again because they got the right guy and a good movie. [3], George Robert Lazenby was born on 5 September 1939 in Goulburn, New South Wales,[4] at Ovada Private Hospital, to railway worker George Edward Lazenby and Sheila Joan Lazenby (ne Bodel), who worked at a Fosseys retail store. I just don't think I'm going to make it here. It was tough carrying the role after Sean Connery because he was good. Samuel Robert Lazenby , Zachary Lazenby . I know I can do it. Daughter Melanie Lazenby, now 34, says Lazenby 'tormented me, humiliated me, hurt me physically, scarred me emotionally' and 'placed a feeling of fear and mistrust in me'. I admit I acted stupidly. That was after Bond, I think I had done three Kung Fu movies so I was pretty accurate, you know. Such wide exposure brought him to the attention of film producers. Actors aren't all that important. But Lazenby says the declarations are 'contrived, unfounded and without merit'. In his review of Batman & Robin, widely regarded as the weakest and least successful film in the Batman film franchise, Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle said that George Clooney "should go down in history as the George Lazenby of the series". I think James Bond is great, but some of his little idiosyncracies I don't like, such as champagne and caviar, which I can't stand. George Robert Lazenby /leznbi/ (born 5 September 1939) is an Australian actor and former model, best known for portraying James Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service when he was 29. . 1995) . [on being cast as James Bond] At first I was very humble about it and naive. [48] He also returned to modelling, appearing in a number of advertisements for Benson and Hedges cigarettes. 'He referred to that as "his Australian sense of humor" and said that "Americans had thin skin" if I would ask him to stop.'. opposite Anita Strindberg, a performance for which he lost 35 pounds and received positive reviews. Being born in Australia, he is currently the only actor to have played James Bond in the EON film franchise, to have been born outside the British Isles. I just don't think I'm going to make it here. Anyone who's in touch with the kids knows what's happening, knows the mood. She recalls an alleged incident in 1992, when she was aged about 18 and would often anger Lazenby by forgetting to flush the toilet in her private bathroom. One time, we were on location at an ice rink and Diana [Rigg] and Peter [Hunt] were drinking champagne inside. Lazenby eventually completed four kung fu films in the East, but none had the international drawing power of Lee's features. He moved to London in 1964; working as a car salesman and as a model, then as . (In 1978) I hung around Australia for a long time a couple of years ago. "[22], "I draw a veil over the chap," said Desmond Llewelyn (who played Q in 17 Bond films). I make better money doing commercials. They disregarded everything I suggested simply because I hadn't been in the film business like them for about a thousand years. Actors aren't all that important. Broccoli had made a mental note to remember Lazenby as a possible candidate at the time when he thought Lazenby looked like a Bond. 'When I looked up, George was furious and threatened to kill me if I didn't agree with him. Enter your password to log in. Official Sites. In her declaration, Melanie says she has 'several recollections of my Dad losing control and becoming violent and aggressive towards myself and others'. hide caption. He was a martial arts instructor in the Australian army, and holds more than one black belt in the martial arts. Anyone who's in touch with the kids knows what's happening, knows the mood. But she claims: 'My fear is that he does have a temper - which sometimes leads to violence and saying awful things - and that it could flare up again when provoked. Net worth. Lazenby co-produced and co-wrote the picture, but the film did not have much of an impact at the box office. There are few instant successes in the film business. Christina Gannett Other - Heir Why Famous: Gannet Publishing Heiress and former Pirelli Model Age: 71 (b. In many ways, it foreshadows the the way the Bonds would become more physical and (briefly) more emotional when the franchise rebooted with Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, 37 years later. They had 2 children, Zachary and Melanie (48). She tells how Lazenby allegedly hit her in the face when she was aged 21 and five months pregnant when he told her where to park their car and she chose another space. (1978), The Kentucky Fried Movie Of course, the bigger issue was that Lazenby had announced before the movie even opened that he would not reprise the role the same move Connery had pulled two years earlier. According to our records, Christina Gannett is possibly single. The ex-tennis champion says: 'I deny every single allegation that I am ever anything but cognisant and able to function well in all areas.'. "Bond and beyond: George Lazenby sets the record straight", "FILM SPY HAS TEARFUL EYE TO GREET PARENTS", "Help, I've Skyfallen and I Can't Get Up", "The George Lazenby of 007s: A Conversation with George Lazenby", "Natalie Wood: Funny but She Doesn't Look 40", "Who Saw Her Die? She says in her declaration: 'On a few occasions, I told George that I wanted a divorce and he said that he would kill me if I ever left or that he would take the children. He studied martial arts under, He was set to co-star in the biggest budgeted action/martial arts film of all time in 1973, along with. "Bond is a disgusting violent man with no respect for women -- but, in my opinion, any guy who says he has never secretly dreamed of being like Bond is lying." Everybody has to do it. George Lazenby Net Worth. Lazenby had never spoken one line in a movie. Christina claims a doctor said her nose was broken and advised her to 'stay out of harm's way'. Her statement says: 'I looked down for a second when I felt a hard blow from George to my face and I fell to the ground. (In 1978) I enjoy the States, to be quite honest about it. I've already put him behind me. [19] However, by November 1969, and prior to the release of OHMSS, Lazenby said he no longer wished to play another Bond role, saying, "The producers made me feel like I was mindless. I hope it will be good and lead to other roles. Actor (1965) Model (1967) Education Goulburn Public School, Goulburn, NSW, Australia [54], In 2019, Lazenby starred as Dr. Jason Love in an audiobook version of James Leasor's spy novel Passport to Oblivion. Competitor in the senior off-road dirt-bike and stock car racing circuits. Explore; . I never punched her in my life. People aren't going to films because film-makers are putting out films people don't want to see. Lazenby was paid $50,000 to portray James Bond. Bond producers Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzman saw him in a TV commercial for Big Fry's Chocolate wherein Lazenby doesn't speak a word. That was me at the time. In 2012 Lazenby made a guest appearance on the Canadian sketch comedy series This Hour Has 22 Minutes, spoofing the 007 series in a skit called "Help, I've Skyfallen and I Can't Get Up". My dad constantly picked on me about not being very intelligent (I have dyslexia) and also that he did not think I was thin enough. (On the Bond producers) They made me feel like I was mindless. 'I did not have 'one' drink, while attending to Zack for eight years!' Became engaged in 2001. He's now the subject of Josh Greenbaum's Becoming Bond, a very funny original Hulu documentary that, through pure coincidence, made its debut on the streaming service only about 48 hours before the news of Moore's passing broke. Fantasy doesn't interest me. Peace that's the message now," he announced. Courtesy: Everett Collection When Roger Moore died last week at the age of 89, many tributes hailed. George Robert Lazenby (/leznbi/; born 5 September 1939) is an Australian actor, martial artist and former model. Living on his 600 acre ranch in Valyermo, an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California, USA with his wife, ESPN Sports tennis analyst and former internationally top-ranked pro-tennis player, Splitting his time between his homes in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, USA; in Australia; on his 600 acre ranch in Valyermo, unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, USA; while also traveling with his wife, ESPN's. Not until the rough-and-ready Australian actually broke a stuntman's nose in a fight scene, performed as one of his many screen tests, did Broccoli finally decide to take a chance on him. [60] Zachary was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour when he was eleven and died at 19. Others, however, have developed differing views in the decades since the film. [the result of his decision not to continue playing James Bond] I didn't have a job, I had two kids, I was married, and I was broke. Broke a stuntman's nose during a Bond fight screen test, and it was this physical strength that finalized his selection as Bond. first to the Christina Gannett (1971-1995) (heiress to the Gannett News Service publishing empire) and then from 2002 to 2008 to tennis . "I enjoy the States, to be quite honest about it," he said. I got a few roles but nothing spectacular, yet I was ready, willing and able to work. 6'2" (1.87m) Spouse. So, when she got in the car, I went for her. [49], A few years later he told an Australian magazine, "I got a few roles but nothing spectacular, yet I was ready, willing and able to work. 'I wanted to play fair with Pam to let her share the kids 50/50. I think if he can bear to do an apprenticeship, which everybody in this business has to do has to do then he should do it quietly and with humility. The rest of the cast is rounded out by some very recognizable comedic actors, and maybe even a Bond series veteran or two, but it's more fun if you discover their identities as you go. Bond is a brute. James Bond was so big that I myself didn't really exist. In 1993, Lazenby had a part in the film Gettysburg as Confederate General Johnston Pettigrew. He appeared with Sylvia Kristel in several new Emmanuelle films in 1993, many of which appeared on cable television. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Likewise, Lazenby has emerged as a very popular contributor to the series and has enjoyed large enthusiastic audiences during his appearances at Bond related events. 'I never left George until after our son passed away and our daughter was 21 years old, out of fear that he meant what he said and would follow through on it.'. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. 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