James Bond: How Old Every 007 Actor Was In Each Movie

Summary

• Sean Connery was the youngest James Bond actor at 32 when he debuted in Dr. No, with 7 films as 007 tying him with Roger Moore for the Bond with the most appearances.
• The oldest actor to play Bond was Roger Moore, portraying 007 from 45 to 57 years old, deviating from Ian Fleming’s preferred age of mid-thirties.
• Daniel Craig, at 38 in Casino Royale and 51 in No Time to Die, retired as 007 after 15 years, the longest continuous role as James Bond.

Daniel Craig has officially retired as 007 after 2021’s No Time To Die, but here’s how old each James Bond actor was when they played the famous super-spy, from the youngest James Bond actor to the oldest. Daniel Craig wrapped up his tenure as James Bond with No Time To Die, bowing out of his role as Britain’s most iconic spy at 51 years old. All of the actors who have played James Bond have varied in age and overall aesthetic — but they’ve all kept the James Bond charm.

The oldest actor to play James Bond was Roger Moore, who played 007 from ages 45 to 57. That’s a little older than Bond’s creator Ian Fleming would have liked, as the age of James Bond in the novels put him somewhere in his mid-to-late thirties, with Moonraker specifically placing his age at 37. The ages of the James Bond 007 actors have varied greatly, with some being closer to Fleming’s canon James Bond age than others, and the gap between the youngest James Bond actor and oldest being wide.

Sean Connery – Early 30s to Early 40s

32 In First 007 Appearance (Dr. No, 1962), 41 In Last (Diamonds Are Forever, 1971)

The first actor to bring Ian Fleming’s British super-spy James Bond to the silver screen was Scottish actor Sean Connery, who was born in 1930 and made his acting debut as an actor in 1954’s Lilacs in the Spring. Roger Moore’s status as the oldest of the 007 actors is well known, but some mistakenly think it’s Sean Connery who is the youngest James Bond actor.

The first Bond was a relatively youthful 32 when Dr. No released in 1962

The first Bond was a relatively youthful 32 when Dr. No released in 1962 (31 during filming), and Connery played the character in 6 films over 9 years. He was 33 for 1963’s Blofeld debut From Russia With Love, 34 by 1964’s Goldfinger, 35 in 1965’s Thunderball, and 37 in 1967’s You Only Live Twice. Connery was 41 when he returned and replaced George Lazenby in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. While young in his debut, Sean Connery is still only the second-youngest James Bond.

George Lazenby – The Youngest James Bond

29 In Only 007 Appearance (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969)

The second James Bond actor was George Lazenby, who was born in 1939. Lazenby only appeared in a single James Bond film, and while he didn’t have as much of an impact as franchise stars like Sean Connery or Roger Moore, or even more recent incarnations like Daniel Craig, his take on 007 was still memorable. It’s especially impressive since playing James Bond was Lazenby’s first role in a movie, as before turning to acting he was a car salesman and model, with his initial claim to fame being an advertisement for chocolate bars.

George Lazenby is also an important name when it comes to working out who was the youngest James Bond actor, as 007 took a youthful turn on his second incarnation that he’s yet to match. Lasting only one outing, George Lazenby’s short-lived Bond was also the youngest version of the character, with the actor being a mere 29 in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Roger Moore – The Oldest James Bond

45 In First 007 Appearance (Live And Let Die, 1973), 57 In Last (A View To A Kill, 1985)

Aside from Sean Connery, Roger Moore is the early James Bond actor that many fans consider synonymous with the character. His take on 007 was certainly the campiest so far, but this only serves to make his stamp on the franchise all the more solid.

Born in 1927 (a few years before Sean Connery), Roger Moore was 45 when he began playing James Bond in 1973’s Live and Let Die, 46 when he starred in the next year’s The Man With the Golden Gun, 49 by the time 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me rolled around, and 51 by the release of 1979’s James Bond movie, Moonraker.

Appearing in seven James Bond movies shows how popular Roger Moore was during his tenure as 007, and is a testament to how important he was in the wider story of the franchise.

Despite his advancing age, the actor would reprise the role three more times at 53 in 1981’s For Your Eyes Only, 55 in 1983’s Octopussy, and finally, 57 (the oldest James Bond age so far) in 1985’s A View To A Kill. Appearing in seven James Bond movies shows how popular Roger Moore was during his tenure as 007, and is a testament to how important he was in the wider story of the franchise.

Timothy Dalton – A Bond In His Early Forties

41 In First 007 Appearance (The Living Daylights, 1987), 43 In Last (License To Kill, 1989)

Born in 1946, Timothy Dalton is the 007 actor with the fewest appearances outside the single-film run of George Lazenby. However, unlike Lazenby, Dalton had a relatively established filmography prior to playing James Bond. His career started in 1968 when he played Philip II in The Lion in Winter, and he also had some experience with spy thrillers thanks to playing Charles Lord in 1975’s Permission to Kill.

A comparatively fresh-faced newcomer after the Roger Moore era of the James Bond movies, Timothy Dalton was as old as Sean Connery was during the first Bond’s final appearance as 007 by the time he began playing the character. The Hot Fuzz actor was 41 in 1987’s The Living Daylights and only lasted one more outing in the role, retiring his iteration of Bond at the age of 43 in 1989’s License to Kill.

Pierce Brosnan- Seven Years As A Forty-Something Spy

42 In First 007 Appearance (Goldeneye, 1995), 49 In Last (Die Another Day, 2002)

Following Timothy Dalton, the James Bond franchise underwent something of a reinvigoration when the next actor to take up the mantle of 007 arrived on the scene. Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, who was born in 1953 a mere seven years after Timothy Dalton, won critical acclaim for his suave interpretation of Bond, and the actor was 42 when he took on the role in 1995’s Goldeneye. Like Dalton, Pierce Brosnan had some experience prior to playing 007, including in spy thrillers like 1987’s The Fourth Protocol.

Over the following decade, Pierce Brosnan held onto the character through three more outings between 1995 and 2002.

Over the following decade, Pierce Brosnan held onto the character through three more outings between 1995 and 2002. The fifth James Bond actor was 44 by the release of 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies, 46 by the time 1999’s The World Is Not Enough came out, and a Roger Moore-worthy 49 when 2002’s Die Another Day brought his time as Bond to an end.

Daniel Craig- Bond Spanning His 30s, 40s, and 50s

38 In First 007 Appearance (Casino Royale, 2006), 51 In Last (No Time To Die, 2021)

The most recent James Bond actor, Daniel Craig, was born in 1968, and while he was a little younger than his predecessor Pierce Brosnan was during Goldeneye, he still stuck to tradition by playing a 007 on the cusp of being middle-aged during his first turn as 007. Craig’s embittered Bond is perpetually nearing retirement in the darker, post-9/11 spy installments, though despite this shift in tone he’s not the oldest James Bond actor, being several years younger than Roger Moore.

Craig was only 38 when he took on the role in 2006’s Casino Royale, younger than Brosnan and Dalton’s respective first outings as James Bond. He was 40 in its much-hated sequel Quantum of Solace, 44 by the time 2012’s Skyfall was released, 47 in Spectre, and 50/51 while making No Time To Die, though 53 years old when the film finally released in theaters, making him the second-oldest age of James Bond.

Lashana Lynch – In Her Early 30s

33 In Only 007 Appearance (No Time To Die, 2021)

Of course, when discussing the ages of 007 actors, it’s important to remember that James Bond isn’t the only MI6 agent to hold the position. While actress Lashana Lynch plays Nomi and not Bond in Daniel Craig’s No Time To Die, she does hold the 007 number. As James Bond himself says to M. “I met your new 007. She’s a disarming young woman.”

Her appearance in the James Bond franchise was short but memorable, especially as it showed that — despite how iconic the character is — the suave and overtly masculine typical 007 isn’t the only kind of spy in his universe.

In No Time To Die, Nomi makes it clear to Bond that he better not stand in her way, and plays an integral role in No Time to Die. Actress Lashana Lynch was born on November 27th, 1987. This means that she was 33 when No Time to Die was released, and she became 007 just a month or so shy of her 34th birthday.

Her appearance in the James Bond franchise was short but memorable, especially as it showed that — despite how iconic the character is — the suave and overtly masculine incarnation of 007 isn’t the only kind of spy in his universe.

Who Played James Bond The Longest

Roger Moore Officially Spent The Longest Time Playing James Bond

With 25 official James Bond movies — and several more unofficial movies not made by Eon Productions — many may wonder who holds the record as the longest-serving Bond onscreen. There are actually multiple answers to that question, depending on how “longest” is defined. When it comes to who’s starred in the most Bond movies, it’s technically a tie between Sean Connery and Roger Moore at seven each. However, since Connery’s last movie was the unofficial Never Say Never Again, Moore is the official longest-running James Bond actor.

When it comes to which actor played James Bond for the longest continuous block of time, that honor goes to Daniel Craig. Craig held the role over a space of 15 years, edging out Moore’s 12-year span in the role. It remains to be seen who will ultimately take over for Craig as the new 007, but one thing’s for sure, it’ll probably be a long time before anyone breaks his longevity record for James Bond actors.

No Time To Die’s Ending Means James Bond Is Dead – Or Is He?

The Next Bond Movie Will Bring A New Bond Of An Unconfirmed Age

Daniel Craig’s final James Bond film, No Time To Die, features what seems to be a complete paradox at the end. After Craig’s Bond sacrifices himself to blow up Safin’s island base, staying behind to receive the full force of the missiles, the film nonetheless possesses the franchise’s classic closing title card: “James Bond Will Return.” At first glance, this seems contradictory to say the least. However, it’s important to remember that the character of James Bond has always relied on continuous reinvention. The fact that six actors have played 007 so far is clear proof of this.

Craig’s Bond may be dead, a fate that previous iterations never met with, but it was always expected that he would be succeeded by a new Bond played by a new actor somewhere down the line. Thus, while it would be inaccurate to say that Daniel Craig will return (not to mention impossible, as his character clearly died), James Bond can do so easily, and likely will. His age when he does in the disorganized and loose canon of the 007 franchise is, however, a mystery.

How Old The Next Bond Could Be

The Next 007 Might Be Younger Than Many Previous Choices

Eon Productions has greatly limited itself in finding a new James Bond. When looking at the ages of 007 actors, the studio has explained that it doesn’t want a young actor but still needs an actor to commit to the franchise for around 12 years. The biggest contenders range from Henry Cavill to Idris Elba, and the age ranges vary just as greatly. If the studio did go with Idris Elba, audiences would see the oldest Bond yet, as the Luther actor is 50 years old — older than when the current oldest Bond actor, Roger Moore, retired.

Henry Cavill is another frontrunner for the role of 007 in the next James Bond movie, and interestingly, Cavill auditioned to play Bond in Casino Royale. Cavill is currently 40 years old, which is a little on the older side, but he’s still younger than when Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan were when they first played 007.

Tom Hardy, who is 45, is another contender for the role, and while that would mean he’d be playing Bond until he’s 57 if producers get their way, the actor is in the greatest shape of his career and at the top of his game. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the most popular candidate with the bookies to play James Bond, is 33 years old, and in terms of age, he’s perfect for producers’ plans.

How Old Are Other Important James Bond Actors & Characters

Bond’s Popular Allies And Adversaries Have Shifted Ages As Well

While James Bond is obviously the star of the show, there are other key characters in the 007 franchise. It is interesting to look at the recurring Bond characters and see how the ages of the characters go through various fluctuations with the different eras of James Bond actors. M is one of the most important roles as Bond’s boss. The position is always one of a superior, with it being necessary that M appears older and more serious than Bond.

While this has largely been maintained throughout the series, M actor Robert Brown was only a few years younger than Roger Moore when they appeared together, possibly indicating that Moore was getting too old for the role. By contrast, Q is a character whose age, in comparison to Bond, shifted throughout the series. He was initially seen as a contemporary to Connery, Lazenby, and Moore’s version of Bond. However, with actor Desmond Llewelyn playing the role for over three decades, he began to appear like a father figure to Dalton and Brosnan.

When Q was reintroduced in Skyfall, he was reimagined as a younger man, making Bond look like a more out-of-touch older spy in the world of espionage that is becoming increasingly tech-based. Like Q, Moneypenny is a key ally to Bond in the franchise and has usually remained a similar age compared to Bond to maintain their flirtatious relationship. Recurring adversary Ernst Stavro Blofeld was also generally depicted as being the same age as Bond which led to the reveal in Spectre that he was Bond’s foster brother.