As the inimitable James Bond Roger Moore defined smooth for a generation. He taught us what it meant to be cool. Sure, it was totally Hollywood and ridiculously unbelievable; Bond was a fantasy character who was as laughable on film as Moore was humble in real life. Yet, in both cases, on and off screen, there was a gravity about him that you couldn’t help but be drawn to.
Although we knew him best for his onscreen portrayal of a cold hearted British spy, his work with UNICEF was an even greater passion, and one with a legacy that he would likely argue is even more enduring and deserving.
Still, whatever they are with the cameras turned off, screen idols are funny artifacts of our civilization. They are contrived and manufactured, they are anything but real, and yet they shape our thoughts and reflect, if not outright model, the behaviors of society. Billboards of a sort the reflect a collective social meme. Moore himself was acutely aware of that and spoke out against the increasingly gratuitous violence in latter Bond films.
But for those of us who grew up with Moore as the cinematic benchmark for what it meant to be unfazed by pressure, idolized by woman (and men), and always dressed for the occasion, there is a sadness in acknowledging the mortality of such a larger than life figure.
So, I think it’s appropriate to recall just some of what made Moore, and Bond, so memorable. While I, like many of you, will best remember him on screen, I’ve chosen to focus on those quotes which I think best capture the humor and grace of the man. Perhaps the lesson to be learned in these few words from a life so rich is the role that humility and humor can play in all of our success.
“Some are blessed with musical ability, others with good looks. Myself, I was blessed with modesty.”
“I’ve never received a nomination for an Academy Award – and that after I went to the trouble of learning two more facial expressions.”
“If you don’t have humour, then you may as well nail the coffin lid down now.”
“I’ve learnt that through life you just get on with it. You’re going to meet a lot of dishonest people along the line and you say good luck to them. I hope they live in comfort. Then I start sticking more pins in their effigies.”
“Mind you, the definition of hypochondria is that you only ‘think’ you’re ill, Whereas in my case it tends to be genuine.”
“I do not have time to sit down and regret anything although sometimes I wish I had been able to see more of my parents while they were alive and have done more for them.”
“You can either grow old gracefully or begrudgingly. I chose both.”
“I never thought I was much of an actor anyway.”
“Of course I do my own stunts. And I also do my own lying.”
On women, “I think I’ve finally worked them out. I always make sure I have the last word. That word is ‘yes’.”
“I don’t believe in Bond as a hero. It’s a load of nonsense. How can you be a spy when any bar you walk into, the bartender says, “Ah, Mr Bond. Shaken, not stirred?”
“My acting range? Left eyebrow raised, right eyebrow raised.”
“It used to take them hours and hours in make-up to give me character. Now I’ve got the character, they take it all out.”
“I left the role when I realized that my female co-stars had mothers who were younger than I was.”
And two of my favorite Bond Quotes from “The Spy Who Loved Me” :
This one said when Bond takes ownership from Q of the Lotus Esprit Q
Q: Now pay attention 007. I want you to take great care of this equipment. There are one or two accessories.
Bond fires up the Lotus and quips to Q, have I ever let you down?
Q Replies: Frequently.
And finally, Bond’s oh so British closing retort to the Minister of Defense as he and Amasova are spotted in a life boat doing what Bond always did best…
Minister of Defense: Bond! What do you think you’re doing?
Bond: Keeping the British end up, sir.
From the bottom of our many shaken martinis, thank you Sir Roger for the memories.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.