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After Sean Connery had played James Bond in five feature films — "Dr. No," "From Russia with Love," "Goldfinger," "Thunderball," and "You Only Live Twice," he was ready to give the role a rest. The Cold War spy proved lucrative, but many felt it was time to take the series in a new direction. Connery stepped away from the role, and Australian actor George Lazenby inherited it, starring in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" in 1969.

But the film didn't work out for everyone. Lazenby decided to leave the series after only one film, acting on the advice of his agent. Also, when "Majesty's" was released, it disappointed at the box office, making literally half as much as "You Only Live Twice." If the 007 series was to continue, as the Bond muckety-mucks wanted, they would require yet another new actor to play James Bond. The next planned sequel was to be called "Diamonds Are Forever,...

The James Bond franchise has had multiple actors playing 007 in various adaptations, including TV, radio, and movies. Lesser-known actors like Barry Nelson, Bob Holness, and Bob Simmons have all portrayed James Bond at some point. The 1967 version of Casino Royale featured multiple versions of James Bond, including one played by Ursula Andress, showcasing her versatility as both a Bond girl and a spy.

Though six actors are famous for playing the martini-drinking secret agent, multiple actors have portrayed 007 in TV, radio, and movie adaptations of James Bond. The James Bond franchise has been a staple of the spy genre since author Ian Fleming released the first 007 book, Casino Royale, in 1953. In 1961, Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Salzman formed Eon Productions and began creating almost exclusively James Bond films. In Eon’s time producing the movies, James Bond has become one of the movie franchises with the most recast characters...