Roger Moore: James Bond Star Dead At 89

Roger Moore — who starred as superspy James Bond in seven 007 movies between 1973 and 1985 — has passed away at the age of 89!

Moore took over the iconic role of 007 from Sean Connery with "Live and Let Die," surprising fans of the spy franchise with a lengthy run after George Lazenby had famously failed in replacing Connery in 1969's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." The veteran actor — who'd first found fame starring as suave adventure Simon Templar in "The Saint" television series — had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Moore took over the iconic role of 007 from Sean Connery with "Live and Let Die," surprising fans of the spy franchise with a lengthy run after George Lazenby had famously failed in replacing Connery in 1969's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." The veteran actor — who'd first found fame starring as suave adventure Simon Templar in "The Saint" television series — had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

He had already survived one bout with prostate cancer in 1994, and had a pacemaker installed during a heart operation in 2003. Moore also joked that he'd been forced to give up martinis after being diagnosed with diabetes. However, the actor had also stayed active in his final years with several personal appearances.

The actor — seen here with Bond Girl Barbara Bach in "The Spy Who Loved Me" — also continued to work steadily right up to his death, including a turn as a new character in an attempted small-screen "Saint" revival in 2016. Moore becomes the first former big-screen James Bond to pass away.

Moore is survived by several children and grandchildren — and his fourth wife Kiki Tholstrup, who was originally a longtime companion before he married the Swedish beauty in 2002 in a hush-hush wedding. He was 74 years old when the couple was finally wed.

Friends reported that Moore's former wife Luisa, also a former friend of Kiki's — had dragged out their divorce negotiations for seven years. "Some people think Roger rushed the marriage through," a friend told The ENQUIRER at the time — adding: "He just feels there's no time to waste!"