Editing Roger Moore (section)

====''Live and Let Die'' (1973)====
[[File:Roger Moore 3 Allan Warren.jpg|thumb|right|upright|{{center|Moore in 1973}}]]
Due to his commitment to several television shows, in particular ''The Saint'', Roger Moore was unavailable for the James Bond films for a considerable time. His participation in ''The Saint'' was as actor, producer, and director, and he also became involved in developing the series ''[[The Persuaders!]]''. In 1964, he made a guest appearance as James Bond in the comedy series ''[[Mainly Millicent]]''.<ref name=millicent>{{cite web |url= https://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2012/10/50-years-of-james-bond-roger-moore-seven-times-007/|title= 50 Years of James Bond: Roger Moore, Seven Times 007|last1= Rozen|first1= Leah|date= 19 October 2012 |publisher= BBC America |access-date= 20 August 2015|quote="[Moore] played James Bond in 1964 on TV opposite British actress Millicent Martin in a guest appearance on her BBC comedy show, Mainly Millicent."}}</ref> Moore stated in his autobiography ''My Word Is My Bond'' (2008) that he had neither been approached to play the character in ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr. No]]'', nor did he feel that he had ever been considered. Only after [[Sean Connery]] had declared in 1966 that he would not play Bond any longer did Moore become aware that he might be a contender for the role.<ref name="Bond casting"/> After [[George Lazenby]] was cast in 1969's ''[[On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)|On Her Majesty's Secret Service]]'' and Connery was enticed back to the role of Bond again for ''[[Diamonds Are Forever (film)|Diamonds Are Forever]]'' (1971), Moore did not consider the possibility until it seemed clear that Connery had stepped down as Bond for good. With ''The Persuaders!'' having been cancelled following poor ratings in the US, Moore was approached, and he accepted producer [[Albert Broccoli]]'s offer in August 1972. In his autobiography, Moore writes that he had to cut his hair and lose weight for the role. Although he resented having to make those changes, he was finally cast as James Bond in ''[[Live and Let Die (film)|Live and Let Die]]'' (1973).<ref name="Bond casting">{{cite news |title=Roger Moore: From Saint to 007, Entertainment News & Top Stories |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/roger-moore-from-saint-to-007 |access-date=11 December 2020 |newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]}}</ref> Being 44 when he was cast in the role, Moore remains the oldest actor to portray Bond.

Moore then made ''[[Gold (1974 film)|Gold]]'' (1974), based on a novel by [[Wilbur Smith]] for producer [[Michael Klinger (producer)|Michael Klinger]] and director [[Peter R. Hunt]]. He was paid US$200,000 plus a percentage of the profits.<ref name="britain">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=smakBgAAQBAJ&dq=gold+wilbur+smith+%22peter+hunt%22&pg=PA192|title=British Culture and Society in the 1970s: The Lost Decade|first1=Laurel|last1=Forster|first2=Sue|last2=Harper|date=14 December 2009|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=9781443818384 |via=Google Books}}</ref>