‘It’s been a fun ride’: former Bond George Lazenby announces retirement at 84

George Lazenby, the actor who once played James Bond, has shared that he is stepping away from acting at 84 years old. Lazenby, who hails from Australia, is most famous for his role as the iconic spy in the 1969 movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service. He revealed his decision in a message on X this past Thursday.

"I have made a difficult choice, but it is time for me to officially retire from my career," he stated. "As of today, I will no longer be pursuing any acting opportunities, making public appearances, participating in interviews, or signing autographs."

He went on to say, "It has been an enjoyable journey, but aging is not enjoyable."

I want to express my gratitude to my manager and friend, Anders Frejdh, for all his support since 2013. He has been the most effective advocate for me. Thanks to his help, I am now able to focus on dedicating more time to my family.

He ended by expressing his heartfelt thanks to all the people who have shown him love and support throughout the years. It has been very meaningful to him.

Lazenby began his career as a model before stepping into the iconic role originally played by Sean Connery in cinema. However, Lazenby turned down the opportunity to reprise the role, leading Connery to return for Diamonds Are Forever.

Later movies he starred in were Universal Soldier, Who Saw Her Die?, The Man From Hong Kong, and The Kentucky Fried Movie. However, Lazenby left the entertainment industry in the late 1970s, choosing to focus on investing in businesses and real estate instead.

He was the focus of the 2017 film Becoming Bond, which depicted his complex relationship with the franchise and the impact of his choice to depart on his personal and professional life.

At the beginning of this year, Lazenby was one of several actors linked to the show who supported Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the new lead following Daniel Craig's exit.

In 2022, Lazenby said sorry for his remarks, which some people thought were disrespectful to women and LGBTQ+ individuals, while performing at a James Bond music concert in Perth. As a result, he was not able to continue with the remainder of the tour in Australia.

"I am regretful and upset to hear that my tales in Perth on Saturday may have caused discomfort to some individuals," he stated in a message.

I never meant to say anything hurtful or homophobic, and I apologize if my stories, which I have told repeatedly, were interpreted that way.