Former James Bond actor George Lazenby has announced his retirement at the age of 84.
The Australian actor followed Sean Connery’s Bond, taking up the 007 mantle in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. He was the second actor ever cast in the role.
While he only appeared as Bond in one film, it remains beloved among fans, and he is well-known for his portrayal of the suave spy – even if he had the shortest Bond tenure in the franchise’s history.
Now, George has announced in an emotional statement that he is officially retiring and won’t be making anymore public appearances, as ‘getting older is no fun’.
Taking to X, George wrote: ‘This hasn’t been an easy decision but it’s time to announce my retirement from work.
‘Therefore, I won’t be doing any more acting or making public appearances, doing any more interviews or signing any more autographs as of today. It’s been a fun ride but getting older is no fun.
‘I would like to thank my manager and friend, Anders Frejdh, for helping me since 2013 – the best representative I ever had.
‘I can now concentrate on spending more time with my family. My sincere gratitude to everyone out there for your love and support over the years. It has meant a lot to me. George xx.’
The statement comes after George had a fall in December which caused a head injury and left him hospitalised.
Last year he kept a low profile ahead of his health update after he was axed from his own live theatre show Down Under for allegedly making inappropriate comments.
George was touring his Aussie homeland with The Music of James Bond in concert venues, being interviewed alongside live singing and full orchestra performance.
However, he was reportedly heard boasting about his sexual conquests, swearing, and making homophobic remarks during an interview.
He is said to have upset the audience in Perth and was later dropped from all future gigs.
In September last year, organiser Concertworks shared a statement to announce his Melbourne show would not be going ahead.
‘Concertworks is extremely saddened and disappointed by George Lazenby’s language, comments and recollections during The Music of James Bond concert at the Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 10 September,’ the message read.
‘These were his personal views and there is no excuse for this in today’s society. They do not reflect the views of Concertworks.
‘On behalf of Concertworks, we sincerely apologise to the audience, performers, conductor, WASO and the Perth Concert Hall.
‘Concertworks denounces Mr Lazenby’s conduct and the final Music of James Bond concert in Melbourne will proceed without Mr Lazenby in attendance.’
George later took to X himself with an apology, saying he was ‘saddened to hear’ some of his stories ‘might have offended’ people.
‘It was never my intention to make homophobic comments and I am truly sorry if my stories that I have shared many times were taken that way,’ he said.
Born on September 5 1939 in New South Wales, Australia, George moved to London in 1964 after serving in the Australian army.
He worked as an auto mechanic, car salesman and as a male model, before becoming an actor.
Four years after moving to the UK, George was cast as Bond despite his only acting experience being in commercials.
George bought a tailor-made suit from Sean Connery’s tailor for the audition and was said to have bluffed his way into the role.
Despite the lengths he went to bag the Bond gig, George quit the role after just the one film.
Talking to The Guardian in 2017, he explained: ‘I had advice that James Bond was over anyway. It was Sean Connery’s gig and, being in the 60s, it was love, not war. You know, hippy time. And I bought into that.
‘They also said there’s a guy called Clint Eastwood doing movies in Italy, getting 500 grand for a month, for doing a western. They said, you could do that. So I didn’t feel like I was losing the million dollars.’
After, George said he was blacklisted from the industry and never fully recovered as ‘word got around that I was difficult to handle’.
‘They said that was the reason I didn’t do another Bond, but that wasn’t the truth,’ he said.
George went on to star in The Man from Hong Kong in 1975, Gettysburg in 1993, and Star of Jaipur in 1998, but is best known for his short Bond stint. His most recent role was in film Mundije, released this year.