While 2016 will likely go down as having a record high amount of celebrity and iconic deaths, 2017 has had its fair amount of tragedy as well. And latest celebrity death will likely ripple through generations of moviegoers, as the legendary Sir Roger Moore has unfortunately passed away at the age of 89. Moore is credited with playing one of the most iconic James Bonds in the franchise's long tenure, so fans of the long running property are likely collectively mourning at this news.
This sad development come to us from Roger Moore's personal Twitter. In the wake of his passing, which is the result of a "short but brave" battle with cancer, Moore's family drafted a statement and released it to his fans, shocking the internet early this morning. You can read the full statement below, which comes from his children Deborah, Geoffrey, and Christian.
While Roger Moore's loved ones are no doubt going through a very difficult time, the above statement truly captures the best of the beloved actor.
Sir Roger Moore is best known for playing James Bond in some of the most classic installments in the franchise. He made his debut as 007 in 1973's Live and Let Die, which features iconic villains like Baron Samedi and one of the all time best Bond theme songs. In fact, he would go on to play the playboy in a whopping seven movies, ranging from winners like The Spy who Loved Me (which also features another top notch theme song), to the somewhat awkward but still iconic Moonraker.
While Roger Moore passed away in Switzerland, BBC is reporting that his services will be a private event in Monaco. Moore is survived by his three children and wife Kristina, so the option of privacy is likely a priority for the family. But considering the generations of fans who have been affected by Moore's work in the silver screen, there will likely be a major response from the James Bond community.
Aside from his work as an actor, Roger Moore was also an accomplished author. He had a successful memoir about the filming of Live and Let Die, titled Roger Moore as James Bond: Roger Moore's Own Account of Filming Live and Let Die, as well as an autobiography My Word is My Bond.
Roger Moore will always be a James Bond legend. And with the franchise's future up in the air, it's the perfect time to do a binge of the classics, and celebrate the life of Sir Roger Moore.
