Martin Grace (1942-2010)

Bond stuntman and stunt double Martin Grace has passed away at the age of 67. Grace was an accomplished stunt performer and coordinator, and was Roger Moore’s stunt double through most of his Bond films. Grace’s first 007 credit was in Sean Connery’s “You Only Live Twice” in 1967, before becoming Moore’s regular stunt double from “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977) up until his departure from the series in “A View To A Kill” (1985).

Grace’s other major film credits as a stunt performer/coordinator include: “Superman” (1978), “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981), “Robin Hood” (1991) and “The Truman Show” (1998). Grace also appeared on screen as an actor, which included working with former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan in “Robinson Crusoe”.

Over his career, Grace worked on 73 motion pictures as well as many popular television programs including “Monk” and “Heroes”. His last big-screen stunt work was on the 2007 Jim Carrey film “The Number 23”.

After suffering a cycling accident in late November 2009, Martin fractured his pelvis and was hospitalized for some weeks. In late January he was taken from his home in Spain to hospital again after developing breathing problems. He died aged 67 on 27th January 2010 after suffering an aneurysm.

Rest in peace.

Richard Todd dies at age 90…

Richard Todd had accomplished many things during his life. For starters, Mr. Todd was one of the first British officers to land in Normandy during the main D-Day landing in World War II. This, alone, made him a hero. He later became Britain’s highest-earning matinee idols of the post-war years. He’s best known for re-enacting his wartime experiences in “The Longest Day”, and also appearing in “A Hasty Heart” and “The Dam Busters”.

Among these great achievements, Mr. Todd had won the support of Ian Fleming during the casting stage of the first James Bond film — “Dr. No” — in 1962. As a matter of fact, if it weren’t because of a schedule clash, we would have probably seen Mr. Todd fulfilling Sir Sean Connery’s position in the film.

According to his agent, Richard Todd died of cancer on Thursday at his home in Little Humby, Lincolnshire in central England. Another film legend passes on. None the less, rest in peace, sir.

“You don’t consciously set out to do something gallant. You just do it because that is what you are there for.”

– Richard Todd

Joseph Wiseman dies at age 91

It’s a sad time in the world of Bond.

Joseph Wiseman, best known for portraying James Bond’s first on-screen nemesis, Dr. No, passed away Monday at age 91 in his home in Manhattan.

Mr. Wiseman’s daughter, Martha Graham Wiseman, confirmed the death, saying that her father had recently been in declining health.

According to the New York Times, Mr. Wiseman’s other film credits include “Detective Story” (1951); “Viva Zapata!” (1952); “The Garment Jungle” (1957); “The Unforgiven” (1960); “The Night They Raided Minsky’s” (1968) and “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” (1974).

He had guest roles on many television shows, among them “Law & Order,” “The Streets of San Francisco,” “The Untouchables” and “The Twilight Zone.” In the late 1980s, he had a recurring role as the crime boss Manny Weisbord on the NBC drama “Crime Story.”

On Broadway, Mr. Wiseman was seen most recently, in 2001, as a witness for the prosecution in Abby Mann’s stage adaptation of his film drama “Judgment at Nuremberg.” In 1994, he appeared Off Broadway in the Tony Kushner play “Slavs!” in the role of Prelapsarianov, “the world’s oldest living Bolshevik.”

Dr. No, portrayed  by Mr. Wiseman, is my favorite of the Bond villains, and his legacy will always live on.

Rest in Peace.

In Memory of Ian Fleming (1908-1964)

On this day in 1964, the world lost legendary author, and father to the James Bond series, Ian Fleming.

On August 11th 1964, Fleming attended a Royal St. George’s golf club committee meeting where he was  faced heart trouble and was transported to Canterbury Hospital. Fleming died in his hospital bed on the 12th of August 1964.

His body was laid to rest in Sevenhampton Cemetery.

Ian Fleming (1908 - 1964)

Zena Marshall (1925 – 2009)

I regret to inform you all that actress Zena Marshall has passed away at the age of 84. You’ll recall that she played Miss Taro in the first James Bond film, Dr. No.

There hasn’t been an official obituary posted yet, that I know of, but she supposedly passed on Friday, July 10th, 2009, after a short illness.

What a shame. Dr. No is my favorite Bond flick, and Miss Taro was such a memorable character. Zena Marshall will be missed, and my condolences go to her family members and close friends.

Zena Marshall
“Miss Taro” – Dr. No
January 1st, 1925 – July 10th, 2009
Rest In Peace.