Biography of the popular Movie actor Roger Moore

Roger Moore born as Roger George Moore on October 14th, 1927 in Stockwell, London is one of the finest English actors best known for his 'Simon Templar' and 'James Bond' characters. Roger Moore is said to have given a new image to James Bond as that of a lighthearted playboy, who is full of humor unlike his predecessor Sean Connery who gave a serious image to James Bond earlier.

Roger Moore was born to homemaker Lillian 'Lily' nee Pope and policeman George Moore. Roger Moore studied for a while at Battersea Grammar School and later was shifted to Holsworthy, Devon due to World War II where he continued his studies at Dr Challoner's Grammar School. Roger Moore later attended the College of St Hild and St Bede at the University of Durham. He has also studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art [RADA]; his fee being paid by film director Brian Desmond Hurst in whose film "Trottie True" {1949}, Roger Moore had a minor role.

Soon after the World War II ended, Roger Moore joined the National Service and was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Army Service Corps, commanding a small depot in West Germany. He eventually became a Captain. Before plunging into movies, Roger Moore modeled for knitwear, toothpaste and several other products.

Roger Moore began his movie career in 1945 with a minor role of a soldier in "Perfect Strangers". He has since appeared in a number of movies and television dramas. He had recurring roles in several television plays such as "Ivanhoe" {39 episodes: 1958-1959}, "The Alaskans" {37 episodes: 1959-1960}, "The Saint" {118 episodes: 1962-1969}, "The Persuaders!" {24 episodes: 1971-1972}. His role of Simon Templar in "The Saint" got him much recognition, while his James Bond character catapulted him to the dizzying heights of super stardom worldwide. Soon after "The Saint" ended, "The Persuaders!" followed for which he was paid a whopping one million pounds for a single series making him the highest paid television actor in the world at that time.

For over twelve years from 1973 to 1985 the name Roger Moore has become synonymous with that of fictional character James Bond. Roger Moore was first cast in the role of James Bond in "Live and Let Die" {1973} and went on to appear in six more films. He became the longest serving James Bond ever having spent over twelve years in the role right from 1973 to 1985. After he retired as James Bond in 1985 Roger Moore has appeared in "Bullseye!" {1990}, "Boat Trip" {2002} and a couple of television movies, "The Man Who Wouldn't Die" {1994} and "Foley & McColl: This Way Up" {2005}.

Roger Moore was married to a fellow RADA student, ice skater and actress, Doorn Van Steyn for seven years from 1946 to until his divorce in 1953. He later got married to Wales-born actress and singer Dorothy Squires in 1953. Their marriage lasted fifteen years before finally ending in divorce in 1968. Roger Moore then married Italian actress Luisa Mattioli in 1969, which ended in divorce in 1996. They together have a daughter named Deborah Moore and two sons Christian Moore and Geoffrey Moore. Roger Moore at seventy-five married Swedish former air Stewardess sixty-two-year-old Christina 'Kiki' Tholstrup on March 10th, 2002 finally sealing their seven-year long romance with exchanging of matrimonial vows in an ultra-private ceremony.

Roger Moore maintained a diary during the filming of "Live and Let Die" which consisted full of anecdotes and experiences. The same diary was turned into a book called 'James Bond: Roger Moore's Own Account of Filming Live and Let Die' was published in 1973. His autobiography 'My Word is My Bond' is soon to hit the stands in October of 2008.

Roger Moore in 1999 was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire [CBE] and later in 2003 knighted the Commander of the Order of the British Empire {KBE}. He is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.