What was Roger Moore’s net worth?
Roger Moore Net Worth: English Actor and James Bond Star
Roger Moore, the English actor, producer and director, had a net worth of $110 million at the time of his death in 2017. Best known for his role as James Bond in seven Eon Productions film series, Moore was the third actor to play the secret agent.
Aside from acting, Moore was recognized for his humanitarian work with UNICEF. He was awarded a Commander of the British Empire in 1999 and was later advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2003.
Moore gained recognition for his role as Simon Templar on the British mystery thriller “The Saint,” and later as the co-lead of the action comedy series “The Persuaders!” He died on May 23, 2017 at the age of 89.
Sean Connery, another James Bond actor, had a net worth of $350 million.
Roger Moore’s Early Life and Career
Roger Moore was born in 1927 in Stockwell, London, England, and attended Battersea Grammar School before being evacuated to Holsworthy, Devon during World War II. He later attended Dr. Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, and Launceston College in Cornwall for higher education. Moore then spent three terms at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before being conscripted for national service at the age of 18. He served as an officer in the Combined Services Entertainment section.
Moore had uncredited appearances in films such as “Perfect Strangers,” “Caesar and Cleopatra,” and “Gaiety George,” and modeled lifestyle products for British print advertisements. He also worked in television in the United States, appearing in adaptations of “Julius Caesar” and “Black Chiffon,” and two episodes of “Robert Montgomery Presents.”
Moore’s MGM Contract and Film Roles
In 1954, Moore signed a seven-year contract with MGM. He started with a small role in “The Last Time I Saw Paris” and went on to act in “Interrupted Melody,” “The King’s Thief,” and “Diane,” where he played Prince Henri of France. Following the commercial failure of “Diane,” MGM released Moore from his contract.
Roger Moore’s Television Career
Roger Moore appeared in various anthology series after departing from MGM. He played Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe on the British series “Ivanhoe” and had starring roles on “The Alaskans” and “Maverick.” However, he left “Maverick” after 14 episodes due to poor script quality.
Moore’s breakthrough television role was playing Simon Templar on “The Saint” from 1962 to 1969. He became a household name in the United States due to the success of the series. He later starred alongside Tony Curtis in “The Persuaders!,” an action comedy series about two millionaire playboys having adventures in Europe.
Roger Moore as James Bond
Roger Moore replaced Sean Connery as James Bond in 1973’s “Live and Let Die,” which was a box-office success. He went on to star in six more Bond films, including “The Spy Who Loved Me” and “Moonraker,” both of which were significant hits. Moore’s portrayal of Bond was more of a debonair playboy type, known for his sense of humor and pithy one-liners. Despite expressing a desire to leave the role, he returned for one last film, “A View to a Kill,” at the age of 58, making him the oldest actor to play Bond.
Roger Moore’s Prolific Film Career Beyond James Bond
Roger Moore had a prolific film career beyond James Bond. Beforehand, he was in films including “The Miracle,” “The Sins of Rachel Cade,” “Gold of the Seven Saints,” “Crossplot,” and “The Man Who Haunted Himself.”
In the 70s, Moore starred in “Gold,” “That Lucky Touch,” “Shout at the Devil,” “The Wild Geese,” “Escape to Athena,” and “North Sea Hijack.”
His 80s credits include “The Sea Wolves,” “Sunday Lovers,” “The Cannonball Run,” “Curse of the Pink Panther,” and “The Naked Face.”
After Bond, Moore took a five-year hiatus from film. He returned in 1990 with “Fire, Ice and Dynamite” and “Bullseye!,” an action comedy costarring Michael Caine.
Among his later film credits are “The Man Who Wouldn’t Die,” “The Quest,” “Spice World,” and “Boat Trip.”
Marriages and Health Struggles
Roger Moore married his first wife, Doorn Van Steyn, in 1946, but they divorced in 1953. He then married Welsh singer Dorothy Squires, with whom he had a tumultuous relationship until their divorce in 1968. Moore’s third marriage was to Luisa Mattioli, with whom he had three children, but they divorced in 1996. He married Kristina Tholstrup in 2002.
Throughout his life, Moore struggled with various health issues. He had measles, mumps, chickenpox, and jaundice as a child. He also suffered from kidney stones and was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993, which he successfully treated. In 2003, he collapsed during a Broadway show and was fitted with a pacemaker. Later, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 89 due to cancer.
Roger Moore’s Philanthropic Work
Roger Moore, inspired by his friend Audrey Hepburn’s humanitarian work, became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991. In 2003, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his philanthropic services. The government of France also named him a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2008. In 2012, Moore received UNICEF’s UK Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to philanthropy.