David Hedison Dies At 92

Above, yours truly with David Hedison at Monsterpalooza in 2010. 

Actor David Hedison, who gained fame as Captain Lee Crane in the television series Voyage to the Bottom of The Sea and played CIA agent Felix Leiter twice, has died at age 92.

Hedison passed away on July 18 and his daughters held off on making the announcement until today.

According to The Hollywood Reporter:

David Hedison, who starred as Captain Lee Crane on the 1960s ABC submarine series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, died Thursday in Los Angeles, a family spokeswoman announced. He was 92. 

The handsome actor also portrayed scientist André Delambre, who got turned into an insect in The Fly (1958) long before Jeff Goldblum ever did, and he played CIA operative Felix Leiter in the James Bond films Live and Let Die (1973) and Licence to Kill (1989).

Above, David Hedison's autograph.

I interviewed Hedison for G-FAN magazine on all facets of his career and met him at the 2010 Monsterpalooza convention in Burbank. At the convention, he autographed a copy of The Fly At Fifty, a biography on the 50th anniversary of The Fly, for me.

My condolences goes out to his family and friends.

To read more, go here.

Send Birthday Greetings To David Hedison

Diane Kachmar, biographer of actor David Hedison, posted the following on Facebook:

Now that we are all stuffed on our Easter candy and have had our (various) celebrations, I would like to announce that I'm opening the window to receive paper birthday cards for David for his 91st birthday on May 20. David's instructions to me for forwarding his mail are: NO gifts, no free autograph requests, no inappropriate letters and Diane has to open and read everything before she can send it. 

I would like you to send David upbeat, clean cards, he's is going to be 91. So if you would like to mail David a paper birthday card (he's not on-line, so posting on Facebook doesn't get to him) send it to: 

David Hedison
c/o Diane Kachmar
779 Carissa Drive
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411-3412 USA. 

All the cards I receive will be mailed out May 12, so they get there in time. 

Diane

Above, Armand with David Hedison at the 2010 Monsterpalooza.

Clifton James, Southern Sheriff In 2 Bond Movies, Dies At 96

Above, Clifton James in The Man With The Golden Gun.

Clifton James, who played southern sheriff J. W. Pepper in two James Bond movies, has died.

According to Japan Today:

Clifton James, best known for his indelible portrayal of a southern sheriff in two James Bond films but who was most proud of his work on the stage, has died. He was 96. 

His daughter, Lynn James, said he died Saturday at another daughter’s home in Gladstone, Oregon, due to complications from diabetes. 

“He was the most outgoing person, beloved by everybody,” Lynn James said. “I don’t think the man had an enemy. We were incredibly blessed to have had him in our lives.” 

James often played a convincing southerner but loved working on the stage in New York during the prime of his career.

He appeared in Live and Let Die in 1973 and The Man With The Golden Gun in 1974.

To read more, go here.

Roger Moore Makes His 007 Debut 40 Years Ago

Today (actually yesterday, but I started this before midnight) marks 40 years since the U.S. premiere of Live and Let Die. The movie was Roger Moore's debut as James Bond 007. It premiered on June 27, 1973.

Moore was tapped to play Bond after Sean Connery bowed out from the role after a one-picture deal which resulted in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever.

The Ian Fleming novel was the second Bond novel (it followed Casino Royale) published (April 5, 1954).

The movie was set in New Orleans and along with Moore, it featured Jane Seymour, Gloria Hendry, David Hedison and Yaphet Kotto.  It was directed by Guy Hamilton. The script was by Tom Mankiewicz.

Paul McCartney and Wings performed the title song, which was produced by George Martin.

For more on Live and Let Die, go here.

Reading The Ian Fleming James Bond Books

For the past week or so, I started reading Ian Fleming's James Bond books in the order of publication. I was motivated into doing so by a friend in New Zealand.

Last week, I read Casino Royale and I am now almost finished with Live and Let Die. The next will be Moonraker.

Years ago I bought almost all of Fleming's 007 novels at a used bookstore. I read From Russia With Love and Dr. No immediately thereafter. Since then they've sat on my bookcase.

In case you're wondering what publishing order the Fleming novels were brought to the public, here's the list:

Casino Royale (1953)

Live And Let Die (1954)

Moonraker (1955)

Diamonds Are Forever (1956)

From Russia With Love (1957)

Doctor No (1958)

Goldfinger (1959)

For Your Eyes Only (1960)

Thunderball (1961)

The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963)

You Only Live Twice (1964)

The Man With The Golden Gun (1965)

Octopussy And The Living Daylights (1966)