The Rotating 007: Count Of Actors Who Played Bond
How many actors have played James Bond in films?
Seven actors have officially played James Bond in the Eon film series: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig, plus David Niven in the non-Eon spoof Casino Royale adaptation from 1967.
Bond on screen
The simplest answer depends on what you mean by "films." If you mean the official Eon Productions franchise, the count is six actors; if you include the 1967 non-Eon comedy version of Casino Royale, the count becomes seven.
That distinction matters because most mainstream Bond discussions focus on the Eon series, which spans 25 films through No Time to Die in 2021.
Actors who played Bond
- Sean Connery.
- George Lazenby.
- Roger Moore.
- Timothy Dalton.
- Pierce Brosnan.
- Daniel Craig.
- David Niven, in the 1967 non-Eon Casino Royale.
Official film series
Across the official Eon Productions films, six actors portrayed James Bond over more than six decades. Connery launched the franchise in 1962 with Dr. No, and Craig closed his run in 2021 with No Time to Die.
| Actor | Bond era | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sean Connery | 1962-1967, 1971, 1983 | First official Bond on film. |
| George Lazenby | 1969 | Appeared once, in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. |
| Roger Moore | 1973-1985 | Longest continuous run in the role. |
| Timothy Dalton | 1987-1989 | Bridged the franchise into a grittier era. |
| Pierce Brosnan | 1995-2002 | Revived Bond for the post-Cold War mainstream era. |
| Daniel Craig | 2006-2021 | Modernized the character across five films. |
| David Niven | 1967 | Non-Eon parody version only. |
Why the count varies
The number changes because some sources count only the official Eon canon, while others include alternate or spoof productions. That is why you will see both "six actors" and "seven actors" in reputable references to the Bond franchise.
For search and reference purposes, the cleanest answer is: six in the official series, seven if you include David Niven's one-off film.
Film chronology
- 1962: Sean Connery debuts in Dr. No.
- 1967: David Niven appears in the non-Eon Casino Royale.
- 1969: George Lazenby stars in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
- 1973-1985: Roger Moore anchors the longest Bond run.
- 1987-1989: Timothy Dalton resets the tone.
- 1995-2002: Pierce Brosnan brings Bond back to global blockbuster status.
- 2006-2021: Daniel Craig's era concludes with No Time to Die.
Historical context
Bond has remained one of cinema's most durable characters because each actor reinterpreted the same core idea: a British secret agent with style, danger, and license to kill. The franchise has produced 25 official films, and that consistency across decades is a major reason the character still dominates pop-culture memory.
"Seven actors have portrayed James Bond in twenty-five films from Eon Productions."
That quote captures the official counting method used by many entertainment references. The broader cultural discussion is slightly wider because it sometimes includes the 1967 non-Eon film, which is where David Niven enters the conversation.
Fast answer
In the official James Bond film series, six actors have played Bond. In a broader film count that includes the non-Eon Casino Royale from 1967, the answer becomes seven actors.
What are the most common questions about The Rotating 007 Count Of Actors Who Played Bond?
Who was the first actor to play James Bond?
Sean Connery was the first actor to portray James Bond in the official film series, debuting in 1962 with Dr. No.
Was David Niven an official Bond?
No. David Niven played James Bond only in the 1967 non-Eon parody Casino Royale, so he is usually excluded from the official count.
How many Bond films are there?
There are 25 official Eon Productions Bond films through 2021's No Time to Die.