Ranking All the Actors Who Portrayed James Bond 007

      As we await the announcement of the next James Bond, Agent 007, let's rank all seven actors who have portrayed him, from Daniel Craig to Sean Connery to David Niven.

      Barry Nelson (Honorable Mention)

      CBS. Public Domain.

      If you’re wondering, “Barry who?” it’s time to recognize Barry Nelson, the first actor to portray Bond on screen. He appeared in a 1954 episode of the lesser-known series Climax in an adaptation titled “Casino Royale,” which also happens to be the first 007 novel by Ian Fleming.

      Nelson was the first and only American to play Bond, though never on the big screen. We’ve included him here because whenever we write about James Bond, someone inevitably comments to remind us that Nelson, rather than Sean Connery, was technically the first Bond.

      So here he is, receiving an honorable mention.

      Number 7: David Niven

      Barbara Bouchet and David Niven in Casino Royale. Columbia.

      Does David Niven truly belong on the list of James Bond actors? Many would argue no, which is why he is ranked last. The suave actor was Ian Fleming’s initial choice for the role before it ultimately went to Sean Connery (or Barry Nelson if counting television appearances).

      Niven portrayed Bond just once, in the 1967 film Casino Royale, a satirical take on the Bond franchise that loosely echoes Fleming’s novel. If you believe a film that parodies Bond doesn't qualify as a true Bond film, you might not view Niven as a legitimate 007.

      Casino Royale was released in the same year as Connery’s fifth Bond film, You Only Live Twice, leading to a particularly confusing scenario in 1967 where Bond was portrayed by two different actors.

      Additionally, one of the film’s concepts involves multiple versions of Bond. To complicate matters further, the 1967 Casino Royale is vastly different from both the 2006 version starring Daniel Craig and the 1954 televised edition featuring Barry Nelson.

      This film is also notable for including several actors who appeared in other Bond films, especially Ursula Andress, pictured here in behind-the-scenes shots from Dr. No.

      Niven is the only actor, apart from Connery, to portray Bond in a film not produced by EON Productions. More on this later.

      Number 6: George Lazenby

      George Lazenby and Diana Rigg in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. United Artists

      Lazenby may have played the most tragic Bond — his only appearance as 007, in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, concludes with him marrying the beautiful Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg), only to have her murdered in a drive-by shooting orchestrated by Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas, who, as Blofeld, is certainly not warm and fuzzy).

      Lazenby presented himself quite well as the first EON Bond following Sean Connery, an achievement not easily accomplished. Fortunately for him, Niven's portrayal had already eased audiences into accepting the idea of multiple actors as 007.

      Lazenby is also notable for being the only Australian to take on the role, though there’s potential for another if fans of Jacob Elordi have their way.

      Number 5: Daniel Craig

      Daniel Craig and Léa Seydoux on the set of No Time to Die. MGM – Credit: United Artists

      Yes, we’ve ranked Craig — the most recent actor to portray Bond — as only the fifth best. While he was undoubtedly the most physically imposing Bond, and deserves recognition for that, the decision by the producers to adopt a darker and grittier tone in 2006’s Casino Royale came at the cost of some of the charm and campiness found in previous Bond films.

      Despite being an exceptional actor — particularly in 2004’s Layer Cake, which played a significant role in his casting as Bond — he was the only James Bond actor who seemed genuinely unhappy in the role.

      One thing we know about Bond is that he has learned to laugh at both life and death; taking that quality away from Craig’s Bond was, in our view, a misstep.

      Also Read: All 7 Batman Actors Ranked Worst to Best

      Number 4: Roger Moore

      (L-R) Barbara Bach, Curt Jürgens and Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me. United Artists. – Credit: United Artists

      Indeed, Roger Moore is the campiest and most whimsical Bond, a 007 whose adventures stretched the limits of plausibility, bouncing from Blaxploitation in Live and Let Die to sci-fi in Moonraker. His Bond often seemed to chase the latest trends of the ’70s and early ’80s.

      However, Moore’s deadpan charm made it all work. He never appeared to take himself too seriously, and consistently seemed to be enjoying himself.

      After Sean Connery essentially created and defined the role,