Bond unit publicist Geoff Freeman passes away

Geoff Freeman was a doyen of film publicity, warmly regarded as one of the best in the business.

He started his career at the famous Associated British Pictures Corporation (ABPC) at Elstree Studios in the late 1950s where, along with colleague John Willis, Geoff became a trainee publicist. He and John were the first two publicists ever to be trained on such a scheme by a British studio, and accepted by the union the ACTT in their trainee capacities.

Geoff's enthusiasm and energy for the medium soon endeared him to the powers that be, and he started out on an impressive career.

His first credited 'unit publicist' job was on the acclaimed Ronald Neame directed film Tunes Of Glory, in 1960, starring Sir John Mills and Sir Alec Guiness. He swiftly continued with publicity chores on Spare The Rod and The Mark (1961), Satan Never Sleeps (1962) and The Wild Affair (1963). Later that year Geoff joined the relocated production of Cleopatra (from Pinewood to Rome), and revelled in having Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton topping the cast. He also met a future friend and colleague on the film, Welsh actor Desmond Llewelyn - later infamously known as "Q".

Impressive titles such as The Servant, Zulu, A Shot In The Dark, Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines, The Hill, Alfie, A Countess From Hong Kong, The Charge Of The Light Brigade and Otley rounded out the 1960s for Geoff.

In 1974 Geoff was asked to join the production team of The Man With The Golden Gun. It was to be the first of his eight James Bond assignments, and the first of five films he made with Roger Moore.

"Geoff was a lovely, lovely man who lead cowardly actors like me through the great sea of reporters and media that greeted us on productions, and made me look like a hero" commented Sir Roger upon hearing the news of Geoff's death this week. "He became a good friend. I will miss him - though perhaps not his cooking!"

"I remember on Shout At The Devil, we were billeted in cottages at the mouth of the Umzimvubu river. Geoff shared his with photographer George Whittear. Although fed on set during the day, evening meals were our own responsibility. Night after night, Geoff was quite content to let George empty tin after tin of stewed steak, beans and so forth into a huge pot. After a few nights, I couldn't bear it any longer, and insisted they share some of my wife's delicious cooking. I only hope other actors were as generous on his future location shoots!"

Geoff's busiest period was undoubtedly in the 1980s, with three Bond films and the likes of Omen III, Victor/Victoria, Trail Of The Pink Panther, Curse Of The Pink Panther, Champions, Brazil, Legend, Revolution, Aliens, The Fourth Protocol, Willow and Shirley Valentine.

His undying enthusiasm and appetite for film fuelled his growing regard as one of the best in the business. It was that enthusiasm that carried Geoff through one of the darkest periods of his life when his beloved wife died. His work, he said, gave him a reason to carry on.

The 1990s saw bigger productions, and bigger promotion opportunities! In between Bond films, Geoff rolloed up his sleeves on The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, Incognito, Anna Karenina, Alien vs Predator, Oliver Twist, Doom and, his final film, Eragon.

In April 2006, while on location, Geoff developed breathing difficulties. It was later diagnosed as pulminory fibrosis. Within weeks he was wheelchair bound and dependent on oxygen 24 hours a day. But amazingly, his cheery nature still shined through.

Geoff Freeman passed away on Sunday 27th August 2006.

He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues. Everyone who knew him regarded him as a "bloody nice man".

Geoff Freeman was unit publicist on the following Bond films: The Man With The Golden Gun, Octopussy, A View To A Kill, The Living Daylights, Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.

Report by Gareth Owen

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