In Memoriam
9th January 2017
MI6 remembers those the Bond canon has sadly lost in 2016, and their unique contributions to the world of 007, on screen and off
By MI6 Staff
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Douglas Slocombe (1913-2016) The British cinematographer died at the age of 103, on the morning of 22nd February 2016, in a London hospital from complications following a fall. Particularly known for his work at Ealing Studios in the 1940s and 1950s, he was director of photography on the 1983 rogue Bond film 'Never Say Never Again' as well as three Indiana Jones films.
Sir George Martin (1926-2016) The 'fifth Beatle' died in his sleep on the night of 8th March 2016 at his home in Wiltshire, England, had extensive involvement on each of the Beatles' original albums. Taking a temporary hiatus from scoring Bond films, John Barry passed the baton over to George Martin to compose the soundtrack for 1973's 'Live And Let Die'. The score was orchestrated and conducted by Martin, and recorded at the AIR Studios. [Full Story]
Sir Ken Adam (1921-2016) The ledgendary pproduction designed died aged 95 on 10th March 2016 at his home in London, following a short illness. When Broccoli and Saltzman had done their deal for Bond, Broccoli turned to Adam - still relatively fresh in the industry to production design 'Dr. No'. He pulled out all the stops - and was remarkably at home in the futuristic and lavish world of James Bond, with Dr. No's interview chamber (in which Dent receives the spider) becoming a lasting icon of the series. Adam's name will forever be synonymous with his construction of the $1 million volcano set for the big-budget 'You Only Live Twice'. [Full Story]
Douglas Wilmer (1920-2016) The English actor, best known for playing he title character in the 1965 TV series Sherlock Holmes, died at the age of 96 on 31st March 2016, after a short bout of pneumonia, at Ipswich Hospital in Suffolk, England. He played art expert Jim Fanning in the 1983 film 'Octopussy' and had previously worked with Roger Moore in a 1963 episode of 'The Saint.'
Peter Janson-Smith (1922-2016) The foreign rights agent for Ian Fleming and former chariman of Glidrose (now Ian Flemign Publications) dies on 15th April 2016 at the age of 93. He ran his own successful literary agency which represented prestigious authors such as spy thriller writer Eric Ambler, naturalist Gavin Maxwell, military historian Richard Holmes and James Bond creator, Ian Fleming. He worked hard to bring attention to the James Bond novels, scoring worldwide publishing deals and eventually seeing their adaptations on the big screen during Fleming's lifetime. Janson-Smith was also for over 30 years executive trustee of the Pooh Properties Trust (licensing Winnie the Pooh), as well as senior treasurer, and for two years president, of the Royal Literary Fund.
Guy Hamilton (1922-2016) The four-times James Bond director died at the age of 93 on 20th April 2016 at his home in Majorca, Spain. Hamilton was responsible for helming four James Bond movies: 'Goldfinger', 'Diamonds Are Forever', 'Live And Let Die' and 'The Man With The Golden Gun'. Building on the foundations set by Terence Young on 'Dr. No' and 'From Russia With Love', Hamilton defined the Bond formula with the third 007 adventure 'Goldfinger' - a cocktail of action, sophistication, glamour and style. Arguably, his third Bond was as important as his first - re-imagining the franchise for a new generation - with Roger Moore's debut 'Live And Let Die'. [Full Story]
Burt Kwouk (1930-2016) The English actor, famous for his role as Cato in the Pink Panther films, died of cancer aged 85 at the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead on 24th May 2016. He had minor roles in three James Bond films. In 'Goldfinger' he played Mr. Ling, a Chinese expert in nuclear fission; in the spoof 'Casino Royale' (1967) he played a general and in 'You Only Live Twice' Kwouk played the part of a Japanese operative of Blofeld credited as Spectre 3.
Steve Truglia (1962-2016) The British stuntman died on 17th November 2016 while attempting an abseil race from a helicopter above Wolong National Nature Reserve in China. He was a stunt coordinator, stunt performer and action unit director who made his big screen break in 'Tomorrow Never Dies'. He also performed stunts in the next film, 'The World Is Not Enough'. Before entering the movie industry, he served 20 years in the SAS and SBS. In 2004 he was awarded a Guinness World Record for the fastest abseil; over 100 metres in 8.9 seconds, performed for the Guinness World Record 50th Anniversary TV show from the 400 ft London landmark Centre Point.
Not Forgetting...
Yvan Chiffre (1936-2016) - 'Thunderball' stunt coordinator
Neil Cunningham (1962-2016) - Driving stunt double for Daniel Craig in 'Quantum of Solace'
Gary Marshall (1934-2016) - 'Goldfinger' gangster
Joe Powell (1922-2016) - Stunts in 'You Only Live Twice', 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' and 'A View To A Kill'
Trevor Steedman (1954-2016) - Stunts in 'A View To A Kill', 'GoldenEye' and 'Tomorrow Never Dies'
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In Memoriam
Biography MI6 remembers all those the Bond canon has sadly lost in 2014, and their unique contributions to the world of 007, on screen and offGet Bond in Your Inbox
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