James Bond Actors: Complete List, Rankings, and Next 007 (2025)

Few film franchises have sparked as many pub debates as the one about who played James Bond best, from Sean Connery’s cool menace to Daniel Craig’s bruised intensity. This guide lays out every official 007 actor in order, how long they lasted, who critics and fans rank highest, and what we know about the next Bond — because the conversation isn’t over yet.

Official James Bond actors (EON series): 6 ·
Total actors to portray Bond in film: 7 ·
Longest-serving actor (films): Roger Moore (12 years) ·
Most films as Bond: Roger Moore (7) ·
Current actor: Vacant (as of 2025)

Six official actors over six decades, each leaving a distinct mark on the character. The table below shows the key facts about each actor’s tenure.

Who played James Bond in order?

The official Eon Productions series has six actors in the main canon through Daniel Craig (The Bond Files). Here they are in chronological order.

• Sean Connery (1962–1967, 1971, 1983): First introduced in Dr. No (1962). He left after You Only Live Twice (1967) but returned for Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and later a non-Eon film.
• George Lazenby (1969): Only one film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
• Roger Moore (1973–1985): Debuted in Live and Let Die and starred in seven films.
• Timothy Dalton (1987–1989): Two films, The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
• Pierce Brosnan (1995–2002): Four films from GoldenEye to Die Another Day.
• Daniel Craig (2006–2021): Five films, rebooting the series with Casino Royale.

Radio Times includes David Niven in its broader list because of the 1967 non-Eon spoof Casino Royale, but that film is not part of the official continuity (Radio Times (UK TV listings and entertainment guide)).

The pattern: Each actor’s debut marked a new chapter, but Connery’s shadow loomed over all successors.

Who played Bond the longest?

Depending on how you count, two actors stake a claim. Roger Moore portrayed Bond for 12 years (1973–1985), the longest continuous run by calendar time (James Bond Wiki (fan encyclopedia)). Daniel Craig’s tenure spanned 15 years (2006–2021), but with a four-year gap between Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021).

• Roger Moore: 12 years, 7 films.
• Daniel Craig: 15 years (elapsed), 5 films.
• Sean Connery: 21 years including his return (with a 12-year gap between 1971 and 1983).
• Pierce Brosnan: 7 years, 4 films.
• Timothy Dalton: 2 years, 2 films.
• George Lazenby: 1 film.

IMDb ranks the Bond actors by tenure with Daniel Craig first and George Lazenby last (IMDb (film database)).

Why this matters: The length of an actor’s tenure often correlates with public appetite for their style — Moore’s lighthearted Bond lasted longest uninterrupted, while Craig’s darker, more emotional arc required a decade and a half to complete.

Who is considered the best James Bond actor?

Critical and fan consensus generally places Sean Connery at the top, followed by Daniel Craig (Business Insider (financial news and analysis)). Roger Moore is remembered for his lighter, humorous tone. Pierce Brosnan is seen as a blend of Connery and Moore. Timothy Dalton is regarded as underrated and darker. George Lazenby is often ranked lowest due to his single outing.

• Critical rankings: 1. Connery, 2. Craig, 3. Moore, 4. Brosnan, 5. Dalton, 6. Lazenby.
• Fan rankings: Similar, though some place Craig above Connery.
• Box office success: Daniel Craig’s films grossed over $3.9 billion worldwide (Business Insider).

Entertainment Weekly describes Daniel Craig as the sixth actor to play Bond in the Eon series (Entertainment Weekly).

The catch: Rankings shift over time; Connery’s grip is loosening as Craig’s emotional resonance ages well.

Who is the next 007 actor?

As of 2025, no official successor has been announced. Bond 26 is confirmed to be in development but no release date set (Entertainment Weekly). Frontrunners reportedly include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Idris Elba, and Tom Hardy. Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have stated that Bond will remain male, British, and in his 30s (Entertainment Weekly).

The casting decision is likely still years away, as the franchise takes time to develop a new direction.

The implication: The next Bond will face a different geopolitical landscape — one where the suave, cold-warrior archetype may need to adapt to modern audiences.

Who refused to play James Bond?

Several notable actors turned down the role. David Niven declined the official part but later played Bond in a 1967 spoof (Radio Times). Cary Grant reportedly declined due to age concerns. Clint Eastwood was offered but preferred American roles. Liam Neeson declined because his wife was pregnant. Other refusals include James Brolin, Sam Neill, and Paul Bettany.

These refusals highlight how the role — while iconic — carries a burden of commitment that not every actor is willing to take on.

Six actors, six different approaches. The table below compares them across key metrics.

The pattern: Box office has grown with each era, but critical approval remains highest for the actors who brought something new — Connery’s grit, Craig’s vulnerability.

Timeline: James Bond actors through the decades

• 1962–1967: Sean Connery stars as Bond in Dr. No through You Only Live Twice.
• 1969: George Lazenby plays Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
• 1971: Connery returns for Diamonds Are Forever.
• 1973–1985: Roger Moore takes over, starring in 7 Bond films.
• 1987–1989: Timothy Dalton’s two-film tenure.
• 1995–2002: Pierce Brosnan as Bond (4 films).
• 2006–2021: Daniel Craig reimagines Bond in 5 films.
• 2025: Next Bond actor still unannounced; Bond 26 in development.

Signal: The 15-year gap between 1989 and 2006 saw the end of the Cold War and the rise of the internet — the Bond franchise had to reinvent itself for a new century.

What we know and what we don’t

The bottom line: The franchise’s future is as uncertain as its past is well-documented.

What the actors and producers say

“Bond is a male character. He was written as a male. I think it will stay that way.”

— Barbara Broccoli, producer, speaking on the next Bond’s gender (Entertainment Weekly)

“I never wanted to be a Bond man. I wanted to be an actor.”

— Sean Connery, reflecting on leaving the role after You Only Live Twice (Business Insider)

“I think I played it for the fun of it. That’s what Bond was about for me.”

— Roger Moore, on his lighter interpretation of Bond (The Bond Files)

“I didn’t think I was right for it. I wasn’t a British actor, and I didn’t want to be typecast.”

— Clint Eastwood, explaining why he turned down the role (Radio Times)

The takeaway: The actors’ own words reveal that Bond is both a career-defining role and a source of creative tension.

For the franchise, the next casting decision is more than a choice of actor — it’s a statement about what Bond will be for the next generation. For fans, the debate over who was best is unlikely to end, but the numbers and the cultural context make one thing clear: each Bond actor captured a specific moment in time, and the next actor — whether frontrunner Aaron Taylor-Johnson or another — will have to decide which of those legacies to carry forward.

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