George Lazenby Net Worth

George Lazenby's Quotes

• [Albert R. Broccoli] will tell you that I was a failure and difficult to work with. Unfortunately, he told a lot of people that and it meant that it was impossible to get employment.
• [the result of his decision not to continue playing James Bond] I didn't have a job, I had two kids, I was married, and I was broke.
• [when asked why he wanted to be James Bond] I'm looking forward to the broads and the bread.
• I look back and think, "How did that happen?" I had no idea where I was going when I got into the Bond film. When I became famous I didn't know how to handle it, so it almost drove me crazy. In retrospect you can only blame yourself. I'd loved to have had that time over again and done another one or two [Bond films], it would have worked out great for me.
• Fame is short-lived and you're the last to know when you are no longer hot. I used to be able to stroll into London clubs like Tramp. But one day I turned up and the doorman blocked my way. Suddenly I was no longer Bond, I was just plain old George Lazenby, and that didn't even give me license to get into a club.

Interesting Facts about George Lazenby

1. Was the highest paid male model in Europe prior to playing James Bond.
2. Except for TV commercials, he had no previous acting experience when he was cast as James Bond.
3. Zachary, his son with Christina Gannett, died of brain cancer when he was 20 years old in 1994.
4. Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli, remarked that Lazenby could have been the best Bond had he not quit after just one film.
5. He was a martial arts instructor in the Australian army, and holds more than one black belt in the martial arts. He studied martial arts under Bruce Lee himself.
6. He was set to co-star in the biggest budgeted action/martial arts film of all time in 1973, along with Bruce Lee. However, Lee died two weeks before the film was to begin shooting. (The film, originally titled "Shrine of Ultimate Bliss," was eventually made, but on a considerably smaller budget, and was given a limited theatrical release, excluding the U.S.)
7. Broke a stuntman's nose during a Bond fight screen test, and it was this physical strength that finalized his selection as Bond.
8. Was considered by producer Kevin McClory to play James Bond 007 in Never Say Never Again (1983) but was dropped from consideration when Sean Connery confirmed he wanted the role.
9. He was offered a seven-movie deal by the Bond producers, but quit the role because he felt that the tuxedo-clad Bond would die out in the new hippie culture that had permeated society in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
10. Was the #1 male fashion model in the world from 1964 to 1968.
11. His agent, Maggie Smith, told him that he should apply for Bond, since in her opinion, his arrogance would surely win him the role.
12. His publicist, Ronan O'Rahilly, announced that Lazenby would not make a second Bond film. After this he was released out of his Bond contract. Lazenby himself, stated afterward that he never told his publicist he was quitting Bond.
13. Was a car salesman in Canberra, Australia after leaving school.
14. Is an accomplished skier and in fact had won two skiing contests in Australia before becoming James Bond.
15. Competes on the senior circuit in off-road dirt bike racing, and in stock car racing. George has won several celebrity stock car races and dirt-bike races, as well as amateur and professional races in both.
16. Lazenby has ridden his various motorcycles across the United States, on three different occasions.
17. Lazenby's favorite hobby is playing golf. He plays it at least 5 or 6 times a week.
18. Lived in Keith Moon's famous London Waterhouse complete with Hydro Hovercraft that came right into the living room through the front door, for a period of 6 months in the late '60s.
19. His daughter Melanie Andrea, from his first marriage to Christina Gannett, was born on September 13, 1973. Melanie is one of Manhattan's top real estate agents, and in May 2013 was the broker for the sale of a unique, block-long, $10 million condominium apartment to Chelsea Clinton and husband.
20. He was the youngest actor to play James Bond, being 30 when On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) was released.