Ulitzer95

Haha! Well I suppose that's one way to look at it. I don't think the portrayal is at all flattering though given that up until the 60s (and arguably well into the 70s), gay people were only ever portrayed on screen in three ways – the camp/femme/comical type character, the tragic/unsettled/suicidal character or the villain/evil doer. There were never any gay people portrayed in Bond up until that point – that was the first (and the last?) and it doesn't look comfortable looking back at it. They're absolutely bankrupt of any morals and are portrayed as total sneaks in the film, murdering old ladies to steal diamonds etc. I'm not sure how similar they were in Fleming's book, but regardless of whether their characterisation on screen was his invention or the studio's, it was typical of the era. This is quite a fascinating topic but it's seldom discussed, probably because people find it embarrassing/hard to look back at, but I thoroughly recommend The Celluloid Closet (wiki), a documentary which shows 100s of clips in cinema from the 1910s up to the 1990s, narrated by Lily Tomlin and featuring interviews with the likes of Tony Curtis, Harvey Fierstein, Gore Vidal, Quentin Crisp etc. Really interesting watch! On the slapping of women in the films, yes I find it uncomfy too. I personally don't believe in tampering with old films, but I imagine if the Bond films ever make it on to a streaming platform, a few of sexist remarks, face slaps and cliches will be omitted. It doesn't fundamentally alter the story but I still believe in film preservation. Cinema should try to be understood in the perspective of when it was made rather than aligning historical films with 21st century norms.

Very impressive QR!

Two characters who definitely wouldn't be PC nowadays though! A humorous and yet slightly odd demise for both of them... one set on fire then throws himself off the cruise liner, the other blows up after having a bomb strapped between his crotch by Bond. Diamonds are Forever and A View to a Kill stand out as the more comical amongst the Bond films. Probably why the critics hated them.

So thought I'd take a look at who's still around from the Connery-era Bond films given that we've recently lost quite a few actors from these movies (including Sir Sean himself!) By no means a complete list but I think I've included everyone with a title credit in a major role, plus one or two uncredited notables who should be on the radar. Living actors from the Connery Bond films Sorted by oldest first, number in brackets is age they're turning in 2021. André Maranne (95) Thunderball DIED 12 APRIL 2021 David de Keyser (94) Diamonds Are Forever DIED 20 FEBRUARY 2021 Bruce Glover (89) Diamonds Are Forever Tsai Chin (88) You Only Live Twice George Roubicek (86) You Only Live Twice Ursula Andress (85) Dr. No Shirley Eaton (84) Goldfinger Luciana Paluzzi (84) Thunderball Marguerite LeWars (83) Dr. No Michael Chow (82) You Only Live Twice Akiko Wakabayashi (82) You Only Live Twice Aliza Gur (81) From Russia with Love Jill St. John (81) Diamonds Are Forever Martine Beswick (80) From Russia with Love / Thunderball (different characters) Putter Smith (80) Diamonds Are Forever Daniela Bianchi (79) From Russia with Love Mie Hama (78) You Only Live Twice Lana Wood (75) Diamonds Are Forever Trina Parks (74) Diamonds Are Forever note: haven't included Lola Larson who played "Bambi" opposite Parks' "Thumper" cos I can't find any evidence that she's alive! Ronald Rich (unknown) You Only Live Twice note: can't find his age anywhere but still alive according to Toby Hadoke on Twitter in 2020, he reported that he wrote to him in 2013 and he was in failing health then!

Ian St. John Rush Limbaugh Carlos Menem Leon Spinks Larry King Murray Walker 6/50

Turn on their news channel. They have a pre-prepared obit rolling now.

BBC News just announced it on their TV channel. Express obit.

You don't know that. It depends what it's for. Philip had a minor heart procedure and had an infection. Smith could have just had major brain surgery for all we know. Edit: Me and @drol are clearly telepathically linked.

Telegraph death notice for Lt-Cdr Michael Hordern, who has died aged 101. Local paper discussing his 99th birthday a few years back. Nearly died shortly before this birthday after a mobility scooter crash, after which he had to be airlifted to hospital! Pretty remarkable life. Served as a Lieutenant Commander of the Fleet during World War II. News to me that Britain had anyone that high up the command chain from WWII still kicking about. Perhaps there are others?

Does he/has he attended conventions? I'm not a DW fan so I don't know too much about the writing history but a similar thing happened with many cast members of the original Star Wars trilogy. They got next to nothing because the budget was so tight but because it exploded into the most successful film franchise of all time, they more than made up for their shortcomings from conventions, interviews, other appearances etc. At the Star Wars Celebration ~5 years ago in London bit part/background cast members were charging 10, 20, 30+ quid a pop for an autograph or photo. And the lines were huge!

Hmm he seems to have had roles in The Saint, Z-Cars etc. so I've added him also! A sigh of relief for only making this list 90+... I was originally considering 80+. There are so many names from British television over 90 still around. Proportionally more than Hollywood I reckon!

Good finds. Added them to that big list I made with some recurring appearances in notable series. I've also added Barbara Clegg who appears to be (or was) married to the above Michael Godley! Clegg best known for her writing contributions ofc, but also had a recurring acting role in Emergency Ward 10. I'll go have a look through Ancestry, see if I can find anything more but it would appear that they're all alive.

Questing is of course, are they of Grahame herself, or have they just used generic pictures of a bad anorexia case from Google?

Those pictures are shocking.

I wonder what's keeping her so lucid. She has a bit of the "I like to fuck on the first date" look about her.

David Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale (wiki), Conservative life peer and businessman, dead at 85 after a battle with dementia. Member of the House of Lords from 1991 to 2017. Also of note, Chairman of Next plc. from 1990 to 1998. Times obit.

There doesn't need to be when in 100% of cases they can be covered elsewhere by what they're primarily known for. So Stephen Fry in comedians or Hollywood possibilities... or his own thread when the time comes for him to have one (if he doesn't already have one because of his manic depression/obesity).

Agreed. ”Arrogant Academics and Past-it Presidents”? ”Arrogant Academics and Egotistical Education Administrators”?

Cliff Simon (wiki), South African actor who portrayed Ba'al in seasons 5–10 of Stargate SG-1, dead at 58 following a kite boarding accident in California.

Polkinghorne is a huge death in the academic world. Also a Templeton Prize winner. Don't we have a list for that somewhere? Think it was from before my time but sure I've read it on DL before.

Manuel Saturnino da Costa (wiki), PM of Guinea-Bissau from 1994 to 1997, dead at 78. This means we had an African leader triple yesterday. Some say the "deaths happen in threes" thing is nonsense, but they sure do happen often enough round here.

Ah. I don’t read any of the deadpool threads on here (except the DDP one). Sure I’m not alone.

Who? Context please!

Carmel Quinn (wiki), Irish entertainer on Broadway, U.S. television and radio, dead at 95. A DDP pick.