What was Roger Moore’s net worth?
Roger Moore was an English actor, producer, and director who had a net worth of $110 million at the time of his death in 2017. Roger Moore was best known as the third actor to play secret agent James Bond in Eon Productions film series. Between 1973 and 1985, he played Bond in seven films, the most of any actor in the series. On television, Moore gained recognition for his role as Simon Templar in the British mystery thriller “The Saint” and later co-hosted the action comedy series “The Persuaders!”
Outside of acting, Roger was known for his passionate work for UNICEF. In 199 he was awarded a Commander of the British Empire in recognition of these charitable works. In 2003, he was promoted to the rank of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Sir Roger Moore died on 23 May 2017 aged 89.
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The first start of life and the beginning of the career
Roger Moore was born in 1927 in Stockwell, London, England, the only child of Lillian and George, a policeman. As a child he went to Battersea Grammar School but was evacuated during the Second World War to Holsworthy, Devon. He later attended Dr. Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, and enrolled at Launceston College in Cornwall for his higher education. Moore later attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he spent three terms. At the age of 18, he was drafted for national service and was commissioned into the Royal Army Service Corps as a second lieutenant. Moore served as an officer in the Combined Services Entertainment section and became the captain of a small depot in West Germany.
Early in his acting career, Moore made uncredited appearances in films such as “Perfect Strangers”, “Caesar and Cleopatra”, “Piccadilly Incident”, “Gaiety George”, “Trottie True” and “Paper Orchid”. In the early 1950s, he modeled various lifestyle products for British print advertisements. He then went to the United States to work in television, landing roles in adaptations of “Julius Caesar” and “Black Chiffon” and appearing in two episodes of “Robert Montgomery Presents.”
Film career at MGM
In 1954, Moore signed a seven-year contract with MGM. He began his studio tenure with a small role in the Elizabeth Taylor novel The Last Time I Saw Paris. This was followed by the biographical musical “Interrupted Melody,” “The King’s Thief” and the historical drama “Diane,” in which Moore played Prince Henri of France. Following the commercial failure of the last film, MGM released Moore from his contract.
Television career
After leaving MGM, Moore appeared in episodes of the anthology series Ford Star Jubilee, Lux Video Theatre, and Matinee Theatre. In 1958, he landed his first major television role as Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe in the British soap opera ‘Ivanhoe’. Next, he had another leading role in the western series “The Alaskans”, which ran for 37 episodes between 1959 and 1960. This was followed by another western, “Maverick”, which was Moore joined in the fourth season. However, dissatisfied with the quality of the scripts, he left after 14 episodes.
Moore landed his best television role in 1962, playing the Robin Hood-like figure of Simon Templar in the British mystery spy thriller The Saint. Based on Leslie Charteris’ novels, the series ran until 1969 and made Moore a household name in the United States. Following this success, Moore was cast alongside Tony Curtis in the action-comedy series The Persuaders!, about two millionaire playboys having adventures in Europe.
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James Bond
When it became clear that Sean Connery had officially stepped down as James Bond, producer Albert Broccoli approached Moore to fill his shoes. He made his debut as an MI6 secret agent in the 1973 film Live and Let Die, which became a huge box-office hit. This was followed by “The Man with the Golden Gun”, which was more successful than “Live and Let Die”, but still a success. Moore’s third Bond film, 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me, was a bigger commercial triumph, grossing $185 million against a $13.5 million budget. Next came ‘Moonraker’ and ‘For Your Eyes Only’, both significant box-office hits. Despite expressing his desire to leave the role, Moore was lured back in 1983 for “Octopussy.” In 1985,
Unlike author Ian Fleming’s version of Bond, Moore’s Bond was more of a dapper playboy, with a certain smooth, charming nonchalance meant to suit contemporary public tastes in the 1970s. The actor’s portrayal became known for his sense of humor and for single words.
Cinematic career further
Moore had a prolific film career beyond James Bond. Previously, he starred in films such as “The Miracle”, “The Sins of Rachel Cade”, “Gold of the Seven Saints”, “Crossplot” and “The Man Who Haunted Himself”. In the 1970s, Moore starred in “Gold,” “That Lucky Touch,” “Shout at the Devil,” “The Wild Geese,” “Escape to Athena” and “North Sea Hijack.” His 80s credits include “The Sea Wolves,” “Sunday Lovers,” “The Cannonball Run,” “Curse of the Pink Panther” and “The Naked Face.” After Bond, Moore took a five-year hiatus from film. He returned in 1990 with “Fire, Ice and Dynamite” and “Bullseye!”, an action comedy with Michael Caine.
Personal life and health
In 1946, Moore married his first wife, RADA colleague Doorn Van Steyn. They divorced in 1953. Moore next married Welsh singer Dorothy Squires, with whom he had a turbulent and violent relationship. After their divorce in 1968, Moore married Luisa Mattioli. They had three children, Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian. The couple divorced in 1996. Finally, in 2002, Moore married Kristina Tholstrup.
Moore often struggled with his health throughout his life. As a child, he had measles, mumps, chicken pox and jaundice. He suffered from kidney stones for a long time, and in 1993 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, for which he was successfully treated. In 2003, he collapsed during a Broadway show and was subsequently fitted with a pacemaker. He was later diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In 2017, Moore died at the age of 89 from cancer.
Philanthropy and Honors
Impressed by the humanitarian work of his friend Audrey Hepburn, Moore became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991. For his philanthropic services, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003. Five years later, the French government named him Commander of Order of Arts. and Letters. In 2012, Moore was honored with the UK’s UNICEF Lifetime Achievement Award.
