In 1968, George Lazenby, now 85, was cast as James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, taking over a role made famous by Sean Connery. Unfortunately, Lazenby struggled to fit into the iconic character, partly due to poor advice he received. As his fame dwindled, he shifted focus to family life, ultimately facing tragedy with the loss of his son to a malignant brain tumor in 1994.
The James Bond franchise began in 1963 with Dr. No and has since become a cultural phenomenon, featuring numerous films and actors over the decades. Sean Connery, who portrayed Bond in five films between 1962 and 1967, grew weary of the role. In a 1965 interview with Playboy, he expressed his disinterest, stating he was “sick of this Bond thing”, and found the constant association with the character monotonous.
When Connery stepped away, producers faced the daunting task of finding a successor. Lazenby, then a 29-year-old unknown actor from Australia, caught their attention after appearing in commercials for Fry’s chocolate spread. His persistence and charm helped him land the coveted role. Lazenby even spent his last savings on a tailored suit that had originally belonged to Connery.
Upon auditioning, he boldly introduced himself by saying: “I heard you’re looking for James Bond”, and was subsequently offered the part. However, upon the release of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, reviews were mixed, and comparisons to Connery overshadowed Lazenby’s performance. Notably, critic Gene Siskel remarked that Lazenby lacked the suave confidence of his predecessor.
Despite the criticism, Lazenby was presented with a $1 million contract for six more films, but his manager advised against it, suggesting he pursue other opportunities. This decision led to Lazenby being “blacklisted” in Hollywood, with a reputation for being difficult to work with.
After a brief career in film and television, Lazenby shifted to a more private life. He married Christina Gannet in 1971, and they had two children. Tragically, their son Zachary battled a brain tumor for eight years before passing away at 19, leaving Lazenby “devastated”. Gannet shared on social media that losing Zachary was a profound sorrow for them both.
Following his son’s death, Lazenby divorced Gannet and later married Olympic tennis champion Pam Shriver, with whom he has three children. Now, Lazenby reflects on his life and cherishes his role as a father, stating: “The real successes in my life are my children”. Remember Lazenby’s portrayal of Bond? Share your thoughts on his legacy!
Justin Bieber ‘haunted’ by past amid Diddy scandal, claims source
Justin Bieber has been affected by the arrest of former mentor Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and is struggling to trust those in his inner-circle, according to new reports.
RadarOnline say that the pop icon has withdrawn from the spotlight in the wake of all that has happened over the past few weeks regarding Diddy. Multiple videos of Bieber as a teen have spread around the internet following Diddy’s arrest, prompting all manner of conspiracy theories and speculation.
Music mogul Diddy, readers will surely already know, is facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. Another wave of legal filings was announced on October 1, as per the Los Angeles Times, with it revealed that more than 100 people have planned to file lawsuits alleging sexual abuse and exploitation on the part of Diddy.
Justin Bieber has been affected by the arrest of former mentor Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and is struggling to trust those in his inner-circle, according to new reports.
RadarOnline say that the pop icon has withdrawn from the spotlight in the wake of all that has happened over the past few weeks regarding Diddy. Multiple videos of Bieber as a teen have spread around the internet following Diddy’s arrest, prompting all manner of conspiracy theories and speculation.
Music mogul Diddy, readers will surely already know, is facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. Another wave of legal filings was announced on October 1, as per the Los Angeles Times, with it revealed that more than 100 people have planned to file lawsuits alleging sexual abuse and exploitation on the part of Diddy.
In light of Diddy’s arrest, speculation has linked a number of A-listers to the now infamous “Freak Off” parties he used to host. Not only that, but clear links have resurfaced relating to Diddy’s connection to Justin Bieber, said to have been just 15 when the pair met.
According to a troublesome claim made by RadarOnline, Bieber, now 30 years old, is “haunted” by his past.
Concerns were raised by fans recently when Bieber appeared fatigued and gaunt while stepping out for dinner with his wife Hailey. RadarOnline suggest that it was around that time old clips of Bieber and Diddy went viral.
In one of the clips in question, Diddy boasted about spending “48 hours” with Bieber, then just 15.
“He’s having 48 hours with Diddy. What we’re doing, we can’t really disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream … we’re gonna go full crazy,” he said.
Now sources are suggesting that Bieber’s links to Diddy may be adversely affecting the Baby singer. One individual, said to have worked in Bieber’s team for years, told PageSix: “Do I believe he was involved in some stupid s—? Yeah.
“He was a teenager. He was the biggest pop star in the world. Everyone was worried about him, and we didn’t know if he would survive it.
“People took advantage of everything he did.”
Another source added: “Justin’s done some really crazy s— and he’s alienated the people around him. He doesn’t trust them.”
Since his arrest, Diddy has been denied bail twice, with judges citing the fact that Combs could intimidate witnesses.
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