David Hedison, the actor who starred opposite two 007s in classic James Bond films, has died aged 92.
The American actor, who was born Albert David Hedison Jr on Rhode Island in 1927, is arguably best-known for playing Felix Leiter, 007’s CIA ally.
Several actors have played Leiter beginning with Jack Lord in 1962’s Dr No. Jeffrey Wright, who has played the role since 2006’s Casino Royale, will return in the as-yet untitled Bond 25.
Hedison performed the role opposite Sir Roger Moore’s first outing as Bond in Live and Let Die (1973), and returned 16 years later forLicence to Kill, starring Timothy Dalton, where his character was maimed after being lowered into a shark tank by drug lord Franz Sanchez.
Hedison became friends with Moore, and appeared with him again in the 1980 oil rig drama North Sea Hijack. They were reunited in 2007 when Hedison delivered a speech during the unveiling of Moore’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Other roles included classic 1958 sci-fi horror The Fly, in which he was billed as Al Hedison, and 1960s submarine TV series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
Hedison was often modest about his career and admitted that most of the films he starred in were “pictures you never want to see again”.
“When I know they’ll be on TV I have a dinner party and invite my friends over so they can’t see them,” he once quipped.
Hedison’s death was announced by his daughters, Alexandra and Serena, who said their father “brought joy and humour wherever he went and did so with great style”.
