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!
“You won’t be able to hold back tears after reading this… What do we know about Michael Schumacher’s health 10 years after his accident?”
December 29th marked the tenth anniversary of Michael Schumacher’s tragic skiing accident.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion is still suffering from severe after-effects that leave him unable to communicate and move.
Exactly ten years ago, on December 29th 2013, the accident occurred when Schumacher took a violent fall while skiing during his family vacation in Méribel in Savoie, shortly after retiring from Formula 1 racing.
His head hit a rock and his helmet shattered under the force of the impact.
When rescuers arrived, Schumacher, also known as “The Red Baron,” was stunned but conscious.
He was immediately taken to hospital, where he remained in a coma for several months.
On the evening of the same day, Grenoble University Hospital announced that the former champion had “suffered severe head trauma with coma upon arrival, requiring immediate neurosurgical intervention.”
Schumacher also suffered a brain hemorrhage, and his life prognosis was at risk.
When he woke up six months later, nothing was the same.
To this day, it is difficult to know the state of Michael Schumacher’s health, as his family is extremely discreet on the subject.
They keep him away from the media and do not reveal any information about him.
The Formula 1 world champion is now unable to walk or stand, and it is impossible for him to communicate with those around him.
Michael Schumacher is cared for 24 hours a day by a team of about fifteen doctors, nurses and physiotherapists.
A whole decade has passed since the accident involving Michael Schumacher, which occurred while skiing in the resort of Méribel in the French Alps.
Since September 2014, he has been living in a medical suite in his family villa in Gland, Switzerland.
“He is a prisoner of his own body,” said Gaëtan Vigneron, an F1 commentator for 30 years and an expert on the racing scene.
Michael’s younger brother Ralf revealed information to some local media, which was picked up by the Daily Mail: “I miss the Michael of old.
Life can be so unfair sometimes. Michael has been very lucky all his life.
Leave a Reply