17 replies to this topic

[Zorin Industries]

No, not THAT one....! Not yet anyway...

British TV host and actor Bob Holness has passed away. He was allegedly the very first actor to portray 007 in a broadcast medium in a radio version of CASINO ROYALE. Though that could well be the inaccurate myth so please step in and say otherwise.

"i will have a R.I.P. please Bob" (one for the Brits).

[Jim]

"i will have a R.I.P. please Bob" (one for the Brits).

Ouch.

Always seemed a decent cove: RIP

[killkenny kid]

R.I.P.

[Jim]

Was the Moonraker thing before or after the Nelson Card-Sense Jimmy Bond thing? I thought it was after?

[Royal Dalton]

Upon hearing that Sean Connery had been cast as James Bond, Bob is said to have exclaimed: "That c***'s got my job!"

[thecasinoroyale]

Bob Holness played James Bond in the South African English speaking service radio adaptation of 'Moonraker' in 1956 I believe, making him the 2nd actor to portray 007 just after Barry Nelson in '54.

A sad peice of news, as he was also a warmly recieved British quiz show host and radio DJ. A fine gentleman of TV and the airwaves.

RIP Bob.

[elizabeth]

Very sad. RIP.

[Guy Haines]

Very sad news. Bob Holness had been involved in UK TV and radio for ages, but I wonder how many of those teenage contestants on "Blockbusters" realised they shared a TV studio with a man who had played James Bond? Few at the time, I should think.

Bob Holness's name was linked with two so called "urban legends". One, which was true of course, involved James Bond. The other which did the rounds a few years ago was that he played the saxaphone solo on Gerry Rafferty's hit "Baker Street". As far as I know, he didn't.

[Royal Dalton]

Yeah, that was a myth put about by Stuart Maconie. Although, I always like to think it's Bob on the sax whenever I hear it.

[larrythefatcat]

Yeah, since when is 1956 before 1954!?

My condolences to the family of a guy who seemed pretty cool (but of whom I hadn't ever heard until 2 minutes ago) and I'm sure did an excellent job as Bond, but I still consider "card sense" Jimmy Bond to be the first portrayal of Bond by an actor... however painful it may be.

That's a RANDOM urban legend about "Baker Street", though... and quite awesome!

[SecretAgentFan]

Very sad. And might I add, without any attempt at being inappropriate, the idea of the legendary James Bond actors passing away is rather frightening.

[Jeff007]

RIP Bob.

[Shaun Forever]

It wasn't the sax on Baker Street, it was in fact the sax on 'Careless Whisper' by George Michael.

[Major Tallon]

I've always regretted that a recording of the radio version of "Moonraker" is unavailable.

RIP Bob Holness

[Vauxhall]

Upon hearing that Sean Connery had been cast as James Bond, Bob is said to have exclaimed: "That c***'s got my job!"

Ha!

I grew up knowing Bob Holness from Blockbusters, and it was only when I got into films that I learnt of his connection to Bond. Always seemed a good chap. RIP.

[doublenoughtspy]

Zorin, I edited your headline. Moonraker wasn't even published until 1955 - a year after Barry Nelson played Bond. So Holness wasn't the first actor to play Bond. But he was, supposedly, the first actor to play him on radio, so I changed it to that.

[Royal Dalton]

It could be argued that he was the first person to play James Bond, though (as opposed to Jimmy).

[DaveBond21]

Sad news. I always loved him on Blockbusters.

The first thing I thought of was RIP please Bob (but Zorin beat me to it!)