Barry Nelson 1920-2007

Who was the first actor to play James Bond? The answer to that trivia question is Barry Nelson who played Bond in a one-hour TV adaptation of "Casino Royale" in 1954. A live broadcast, this oddity in the James Bond universe saw Nelson as an American Bond facing down Peter Lorre's Le Chiffre. 

Already an established actor Nelson worked mostly on the stage over the next few decades and won a Tony nomination for The Act.

Other credits include The Shining, Airport and popular television shows Magnum and Murder She Wrote. I'll remember him best for the creepy Twilight Zone episode 'Stopover in a Quiet Town'.

Rest in peace Barry and thanks for the memories. 

 

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