Commander James Bond, CMG, RNVR is a fictional character created by novelist Ian Fleming, and the protagonist of the James Bond series of novels and films. James Bond is an agent of the international arm of the British Secret Service headquartered in London, originally in a tall, grey building overlooking Regent’s Park. In 1995 for both the novels and the films, the headquarters was moved to the SIS building at Vauxhall Cross and officially acknowledged as MI6.

In the films, he is famous for introducing himself as “Bond, James Bond” whenever the opportunity arises and for ordering his vodka martinis “shaken, not stirred.’

As an agent of the Secret Service, Bond holds code number “007,” except for in You Only Live Twice, where he temporarily becomes “7777”. The “double-0” prefix indicates his discretionary licence to kill in the performance of his duties. In the films, he is famous for introducing himself as “Bond, James Bond” whenever the opportunity arises and for ordering his vodka martinis “shaken, not stirred.”

He has been portrayed on film by Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig, the last interpretation being the only one with an official fictional biography of the character. Bond was first portrayed by Barry Nelson in a 1954 American television film based on the novel Casino Royale, and next by Bob Holness in a 1956 South African radio series based on the novel Moonraker.

David Niven was Bond in a surreal spoof film also called Casino Royale in 1967, which bore almost no relation to the genuine Bond novel of the same name. Several other actors including Peter Sellers also played James Bond in the spoof. The TV film, radio series and spoof are generally considered non-canon by fans of the books and official film franchise.

See also:

• Bond, James: Actors
• Bond, James: Birth debate
• Bond, James: Cinematic
• Bond, James: Description
• Bond, James: Early years
• Bond, James: Habits
• Bond, James: Other drinking habits
• Bond, James: Personal Traits