Burt Reynolds explains why he turned down the James Bond role

03-Sep-2004 • Actor News

Actor Burt Reynolds has explained why he turned down the role of James Bond 007 after Sean Connery stepped down, reports NYNewsDay.

Burt tells "Access Hollywood" that he was offered the role of James Bond in the 1969 film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." This was after the original Bond, Sean Connery, claimed to have grown weary of pulling a gun and shaking those martinis. Burt says, "They did offer me Bond. It was when Sean Connery was giving them a lot of trouble about, you know, things, so they said [to Sean] 'to hell with you.'"

Burt Reynolds - circa 1969

But Burt didn't think an American actor could do justice to the famous spy, and declined the opportunity to roll out the immortal phrase, "My name is Bond, James Bond." Burt says, "At the time I really thought, and rightly so, that Connery was amazing in the role and who ever did it would get killed."

Eventually, George Lazenby was cast. The film didn't do particularly well but in the years since, it has gained its own cult status. Reynolds, who is busy these days - he's in the current film "Without a Paddle" - laughs. "Once in a while, when I have to send the alimony, I regret that decision. I would be so wealthy and probably living in England with a British accent!"

Thanks to `JP` for the alert.