Famous Actors Who Were Almost James Bond
Skyfall once again showcased Daniel Craig as one of the most suave and simultaneously vulnerable Bonds in the history of the James Bond franchise, but there were plenty of other famous actors who almost got the part of James Bond. a list of famous actors who were almost James Bond, as voted on by experts and fans alike.
The James Bond films have been around for fifty years and many of Britain's top actors have been considered to play the world's most famous character. Some of these performers haven't even been British. Some of the stars on this list include Irishmen (Liam Neeson), Americans (Clint Eastwood), and even Australians (Hugh Jackman).
What actors were considered for the role of James Bond? Has there ever been an American James Bond? Now, many of the top actors on this list would have made pretty awesome James Bonds. Can you imagine Liam Neeson kicking some enemy butt as 007 instead of in the 'Taken' films? Or Denzel Washington bringing the same gravitas he brought to 'Malcolm X' to P***y Galore? Or Sean Bean being 'Ned Stark'-honorable instead of of the villain in 'GoldenEye'? It's fun to come up with scenes that could have been with the caliber of talent you'll be ranking.
There are also some pretty interesting almost-Bonds on this list. Clint Eastwood? That would have been too aggressive, too 'American'. Adam West? Too campy. James Mason? Way too old. But still, it's interesting nonetheless.
Please rank the top notable James Bond runner-up and if you don't see an actor who should be on this list, feel free to add him -- or her -- so that others can vote for him -- or her -- as well.
- Photo:
- Georges Biard
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
Way before Liam Neeson was trying to save his daughter by being an action hero he was doing whatever he could to stay away from the action genre. "I was approached very heavily, but I wasn't really interested."- Credits (TV): Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Big C, Liberty's Kids, A Woman of Substance, Play for Today
- Birthplace: Ballymena, Northern Ireland, UK
- Nationality: United States of America
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In an interview with some Australian radio DJs, Jackman exposed that he was approached to play Bond before the producers went with Daniel Craig. When asked if he would take over the franchise he said, "I’d seriously consider it."- Credits (TV): Viva Laughlin, The Academy Awards, Tony Awards, The Man from Snowy River, An Aussie Goes Bolly
- Birthplace: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Nationality: Australia
Would he make a good James Bond?The Superman actor was a top choice of director Martin Campbell, but he was deemed "too young" for the role.
- Credits (TV): The Tudors
- Birthplace: St Helier, Jersey
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Would he make a good James Bond?Clive Owen was so close to being James Bond that he could almost taste the martinis. But things got stirred, not shaken, when a rumor circulated that he wasn't chosen due to asking for gross profit points. Owen doesn't seem too distressed, saying, “Am I going to be the next Sean Connery? No, I’ll just be the next Clive Owen.”
- Credits (TV): The Knick, Hemingway & Gellhorn, The Hire, Chancer, Sharman
- Birthplace: Keresley, Coventry, Warwickshire, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Would he make a good James Bond?At one point, Cary Grant was going to be Bond, but the producers knew it would be a one movie deal and they didn't want to put up with looking for another Bond so quickly after booking Grant.
- Birthplace: Bristol, England, UK
- Nationality: United States of America, United Kingdom
Would he make a good James Bond?Butler didn't want to take on Bond because it would mean putting a stop to the rest of his film work. "I enjoy doing an array of films. If I was to play Bond, that would quickly stop. How likely would I be accepted doing those roles after having played Bond?"
- Credits (TV): Attila, The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star, The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star, The Jury, Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married
- Birthplace: Paisley, Scotland, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Would he make a good James Bond?- Photo:
- Harald Krichel
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 4.0
When it was announced that Daniel Craig was stepping down from the role as Bond, most of the internet decided that Elba should play the super spy. But Elba said "It’s all rumor-ville. I’m not speaking to the James Bond people. They are not speaking to me. So if it was to happen, there you go — the will of the nation.”- Credits (TV): The Wire, Luther, The Big C, Ultraviolet, Dangerfield
- Birthplace: Hackney, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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Christian Bale was a top choice when producers began searching for Pierce Brosnan's replacement. However, Bale wasn't interested in playing such a British role, so he turned it down.
- Birthplace: Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Would he make a good James Bond?- Photo:
- Georges Biard
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
According to the tough-as-nails actor, he really wants that role after it's vacated by Daniel Craig. “Could I do it? Abso-f***ing-lutely,” he says. “Would I do it? Abso-f***ing-lutely. Is Daniel Craig a great Bond? Abso-f***ing-lutely.”
- Birthplace: London, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Would he make a good James Bond?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Georges Biard
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
Ewan McGregor turned down an offer to play 007 once before, but he's open to playing the super spy now that he's not worried about being typecast. "I think it would be quite cool to play James Bond. At this stage in my career [being typecast] is not really an issue anymore. Early on, when you start off you don't want your horizons to be narrow. But I think people know I have some kind of width in my work, so I'm really not worried about that anymore."- Credits (TV): The 100 Greatest Musicals, Lipstick on Your Collar, Race to Dakar, Race To Dakar, Long Way Down
- Birthplace: Scotland, Perth
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- Fred Ohert
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public Domain
Michael Caine, everyone's favorite Alfred, was considered but didn't want to be typecast in spy films because he'd already starred in the three Harry Palmer thrillers.
- Credits (TV): Armchair Theatre, The Vise, The Hollywood Greats, Edgar Wallace Mysteries, Deadline Midnight
- Birthplace: Rotherhithe, London, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom, England
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- Highlander: The Series
- Rysher Distribution
Adrian Paul has said that he'd love to play the role, but it doesn't seem to have worked out for him.
- Credits (TV): Highlander: The Series, Dark Shadows, War of the Worlds, Tracker
- Birthplace: London, England, UK
- Nationality: England
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Sean Bean auditioned for the role, but it ultimately went to Pierce Brosnan. Still, the directors were impressed by his acting abilities and cast him as the film's villain instead.
- Credits (TV): Game of Thrones, Missing, Legends, Scarlett, Red Riding
- Birthplace: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- The Robe
- 20th Century Fox
Burton was offered the role, but he declined because he thought the film would be "just another movie."
- Credits (TV): Ellis Island, Wagner
- Birthplace: Pontrhydyfen, Wales, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- Interestingly enough, the rumors that Colin Firth would be playing James Bond actually came from Firth himself.
- Credits (TV): Pride and Prejudice, Conspiracy, Lost Empires, Nostromo
- Birthplace: Grayshott, Hampshire, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- The Sound of Music
- 20th Century Fox
This just seems to be an Internet rumor.
- Credits (TV): Jesus of Nazareth, The World of David the Gnome, SuperTed, Madeline, The Thorn Birds
- Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Nationality: Canada
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- Regiznawz
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
Fiennes was considered for the role of James Bond, but ended up being cast as M in Skyfall instead.
- Credits (TV): The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century
- Birthplace: Ipswich, Suffolk, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- David Shankbone
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY 3.0
The moment rumors began to swirl about who would replace Pierce Brosnan, Eric Bana's name kept cropping up. However, he got out in front of the storm and said "I am not the next James Bond."
- Credits (TV): HBO First Look, Something in the Air, Full Frontal, 4Pop
- Birthplace: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Nationality: Australia
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- Nip/Tuck
- FX
He was rumored to play 007, but the role finally went to Daniel Craig.
- Credits (TV): Charmed, Nip/Tuck, Another World, Profiler, Home and Away
- Birthplace: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Nationality: Australia
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- The V.I.P.s
- MGM
Taylor was offered a screen test for Bond in Dr. No, but he turned it down because he felt the part was "beneath him."
- Credits (TV): Falcon Crest, Hong Kong, Masquerade, The Ordeal of Dr. Shannon, Bearcats!
- Birthplace: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Nationality: Australia
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When asked if he would take up the mantle of Bond, Farrell said that he doesn't want to do it and that someone that "the audience has no history with" should take the part.
- Credits (TV): True Detective, Whose Line Is It Anyway? (UK), Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Ballykissangel, In Loving Memory
- Birthplace: Castleknock, Dublin, Ireland
- Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Would he make a good James Bond?Purefoy was almost Bond and it haunted him for a while, but he's finally over almost being 007.
- Credits (TV): Rome, The Following, Camelot, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, The Philanthropist
- Birthplace: Taunton, Somerset, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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Gavin was actually cast as Bond once. He was almost set to play the spy in Diamonds are Forever, but then Sean Connery showed up and ruined everything.
- Credits (TV): Destry, Convoy, Doctors' Private Lives
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Nationality: United States of America
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- All Night Long
- Colorama Features
Allegedly, McGoohan felt the role of Bond was too promiscuous and violent.
- Credits (TV): Columbo, The Prisoner, Danger Man, Rafferty, The NBC Mystery Movie
- Birthplace: Astoria, New York, USA
- Nationality: Republic of Ireland, United States of America
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- Allan warren
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
Despite being one of Ian Fleming's top choices to play the very first James Bond, Niven was turned down in favor of Sean Connery. Niven ended up playing Bond in a parody of Casino Royale.
- Credits (TV): The Rogues, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, Alcoa Theatre, Four Star Playhouse, The David Niven Show
- Birthplace: London, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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There was an online rumor that Ledger would play Bond, but no news ever came of it.
- Credits (TV): Roar, Home and Away, Ship to Shore, Sweat
- Birthplace: Perth, Australia
- Nationality: Australia
Would he make a good James Bond?- There were internet rumors of Ford's casting, but nothing substantial ever came of them.
- Credits (TV): Star Wars Holiday Special, The Graham Norton Show, The Making of Star Wars, Spike Guys' Choice Awards
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Nationality: United States of America
Would he make a good James Bond? - Photo:
- Public Domain
- Wikimedia Commons
Todd was actually Ian Fleming's first choice to play Bond, but scheduling conflicts made sure that the part ended up going to Connery.- Credits (TV): Boy Dominic
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, Dublin
- Nationality: Republic of Ireland
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Even though Neill auditioned for the franchise, he says he never wanted the part. He lost out to Timothy Dalton.
- Credits (TV): Alcatraz, The Tudors, Merlin, Happy Town, Crusoe
- Birthplace: Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom, New Zealand
Would he make a good James Bond?- 30
Goran Visnjic
Visnjic was almost Bond but lost out to Daniel Craig.
Would he make a good James Bond? Scott was rumored to be the frontrunner to replace Pierce Brosnan once his run with the role came to an end, but Brosnan decided to play the role for one more movie, spoiling Scott's chances.
- Credits (TV): Desperate Housewives, Hemlock Grove, The Day of the Triffids, Heist, The Ten Commandments
- Birthplace: Glenrothes, Scotland, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Would he make a good James Bond?- Despite looking great in a tux, by the time Selleck's name was being tossed around for the role as 007, the mustachioed man of mystery wasn't interested. Of the role he said, “I don’t want to play a guy like that.”
- Credits (TV): Blue Bloods, Magnum, P.I., Las Vegas, Jesse Stone: No Remorse
- Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Nationality: United States of America
Would he make a good James Bond? He was almost Bond, but lost out to Daniel Craig.
- Credits (TV): Hawaii Five-0, The Shield, Moonlight, Three Rivers
- Birthplace: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Nationality: Australia
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- Marcus Welby, MD
- ABC Television
- Public Domain
James Brolin was so close to being Bond in Octopussy that he was preparing to move to London. But then Roger Moore agreed to return to the part and that was all she wrote.
- Credits (TV): Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Marcus Welby, M.D., Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, Category 7: The End of the World
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Nationality: United States of America
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- After Pierce Brosnan stepped down from the role of 007 there was a rumor that Crowe would take over, based on a comment made by Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams. But we know how that went.
- Credits (TV): Neighbours, The Late Show, The Young Doctors, Inside 9/11, Police Rescue
- Birthplace: Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
- Nationality: New Zealand
Would he make a good James Bond? - Clint Eastwood was actually offered the role of Bond, but he turned it down because he felt that Bond should be British.
- Credits (TV): Amazing Stories, Rawhide, The Blues, Mrs. Eastwood & Company
- Birthplace: USA, California, San Francisco
- Nationality: United States of America
Would he make a good James Bond? Bloom is reportedly "in the mix" for James Bond, according to the Mirror, but there's no substantial news about his casting.
- Birthplace: Canterbury, Kent, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- Hart to Hart
- ABC
Daniel Pilon REALLY wanted to play Bond, but the producers felt that he was too young for the role in 1984.- Credits (TV): Wind at My Back, The Hamptons
- Birthplace: Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Nationality: Canada
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- The Detectives
- ABC
Allegedly he was offered a part, but felt that Bond should be British.
- Credits (TV): Family Guy, Batman, The New Adventures of Batman, Legends of the Superheroes, The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians
- Birthplace: Walla Walla, Washington, USA
- Nationality: United States of America
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40John Richardson
One of the not so famous five who lost the role of James Bond to George Lazenby.- Birthplace: Worthing, Sussex, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- Cover Up
- CBS
Hamilton was in negotiations to play the part, but the producers inevitably went with Timothy Dalton.- Credits (TV): Mission: Impossible, Cover Up
- Birthplace: Liverpool, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom, Australia
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- Return of the Saint
- ITV
This actor from the cult TV show The Saint was almost Bond, but at the last minute Roger Moore decided he would return to the role.- Credits (TV): Generations, Malibu Shores, Return of the Saint, Affairs of the Heart, Tom
- Birthplace: Woking, Surrey, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Would he make a good James Bond?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Georges Biard
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC-BY-SA 3.0
- Credits (TV): Punishment, Complete Savages, Clubhouse, For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots, Carrier
- Birthplace: Peekskill, New York, USA
- Nationality: Republic of Ireland, United States of America
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Apparently Boyd was a contender for the first Bond film, but that never panned out.
- Credits (TV): Key West, Pulling Moves
- Birthplace: Glengormley, United Kingdom
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Would he make a good James Bond?No one knows why Oliver Reed wasn't cast as Bond, but some people believe it was because he was "too rough."
- Credits (TV): Return to Lonesome Dove, Dante's Inferno, R3
- Birthplace: Wimbledon, London, England, UK
- Nationality: England
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- Bigger Than Life
- 20th Century Fox
Mason has almost been a huge part of the Bond franchise multiple times. First, he was offered a three-picture contract but only agreed to do two films so he had to turn down the role.
- Credits (TV): Salem's Lot, Jesus of Nazareth, Unknown Chaplin, George Washington, Lux Video Theatre
- Birthplace: Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- Manimal
- NBC
He almost played Bond but the producers went with Timothy Dalton instead.- Credits (TV): Jesus of Nazareth, Falcon Crest, Casualty, Manimal, Relic Hunter
- Birthplace: Cambridge, England, UK
- Nationality: England
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- UFO
- ITV
Billington is another actor who auditioned for Bond, but was given the role of an antagonist instead. He ended up playing a KGB agent in The Spy Who Loved Me.- Credits (TV): UFO, The Onedin Line, The Quest, Hadleigh, United!
- Birthplace: England, Blackburn
- Nationality: England
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- After hearing that Pierce Brosnan got the role he took himself out of the running.
- Credits (TV): The Wire, The Affair, The Hour, The Devil's Whore, Appropriate Adult
- Birthplace: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- The Professionals
- ITV
50Lewis Collins
Collins was a Liverpullian who claimed that producers thought he was "too tough" to play Bond.- Credits (TV): The Professionals, The Cuckoo Waltz
- Birthplace: Bidston, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Would he make a good James Bond?- Photo:
- Photo:
- Georges Biard
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
Wilson was yet another actor who lost out to Pierce Brosnan.- Birthplace: Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
- Nationality: France
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Friend was reportedly asked to screen test for the role, but at age 22, he thought he was too young for the part.
- Credits (TV): Homeland
- Birthplace: Oxfordshire, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- Kindred: The Embraced
- FOX
Frankel was almost Bond but Pierce Brosnan was cast instead.- Credits (TV): Sisters, Kindred: The Embraced, Fortune Hunter
- Birthplace: London, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom, England
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This English actor refused to sign a three film contract. Oh well!- Credits (TV): How Green Was My Valley, Orzowei
- Birthplace: Ferndale, United Kingdom
- Nationality: Wales
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- Public Domain
- Wikimedia Commons
Thinnes was considered for the role of Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but he lost out to George Lazenby. He definitely dodged a bullet.- Credits (TV): The Invaders, Dark Shadows, The Long, Hot Summer, From Here to Eternity
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Nationality: United States of America
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- Photo:
- Allan Warren
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
Harvey was a contender for the part, but he never made it to the big leagues.- Birthplace: Lithuania, Joniškis
- Nationality: South Africa, United Kingdom, Lithuania
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Holden appeared in the spoof Casino Royal, but was never formally approached to play Bond.
- Credits (TV): The Blue Knight, The Blue Knight
- Birthplace: USA, O'Fallon, Illinois
- Nationality: United States of America
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- My Fair Lady
- Warner Bros.
Harrison was almost Bond, but the producers just liked Connery more.- Credits (TV): The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
- Birthplace: Huyton, Lancashire, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- Sherlock Holmes
- ITV Granada
Brett was considered for the role of 007 when Connery vacated the part, but he was never hired.- Credits (TV): Sherlock Holmes, Affairs of the Heart, Armchair Theatre, The Three Musketeers (1966), Play of the Month
- Birthplace: Berkswell Grange, Warwickshire, England, UK
- Nationality: United Kingdom
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- McGann has almost nailed a couple of influential roles, most notably Doctor Who, and also James Bond. Supposedly he impressed the producers, but they went with Pierce Brosnan instead.
- Credits (TV): Doctor Who, Luther, Zero Hour, Fish, The Monocled Mutineer
- Birthplace: Liverpool, England, UK
- Nationality: England
Would he make a good James Bond?
