Only Six Men Have Worn the 007 Tux — and More People Have Walked on the Moon

In the long, glittering history of cinema, few honors are more coveted — or more fiercely guarded — than stepping into the role of James Bond. Since 1962, when Sean Connery first brought Ian Fleming’s suave superspy to life on screen, only six actors have officially been entrusted with 007’s Savile Row tuxedo.

For perspective: twice as many people have walked on the moon.

Six Bonds, Twelve Moonwalkers

The official roster is as exclusive as it gets: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Each brought his own signature to the part — Connery’s cool precision, Moore’s wry charm, Craig’s bruised intensity — but all shared the Bond essentials: the tailored tux, the shaken martini, and the license to kill.

David Niven may have played Bond in the 1967 Casino Royale spoof, but the Eon Productions canon counts only those six names. By comparison, 12 astronauts — from Neil Armstrong to Gene Cernan — have set foot on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. Statistically, sipping a Vesper as 007 is rarer than treading the moon’s dusty regolith.

The Near-Misses You’ve Never Heard About

While the official club is small, the list of those who almost made it is sprawling — and full of surprises. Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood were both approached but declined. Others came agonizingly close, losing out only after final auditions.

Public tallies have put the number of known near-Bonds at around 66. But Robert Sellers’ book The Search for Bond reveals the real figure may stretch into the hundreds. Drawing from private interviews, screen tests, and confidential studio notes, Sellers paints a picture of a relentless global search that has, over decades, drawn in actors from every corner of the industry — most of whom walked away with nothing but the dream.

A 2024 Daily Mail report echoed that finding, suggesting the actual number of men considered over the years is staggeringly high — a testament to just how fiercely fought each casting decision has been.

Why the Role Endures

Bond is more than a part. It’s a pop culture inheritance — a character that arrives with global fame, immense scrutiny, and the weight of tradition. Every casting choice ignites a worldwide guessing game, and every successor must both honor and reinvent the role for a new era.

So when the speculation inevitably begins about who will replace Craig, remember this: more men have walked on the moon than have ever heard “Welcome to MI6” on screen. And for the six who have, the legacy is forever.

If you want, I can also create a visual Bond vs. Moonwalker timeline chart to accompany this — it would be a striking way to drive home just how rare the 007 role is. Would you like me to prepare that?