George Lazenby has announced his retirement, telling fans that he will no longer make public appearances or sign autographs.
Lazenby, who is only the second actor to play James Bond in the film series, announced his decision on Twitter on Thursday.
“This has not been an easy decision, but the time has come to announce my retirement from work,” Lazenby said. “So, as of today, I will no longer be performing, making public appearances, interviews or signing autographs.”
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“It’s been a fun journey, but getting older is no fun,” he explained. “I want to thank my manager and friend Anders Freid who has supported me since 2013. He has been the best agent I could have had. Now I can focus on spending time with my family. I really thank you all for your love and support over the years. It has meant a lot to me.”
George Lazenby, best known for his role as 007 on Her Majesty’s Secret Service, has announced his retirement. (Getty Images)
Lazenby took over the role of Bond from Sean Connery in the 1969 Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. After his Bond debut, Lazenby was offered a seven-film contract but turned it down on the advice of his agent. He subsequently appeared in several Bond parodies, including Uncle Sam.
“It’s been fun up until now, but getting older isn’t fun.”
After his stint in Hong Kong, he moved to Australia, where he appeared in a number of television films and shows, before returning to Hollywood in the late 1970s. In 1979, he starred in “Saint Jack,” followed by appearances in “Hawaii Five-O” and “Evenings in Byzantium.” In 1993, he had a number of roles in the cable TV series “Emmanuelle.”
In 2021, he appeared in “Blink of an Eye” and is currently in production on two films, “Z Dead End” and “Mundije 2.”
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George Lazenby took over the role of James Bond from Sean Connery. (Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Lazenby’s representatives.
Lazenby married his first wife, Chrissie Townson, in 1973 and had two children, a son, Zachary, and a daughter, Melanie, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 11 and died at age 19.
He married his second wife, Pam Shriver, in 2002, but Pam filed for divorce in 2008. The couple had three children: Caitlin, George, and Samuel.
George Lazenby began his acting career in the 60s. (Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital’s Lori A. Bassian contributed to this report.
