Summary
- George Lazenby, the former James Bond actor, has returned home after a hospitalization due to a head injury.
- Rumors of a brain injury were untrue, as Lazenby’s representative clarified with a statement and photo.
- Lazenby left the Bond franchise after just one film due to a desire to avoid being stereotyped, but he has remained connected to the franchise through documentaries and has continued to pursue acting in various roles.
George Lazenby has returned home after being hospitalized in November, and according to a statement released by his spokesperson, the former James Bond actor is doing fine despite rumors that he had suffered a brain injury.
Lazenby was hospitalized after falling at his home in Los Angeles and cutting his head. Despite some reports suggesting the actor had suffered a more serious injury, his representative, Anders Frejdh, set the record straight with a statement and Instagram photo of the actor in “a good spot” after his stint under medical supervision.
“From LA with Love. Three weeks after my arrival I’m very happy to report [George Lazenby] has safely returned home. After an accidental fall at home in November leading to a head injury he’s rehabilitated well thanks to the great team at Beverly West Healthcare for which I, his family and friends are grateful for. Not easy getting older but as a spritely 84-year old, George has certainly demonstrated what a fighter he is. Love and only love.”
Related: George Lazenby Endorses Liam Hemsworth as the Next James Bond
George Lazenby Never Wanted to Be Stereotyped by James Bond
United Artists
The 84-year-old Australian is still a unique addition to the James Bond franchise, having starred in just a single movie as the world’s greatest spy. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was released in 1969, following Sean Connery’s departure from the franchise after five movies. Although there was reportedly a seven-movie contract agreement on the cards for Lazenby, the actor surprised everyone by leaving after just one appearance, making way for one last (official) huzzah from Sean Connery in Diamonds Are Forever two years later.
While Lazenby went on to have a long career outside the Bond franchise, with roles in movies including Universal Soldier, Gettysburg and Who Saw Her Die? as well as voice roles in Batman Beyond and Superboy, and a return to the Bond phenomenon with the 2017 documentary Becoming Bond, he had a very specific reason for leaving the world of espionage behind. In December 1969, Lazenby told a reporter:
“I much prefer being a car salesman to a stereotyped James Bond. My parents think I’m insane, everybody thinks I’m insane pass up maybe millions of pounds. Nobody believed me. They thought it was a publicity stunt. But it’s just me doing my own thing.”
Having since appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows across the last five decades, it is fair to say that Lazenby has definitely done “his own thing.” Even now, the actor continues to appear infrequently in new roles, and currently has three film roles in various stages of production. However, that doesn’t mean that he has ever been too far away from the Bond franchise, having appeared in several documentaries on the subject.
Thanks to Amazon’s acquisition of MGM Studios, almost all the James Bond movies, including On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, can be found on Prime Video and MGM+.
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