Timothy Dalton

Previous 1 of 7 Next Welsh actor Timothy Dalton poses as 007 in a publicity still for the 1987 James Bond film 'The Living Daylights', 1986. Getty Images Actor Timothy Dalton on the set of "The Living Daylights." Corbis via Getty Images Timothy Dalton as 007 and actress Maryam d'Abo as Kara Milovy in a publicity still for the 1987 James Bond film 'The Living Daylights', 1986. Photo by Keith Hamshere/Getty Images Timothy Dalton on the set of the James Bond film 'The Living Daylights', Great Britain, 6th October 1986. Getty Images Timothy Dalton on the set of "The Living Daylights." Corbis via Getty Images Timothy Dalton on the set of "The Living Daylights." Corbis via Getty Images Timothy Dalton's James Bond wax figure at Madame Tussauds in Berlin, Germany, on October 4, 2016. picture alliance via Getty Image

James Bond’s silver anniversary in 1987 marked a moment of uncertainty for the franchise. Roger Moore had departed after 12 years and seven films, and 007 was facing competition from a new wave of brawny American action heroes. It was time for the gentleman spy to shift gears. So when Timothy Dalton was handed his licence to kill, he insisted that he would abandon the fantasy of the Moore era and bring the character back down to earth. “First and foremost,” he said, “I wanted to make him human. He’s not a superman – you can’t identify with a superman.”

While there’s only ever been six men to have played the role of James Bond in the official cinematic canon, the world definitely has its favorites who seem to get more attention than others. Even we here at CinemaBlend have debated whether Sean Connery or Daniel Craig is the superior 007, as those seem to be the people’s champions. But after a sweet birthday message to Timothy Dalton last weekend, George Lazenby has inspired a huge tide of love for the most underrated Bond performances of them all.

March 21 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Aries. -- Mexican revolutionary and president Benito Juarez in 1806. -- British theatrical director Peter Brook in 1925 (age 96) -- Actor Al Freeman Jr. in 1934. -- Actor Timothy Dalton in 1946 (age 75) --...

There’s an alternate Bond-verse out there in the cinematic cosmos, where the history of the franchise looks very different. Timothy Dalton is the star of GoldenEye. John Landis – director of The Blues Brothers – is a key creative player. Casino Royale is not Bond's first origin film. Moonraker is...