Classic Bond Forum

I read recently that Tobias screentested for Octopussy and was strongly considered to replace Sir Rog around that time.

Funnily enough, we were having a discussion on afjb about this "considered for the role" stuff and what it really means. It seems like a lot of actors like to say that they were "considered" when all that really means is that they auditioned, or that Cubby made an offhand remark to them that maybe they should try out for Bond.

As for Tobias...ugh.

James wrote:

Looks bit like John Travolta.

If Babs Broccoli had been in charge back when he had his screen test,he would have had the job

Kristatos wrote:Funnily enough, we were having a discussion on afjb about this "considered for the role" stuff and what it really means. It seems like a lot of actors like to say that they were "considered" when all that really means is that they auditioned, or that Cubby made an offhand remark to them that maybe they should try out for Bond.

As for Tobias...ugh.

There's a British film forum thread somewhere where someone talks about working at Pinewood in the early eighties and watching Tobias and James Brolin tested in outdoor fight scenes. I saw Tobias in a 1984 Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense recently and he looked handsome but seemed a bit wooden. It does seem like there is barely an actor alive sometimes who hasn't been linked to or tested for Bond. I read the other week that Patrick Mower claimed in his autobiography that he tested for James Bond five times! It seems like Cubby was constantly testing actors. I wonder if they're still doing it now for future reference.

Tobias looks like a cross between Daniel Day Lewis and James Brolin...after being beaten within an inch of his life with the ugly stick

FormerBondFan wrote:Looks a bit like John Travolta.

Actually, I was thinking he reminded me of that monkey-looking bloke out of Supergrass.

Cubby obviously thought looks were very important as he considered many actors who were not the greatest of thespians but had the "Bond look".

^Obviously his kids do not have that talent

James wrote:I read recently that Tobias screentested for Octopussy and was strongly considered to replace Sir Rog around that time.

Here's a pic without the long hair. I couldn't tell you whether he could act or what he was in but I wouldn't call him ugly by any stretch of the imagination.

I'll just say that he doesn't appeal to everyone and leave it at that

katied wrote:I'll just say that he doesn't appeal to everyone and leave it at that

Like that'll ever happen.
I can't comment on whether Oliver Tobias would've made a good James Bond. I've never heard of him before now.
He looks a little like James Brolin in that picture.
Always like to see who was a possible candidate for the role through the years. Luckily they didn't go with some of them.

Babs Broccoli likes ugly so Oliver would have been in like Flynn if she'd had any say in the matter(she didn't, thankfully)

Tobias was in all the classics.

James wrote:Tobias was in all the classics.

Apparently . Seems like he's got a history of making crap films..rather like Daniel Craig

More handsome than cregg...