Classic Bond Forum

I think he was a bit plain and tubby for the role myself but he apparently came close to replacing Connery with his reputation for fighting and drinking scaring off the studio.

An anecdote holds that Reed could have been chosen to play James Bond. In 1969, Bond franchise producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman were looking for a replacement for Sean Connery, and Reed was mentioned as a possible choice for the role. Whatever the reason, Reed was never to play Bond. After Reed's death, the Guardian Unlimited called the casting decision, "One of the great missed opportunities of post-war British movie history".

"Th..the name'sh, *hic*...whassh my name again?"

Proximo from Gladiator!!!!
Didn't he die on set?

I never thought of him and bOnd. I remember him being alittle shrt.

In this picture he reminds me of the 6 million dollar man

Reed died of a heart attack in a bar after downing 'three bottles of Captain Morgan's Jamaica rum, eight bottles of German beer, and numerous doubles of Famous Grouse whiskey.' I believe he was arm wrestling some sailors at the time! There's a story that George Lazenby knocked him out in a bar in the early seventies once when Reed was sozzled and annoying people. Who knows if it's true.

We've all arm wrestled sailors after drinking three bottles of rum. I do it every tuesday morning.

Never thought he was plane at all, though I agree he could have done with losing some weight.

An excellent, highly undervalued actor; a somewhat tragic figure ruined by alcohol abuse. He'd have the charisma to do it.

I'd advise you to watch Ken Russell's Women in Love and The Devils.