Movies - TV
Why James Bond Found A New Actor For Goldfinger’s Felix Leiter
By JOE ROBERTS
CIA agent Felix Leiter was originally played by Jack Lord in the 1962 James Bond film, “Dr. No,” but the role was recast with actor Cec Linder in 1964’s “Goldfinger.”
In the book “Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films,” Bond scholars Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury explained the recasting.
Field and Chowdhury wrote, “Jack Lord [...] was scheduled to reprise the role [in ‘Goldfinger’]. Lord had signed a two-picture deal with Broccoli and Saltzman in January 1963.”
The authors added, “[B]ut, according to his agent, [Jack Lord] wanted ‘more money and co-star billing.’ Lord did not reprise his role as Leiter.”
Austin Willis was initially cast to replace Lord as Leiter, and Linder was brought in to play Mr. Simmons. However, at the last minute, Linder and Willis were told to swap roles.
Linder was sympathetic to Willis and was quoted in the book as stating, “[Willis] had a right to be upset. He got a few days on the picture, but I ended up with 12 weeks.”