Sir Roger Moore dead: James Bond actor and British icon dies aged 89

James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore has died aged 89, his family has confirmed.

In a statement posted on the actor's official social media accounts it was revealed that Moore had passed away in Switzerland after a "short but brave battle with cancer".

Moore was the third actor to play British secret agent James Bond, in seven feature films released between 1973 and 1985 that were based on the books by Ian Fleming.

Born in Stockwell, London on 14 October 1927, he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts [RADA], where he was a classmate of future costar Lois Maxwell - the original Miss Moneypenny.

He became aware that he could be a contender for the role of 007 after Sean Connery announced in 1966 that he would no longer be appearing as the character.

He accepted producer Albert Brocolli's offer to star in the films in 1972, writing in his autobiography that he had to cut his hair and lose weight for the role before starring in 1973's Live and Let Die.

"Anyone watching could sense that Moore's Bond cared more about the gadgets and the girls than the mission," Jason Horowitz wrote for the Washington Post. "Moore seemed to know that trying to control the mission was futile. You just had to go with it and smile...

"In Moore's movies, there is none of the realistic grit or psychological tension bookended by Connery and Daniel Craig, or the trying-too-hard of Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton. Who else but Moore could accidentally inhale some treasure out of a belly dancer's belly button, make a funny face and then get into a fist/karate-chop fight.

Why Sir Roger Moore was the greatest 007

19 show all Why Sir Roger Moore was the greatest 007

1/19 Roger Moore, arguably the best James Bond, in 1968 Getty Images

2/19 1962 Ursual Andress When Ursula Andress emerged from the sea with a dagger strapped to her bikini in 1962 film "Dr. No," she made the Bond girl an instant icon. AP

3/19 1965 Molly Peters and Sean Connery in a scene from the James Bond 1965 film, "Thunderball." AP

4/19 1965 Auger Claudine Auger who starred with Sean Connery in the James Bond 1965 film, "Thunderball". AP

5/19 1967 Karin Dor in a scene from the James Bond 1967 film, "You Only Live Twice." AP

6/19 1971 Jill St. John from the James Bond 1971 film, "Diamonds Are Forever." I AP

7/19 1973 ROger Moores Jane Seymour, left, and Roger Moore, in the James Bond 1973 film, "Live and Let Die." AP

8/19 1974 Roger Moore, centre, with Maud Adams, left, and Britt Ekland, from the James Bond 1974 film, "The Man with the Golden Gun." AP

9/19 1983 Sean Connery as James Bond in "Never Say Never Again". The film was a 1983 remake of "Thunderball," has its ironic title, because it brought Connery back as Bond after a 12-year hiatus. AP

10/19 1984 Roger Moore, alias British secret agent James Bond, is seen with his co-stars Tanya Roberts, and Grace Jones, right, in front of Chateau de Chantilly, on the set of the 007 action film "A View to a Kill," in 1984. AP

11/19 1985 Grace Jones as May Day from the James Bond 1985 film, "A View to a Kill." Modern Bond girls also present a more formidable challenge to the suave secret agent. AP

12/19 1989 Talisa Soto, left, and Carey Lowell in the James Bond 1989 film, "Licence to Kill." Always glamorous and sophisticated, yet uniquely susceptible to James Bond's flirtations, the Bond girl over the years has become as compelling as Agent 007 himself. AP

13/19 1995 Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore in the James Bond 1995 film, "GoldenEye." AP

14/19 1997 Pierce Brosnan, as Bond, and Michelle Yeoh, as the Bond-girl, Wai Lin, in a scene from the James Bond 1997 movie "Tomorrow Never Dies." AP

15/19 1999 Brosanan Sophie Marceau, left, and Pierce Brosnan in a scene from the 1999 James Bond film, "The World Is Not Enough." Modern Bond girls also present a more formidable challenge to the suave secret agent. AP

16/19 2002 Halle Berry in a scene from the James Bond 2002 film, "Die Another Day." AP

17/19 2006 Daniel Craig, right, appears with Eva Green in the 2006 James Bond film, "Casino Royale." AP

18/19 2006 udi Dench playing the head of MI6, "M," in James Bond film "Casino Royale." AP

19/19 2011 Daniel Craig as James Bond in the action adventure film, "Skyfall." Just a couple of years ago, production was derailed on the 23rd Bond movie while partner Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. plunged into bankruptcy. MGM emerged in early 2011 with a hefty bankroll that allowed shooting to resume. AP

"Sure, he sometimes missed the face of a guy who nevertheless went flying from the phantom punch. But once you bought in, that was a whole lot better than watching the expensive explosions that have destroyed many latter-day Bond movies."

Moore was dedicated to his work for UNICEF after being introduced to the charity by the late Audrey Hepburn.

He became a Goodwill Ambassador in 1991 and going onto be known as much for his work for children's rights as for his iconic film role.

"The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified with words alone," his family's statement continued.

"We know our own love and admiration will be magnified many times over, across the world, by people who knew him for his films, his television shows and his passionate work for UNICEF which he considered to be his greatest achievement.

"The affection our father felt whenever he walked onto a stage or in front of a camera buoyed him hugely and kept him busy working into his 90th year, through to his last appearance in November 2016 on stage at London's Royal Festival Hall.

"The capacity crowd cheered him on and off stage, shaking the very foundations of the building just a short distance from where he was born.

"Thank you Pops for being you, and for being so very special to so many people. Our thoughts must now turn to supporting Kristina at this difficult time, and in accordance with our father's wishes there will be a private funeral in Monaco."