James Bond actor officially retires from showbiz
George Lazenby’s next project could be “From Florida With Love.”
The 84-year-old actor, who played British superspy James Bond just once, in 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” announced on Thursday that he’s leaving show business for good.
“This hasn’t been an easy decision but it’s time to announce my retirement from work,” Lazenby said in a statement on Instagram.
“Therefore, I won’t be doing any more acting or making public appearances, doing any more interviews or signing any more autographs as of today.”
The actor added: “It’s been a fun ride but getting older is no fun.”
When Sean Connery first departed from the 007 franchise after 1967’s “You Only Live Twice,” Lazenby, an Australian model with no performance experience, was producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman’s shockING pick to next wield the Walther PPK.
“You know, it’s just part of me,” Lazenby told The Post in 2017. “I don’t know why it happened.”
When Lazenby auditioned, he sneakily prepared by visiting Connery’s barber and tailor to mimic the Scotsman’s iconic look. And he flatly lied to the producers, saying he could, in fact, act.
“I had a meeting with Peter Hunt [the director] and told him I didn’t tell the truth,” Lazenby said. “I had never acted before in my life, and I was willing to walk away then. And Peter just bust out laughing and ran around the room holding his belly.”
“‘You say you can’t act? You fooled two of the most ruthless men I’ve ever met in my life,’” Lazenby recalled Hunt saying. “‘Stick to your story, and I’ll make you the next James Bond.’”
The actor was paid a mere $50,000 for the job.
Then, swept up by the late-1960s counterculture and having grown a very un-Bond beard, Lazenby left the glamour, gadgets and gin-and-vodka martinis behind.
His wild ride is depicted in the 2017 documentary “Becoming Bond” on Hulu.
He appeared in some 64 projects over his career, such as 1993’s “Gettysburg” and 1977’s “The Kentucky Fried Movie,” but no role was ever as big as Bond.
“It made me famous, and I had to deal with that for a while, which is a pain in the butt,” Lazenby said.
