George Cole

He is able to hide his London accent when playing upper-class characters, such as Sir Giles Lynchwood in the TV adaptation of Tom Sharpe's novel Blott on the Landscape. He also enduring the thankless assignment of playing Rhett Butler in a made-for-TV sequel to Gone with the Wind. He served in the Royal Air Force from 1944 to 1947. After his Bond films Dalton's career entered an uncertain period, success on stage and television was balanced by a number of indifferent film ventures. George Cole (born April 22, 1925) is a British actor born in Tooting, London, best known for his roles as Flash Harry in the St Trinians films and as Arthur Daley in the TV series Minder. Critics generally liked the more serious Bond after more than a decade of Moore's lighthearted approach, but fan reaction was mixed, particularly from those unfamiliar with the original Bond novels. Dalton's portrayal of Bond was intentionally based more upon the literary version of the character, thereby creating a darker character.

A third Bond was planned for release in 1991 (according to some sources it was to have been called The Property of a Lady), but it became lost in litigation over the rights between EON and Danjaq, and in 1994 Dalton officially dropped the role, leaving the door open for Brosnan to have a second chance at the part. The Living Daylights (1987) was the first and was a reasonable success, but the follow-up Licence to Kill (1989) was a commercial disappointment (though still a major hit in comparison to most other films), hurt by a lacklustre marketing campaign. Work commitments made him refuse the role once again in 1986, but when he was asked a second time he agreed to three Bond films. Dalton had previously been approached to play the role several times before -- as early as 1968 -- but had turned the role down each time feeling he was too young.

Following the final retirement of Roger Moore as James Bond in 1986, Dalton was approached to replace him after Pierce Brosnan had to back out due to television commitments. The majority of his US work was on television but he made a number of European films and produced some notable performances for the BBC. After a brief return to film work he again concentrated on theatre until 1978 when he made is first film in the United States and made his first US television appearance. After a number of films he took a break from 1971 - 75 to concentrate on theatre, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company and others across the world.

He was quick to move into television work, mainly with the BBC, and in 1968 he appeared in his first film, The Lion in Winter, the first in a number of costume dramas. He did not complete his studies at RADA, leaving in 1966 to work professionally at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Leaving school in 1964 he enrolled at RADA and toured with the National Youth Theatre in the summers. Dalton became interested in acting at a young age.

The family moved to Belper, Derbyshire soon after his birth. Born in Colwyn Bay, Dalton claims a mixed Italian-Irish and English ancestry. Timothy Dalton (born March 21, 1946) is a Welsh-born English actor of stage and film most famous as the fourth James Bond in the official film series. The Lion in Winter (1968).

Cromwell (1970). Flash Gordon (1980). The Doctor and the Devils (1985). The Living Daylights (1987).

Hawks (1988). Licence to Kill (1989). The King's Whore (1990). The Rocketeer (1991).

Framed (1992). Last Action Hero, cameo role (1993). Naked in New York (1994). Salt Water Moose (1996).

Beautician and the Beast (1997). Stories of My Childhood (1998). Made Men (1999). Cleopatra (movie) (1999).

American Outlaws (2001). Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003). Dunkirk, to be released in May 2005.