PARIS, May 24 — British actor Roger Moore played James Bond in a record seven films, more than any other man to date.

He made the role truly his own by using an ironically raised eyebrow, well-timed to go with deadpan quips he delivered with a slight smirk.

Moore once said he had nothing in common with "that cold-blooded killer type,” preferring instead to "play (the role) mostly for laughs”.

He made his Bond debut at 45-years-old in 1973 in Live and Let Die and went on to star as the MI6 agent in another six films: The Man With the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981) and Octopussy (1983) before bowing out after A View to a Kill in 1985, when he was 57.

Here are five of Moore’s best quotes as James Bond:

Forever hold your piece

Lazar: "Mr Bond, bullets do not kill. It is the finger that pulls the trigger.”

Bond (holding rifle): "Exactly. I am now aiming precisely at your groin. So speak or forever hold your piece.”

(The Man with the Golden Gun)

Naked wit

Bond: "Miss Anders... I didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.”

(The Man with the Golden Gun)

Giant step

Drax: "Desolate Mr Bond.”

(Bond shoots Drax in the heart with a hidden gun)

Bond: "Heartbroken Mr Drax.”

Bond: "Allow me.”

(Bond opens space station door and shoves Drax into an air lock)

Bond: "Take a giant step for mankind.”

(Moonraker)

‘Half cocked’

Solitaire: "Is there time before we leave for lesson number 3?”

Bond: "Of course. There’s no sense going out half-cocked.”

(Live and Let Die)

Survival of the fittest

Khan: "You have a nasty habit of surviving.”

Bond: "You know what they say about the fittest.”

(Octopussy) — AFP