It is with great sadness and a profound sense of loss that the Angiogenesis Foundation mourns the passing of Sir Roger Moore, KBE, at the age of 89. Sir Roger served as a Special Advisor and good friend to the Angiogenesis Foundation, starring in a video about disease prevention and working with Foundation’s global programs to raise awareness about vision loss from diabetes and age-related eye disease.
Sir Roger’s professional accomplishments were extraordinary. He will forever hold an enduring place in the history of cinema, through his portrayal of James Bond from 1973-1985. Sir Roger made his Bond debut in 1973 in Live and Let Die and continued for a total of seven productions — he was the longest serving actor in the role of Special Agent 007. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Cambridge Arts Theatre, he began his acting career on stage in London’s West End and then on Broadway. He subsequently headed to Hollywood where he worked at MGM and Warner Bros. Studio. Notable roles include his work in the television series Ivanhoe, The Alaskans, and Maverick. His breakout role was as Simon Templar in the most successful television series of its time, The Saint. Then followed his widely popular portrayal of Lord Brett Sinclair in The Persuaders, with Tony Curtis as his co-star. Sir Roger also wrote a handful of books, among them My Word is My Bond: A Memoir, Bond on Bond, and Last Man Standing.
In his later career, Sir Roger was a dedicated and internationally celebrated humanitarian. For over 25 years, he worked with UNICEF, appointed as Special Ambassador in 1991 and as Goodwill Ambassador in 1999, to advocate for the rights of children. Queen Elizabeth II recognized Sir Roger’s charitable contributions in 1999 by appointing him a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and again in 2003 when she made him a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). Sir Roger was dedicated to using his influence to spur positive change in the world and was also an ardent activist for cancer research and animal rights. Nobody did it better than he.
“Beyond his international fame as James Bond, Sir Roger’s charitable work will be his enduring legacy,” said Dr. William W. Li, President of the Angiogenesis Foundation. “He impacted countless lives and was a man of incredible character, integrity and dignity. We are honored to have had his guidance and support of our Foundation’s work in food and health.”
Sir Roger first became involved with the Foundation when it touched the lives of his close family and friends. As a global advocate for children’s nutrition, Sir Roger realized the importance of diet in shaping the healthy lives of children. He became an advocate and supporter of the Foundation’s initiative to conduct research on the natural active ingredients found in foods and beverages to boost health and prevent disease.
The Angiogenesis Foundation is honored to have had Sir Roger’s involvement in its mission. He had a singular presence and commitment to help the world become a better place for all.