Bob Simmons (

Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies in a loop on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea, London, Chelsea ...

, London, England, 31 March 1923 – 21 October 1987) was an English actor and

stunt man A stunt performer, often called a stuntman or stuntwoman and occasionally stuntperson or stunt-person, is a trained professional who performs daring acts, often as a career. Stunt performers usually appear in films or on television, as opposed ...

who worked in many British-made films, most notably the

James Bond The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...

series.

Biography

Simmons was a former

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

Physical Training Instructor Physical training instructor (PTI) is a term used primarily in the British Armed Forces and British police, as well as some other Commonwealth countries, for an instructor in physical fitness. United Kingdom In the British Army, specialist Physi ...

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS or RMA Sandhurst), commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academy, military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial Commissioned officer, officer train ...

who had initially planned to be an actor, but thought a career in performing stunts would be more lucrative and interesting. Simmons first worked for Albert R. Broccoli and

Irving Allen Irving Allen (born Irving Applebaum, November 24, 1905 – December 17, 1987) was an Austro-Hungarian–born American theatrical and cinematic producer and director. He received an Academy Award in 1948 for producing the short movie '' Climbin ...

Warwick Films Warwick Films was a film company founded by film producers Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli in London in 1951. The name was taken from the Warwick New York Hotel, Warwick Hotel in New York City where Broccoli and his wife were staying at the ...

on the film ''

The Red Beret ''The Red Beret'' (aka ''The Red Devils'', ''The Big Jump'' and retitled ''Paratrooper'' for the US release) is a 1953 British-American war film directed by Terence Young and starring Alan Ladd, Leo Genn and Susan Stephen. ''The Red Beret'' ...

'', that included future Bond film regulars director Terence Young, screenwriter

Richard Maibaum Richard Maibaum (May 26, 1909 – January 4, 1991) was an American screenwriter, film producer, and playwright, best known for his work on the James Bond films. He wrote 13 of the 16 Eon Productions Bond films produced between 1962 and 1989, be ...

and cameraman, later director of photography

Ted Moore Ted Moore, (7 August 1914 – 1987) was a South African-British cinematographer known for his work on seven of the James Bond films in the 1960s and early 1970s. He won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on Fred Zinnemann's ...

. Simmons later worked in many other Warwick Films, and worked for Allen in his ''

The Long Ships ''The Long Ships'' or ''Red Orm'' (original Swedish: ''Röde Orm'' meaning ''Red Orm'', lit. ''Red Serpent'' or ''Red Snake'') is an adventure novel by the Swedish writer Frans G. Bengtsson. The narrative is set in the late 10th century and ...

'' and ''

Genghis Khan Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; August 1227), also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongols, Mongol tribes, he launched Mongol invasions and ...

'', where he had his eye injured when kicked by a horse.Simmons, Bob & Passingham, Kenneth ''Nobody Does It Better-My 25 years of stunts with James Bond and other stars'' Sterling Publishing, 1987 When Albert R. Broccoli began to produce the James Bond films, Simmons tested as an actor for the Bond role, but until his death in 1987, he became the

stunt coordinator A stunt coordinator, usually an experienced stunt performer, is hired by a TV, film or theatre director or production company for casting stunt performers. Their job is to arrange the casting (stunt players and stunt doubles) and performance of s ...

for every Bond film except '' From Russia with Love'', which he joined later in the production, '' On Her Majesty's Secret Service'' and '' The Man with the Golden Gun''. He appeared in the

gun barrel sequence The gun barrel sequence is a signature device featured in nearly every List of James Bond films, ''James Bond'' film.Cork, John & Scivally, Bruce (2002). ''James Bond: The Legacy''. Boxtree, 46. Shot from the point of view of a presumed assassin, ...

for

Sean Connery Sir Thomas Sean Connery (25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a Scottish actor. He was the first actor to Portrayal of James Bond in film, portray the fictional British secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in motion pic ...

in three

films: '' Dr. No'', ''From Russia with Love'', and '' Goldfinger''. Simmons is the only person to officially perform the scene, while not starring in the main role as James Bond. Simmons was also Connery's

stunt double In filmmaking, a double is a person who substitutes for another actor such that the person's face is not shown. There are various terms associated with a double based on the specific body part or ability they serve as a double for, such as stunt ...

.Auty, Jo
"Stuntmen who has played Ian Fleming's James Bond on film"
From Sweden with Love: Everything about James Bond, 6 July 2015, retrieved 26 September 2021. Simmons also had a role as

SPECTRE Spectre, specter or the spectre may refer to: Religion and spirituality * Vision (spirituality) * Apparitional experience * Ghost Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Spectre'' (1977 film), a made-for-television film produced and writt ...

agent Jacques Bouvar in the pre-title sequence of the fourth film, '' Thunderball''. Simmons developed a stunt technique involving

trampoline A trampoline is a device consisting of a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched between a steel frame often using many coiled spring (device), springs. People bounce on trampolines for recreational and competitive purposes. The fabric that use ...

s, first used in '' You Only Live Twice'', whereby stuntmen would bounce off a trampoline in concert with a triggered explosion so as to simulate being blown into the air. This was used in many other films, including by Simmons again in ''

The Wild Geese ''The Wild Geese'' is a 1978 war film starring an ensemble cast led by Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris and Hardy Krüger. The film, which was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, was the result of a long-held ambition of producer Eua ...

'', where Simmons also doubled for

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s and gave a memor ...

. Upon retirement, Simmons wrote an autobiography entitled ''Nobody Does It Better'' titled after the

theme song Theme music is a musical composition which is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at ...

for the 1977 Bond film '' The Spy Who Loved Me''. He died on 21 October 1987."Bob Simmons"

BFI The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, d ...

, retrieved 26 September 2021.

Filmography

*''Reform School'' (1939) - Johnny *''

Ivanhoe ''Ivanhoe: A Romance'' ( ) by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in three volumes, in December 1819, as one of the Waverley novels. It marked a shift away from Scott's prior practice of setting stories in Scotland and in the more ...

'' (1952, stunt) *'' The Flanagan Boy'' (1953) - Booth Man (uncredited) *''

The Sword and the Rose ''The Sword and the Rose'' is a family/adventure film produced by Perce Pearce and Walt Disney and directed by Ken Annakin. The film features the story of Mary Tudor, a younger sister of Henry VIII of England. Based on the 1898 novel '' When ...

'' (1953) - French Champion *'' Tangier Assignment'' (1955) - Peter Valentine *''

No Time to Die ''No Time to Die'' is a 2021 spy thriller film and the twenty-fifth in the List of James Bond films, ''James Bond'' series, and the fifth and final to star Daniel Craig as fictional British MI6 agent Portrayal of James Bond in film, James Bon ...

'' (1958) - Mustapha *'' A Night to Remember'' (1958) - Stoker (uncredited) *'' The Great Van Robbery'' (1959) - Peters *'' And the Same to You'' (1960) - Perce's Opponent *''

Exodus Exodus or the Exodus may refer to: Religion * Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible * The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan Historical events * Ex ...

'' (1960) - Man of arms (uncredited) *''

Fury at Smugglers' Bay ''Fury at Smugglers' Bay'' is a 1961 British adventure film produced, written and directed by John Gilling and starring Peter Cushing, Bernard Lee, Michèle Mercier and John Fraser. The plot revolves around smuggling in Cornwall. Plot In 18t ...

'' (1961) - Carlos, a pirate *'' The Guns of Navarone'' (1961, stunt) - German Officer (uncredited) *''

The Road to Hong Kong ''The Road to Hong Kong'' is a 1962 British semi-musical comedy film directed by Norman Panama and starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, as well as Joan Collins, with an extended cameo featuring Dorothy Lamour in the setting of British Hong Kong, ...

'' (1962) - Astronaut (uncredited) *'' Dr. No'' (1962, stunt) - James Bond in Gunbarrel Sequence (uncredited) *'' Sparrows Can't Sing'' (1963) - Pub Patron (uncredited) *'' From Russia with Love'' (1963, stunt) - James Bond in Gunbarrel Sequence (uncredited) *''

'' (1964) *'' Goldfinger'' (1964, stunt) - James Bond in Gunbarrel Sequence (uncredited) *'' Thunderball'' (1965, stunt) - Colonel Jacques Bouvar - SPECTRE #6 (uncredited) *''

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (254–184 BC), specif ...

'' (1966) *'' You Only Live Twice'' (1967, stunt) *''

Shalako Shalako is a series of dances and ceremonies conducted by the Native American Zuni people for the Zuni people at the winter solstice, typically following the harvest. The Shalako ceremony and feast has been closed to non-native peoples since 1990 ...

'' (1968, stunt) *'' The Adventurers'' (1969) *''

Murphy's War ''Murphy's War'' is an Eastmancolor 1971 Panavision war film starring Peter O'Toole and Siân Phillips. It was directed by Peter Yates, based on the 1969 novel by Max Catto. The film's cinematographer was Douglas Slocombe. The film is se ...

'' (1971) - member of German sub crew (uncredited) *'' When Eight Bells Toll'' (1971, stunt) *'' Diamonds Are Forever'' (1971, stunt) *'' Live and Let Die'' (1973, stunt) *' (1976) *''

The Next Man ''The Next Man'' (also known as ''The Arab Conspiracy'' and ''Double Hit'') is a 1976 American political action thriller film starring Sean Connery, , Albert Paulsen, and Charles Cioffi. Music for the film features New York City guitarist Freder ...

'' (1976) - London Assassin *'' The Spy Who Loved Me'' (1977, stunt) - Ivan, KGB Thug (uncredited) *''

'' (1978, stunt) - Pilot (uncredited) *'' For Your Eyes Only'' (1981, stunt) - Henchman Lotus Explosion Victim (uncredited) (final film role) *''

A View to a Kill ''A View to a Kill'' is a 1985 spy film, the fourteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions, and the seventh and final appearance of Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Although the title is adapted from ...

'' (1985, stunt)

References

Bibliography

*Simmons, Bob & Passingham, Kenneth ''Nobody Does It Better-My 25 years of stunts with James Bond and other stars'' Sterling Publishing, 1987

External links

*
Bob Simmons
(Aveleyman) {{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Bob English male film actors English stunt performers 1922 births 1987 deaths Actors from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham 20th-century English male actors Royal Army Physical Training Corps soldiers 20th-century British Army personnel Academics of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Male actors from London Military personnel from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham People from Fulham