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Bob Simmons

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
23

Gender
Male

Birthday
March 31, 1922 (104 years old)

Place of Birth
Fulham, London, England

Bob Simmons

Biography

Bob Simmons (Fulham, London, England, 31 March 1923 – 21 October 1987) was an English actor and stunt man who worked in many British-made films, most notably the James Bond series.

Simmons was a former Army Physical Training Instructor at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 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's Warwick Films on the film The Red Beret, which included future Bond film regulars director Terence Young, screenwriter Richard Maibaum and cameraman, later director of photography Ted Moore. Simmons later worked in many other Warwick Films and worked for Allen in his The Long Ships and Genghis Khan, where he had his eye injured when kicked by a horse.

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 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 for Sean Connery in three James Bond 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 of James Bond. Simmons was also Connery's stunt double. Simmons also had a role as SPECTRE agent Jacques Bouvar in the pre-title sequence of the fourth film, Thunderball.

Simmons developed a stunt technique involving trampolines, 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, where Simmons also doubled for Richard Burton.

Upon retirement, Simmons wrote an autobiography entitled Nobody Does It Better titled after the theme song for the 1977 Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. He died on 21 October 1987.

Known For

Acting

1983James Bond: The First 21 Yearsas Col. Jacques Bouvar (archive footage)
1983James Bond in Indiaas
1981For Your Eyes Onlyas Henchman Lotus Explosion Victim (uncredited)
1979Moonrakeras Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
1977The Spy Who Loved Meas KGB Thug #2 (uncredited)
1976The Next Manas London Assassin
1976Montana Trapas
1971Murphy's Waras German Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
1971Lesson #007: Close Quarters Combatas Self
1965Thunderballas Colonel Jacques Bouvar - SPECTRE #6
1965Thunderballas Jacques Bouvar - SPECTRE #6 (uncredited)
1964Goldfingeras James Bond in Gunbarrel Sequence (uncredited)
1963From Russia with Loveas James Bond in Gunbarrel Sequence (uncredited)
1962Dr. Noas James Bond in Gunbarrel Sequence (uncredited)
1962The Road to Hong Kongas Astronaut (uncredited)
1961The Guns of Navaroneas German Soldier on Navarone (uncredited)
1961Fury at Smugglers' Bayas Carlos, a pirate
1959The Great Van Robberyas Peters
1958A Night to Rememberas Stoker (uncredited)
1958Tank Force!as Mustapha
1955Billete para Tángeras Peter Valentine
1953The Sword and the Roseas French Champion
1953The Flanagan Boyas Booth Man

Production

1985A View to a Kill...Stunt Coordinator
1983Octopussy...Stunts
1982Who Dares Wins...Stunt Coordinator
1982The Wall...Stunt Coordinator
1981For Your Eyes Only...Stunts
1979Moonraker...Stunts
1978The Wild Geese...Stunts
1977The Spy Who Loved Me...Stunt Double
1975The Man Who Would Be King...Stunts
1975The Wilby Conspiracy...Stunts
1974Caravan to Vaccarès...Stunts
1973Live and Let Die...Stunts
1971Diamonds Are Forever...Stunts
1967You Only Live Twice...Stunt Double
1965Thunderball...Stunt Double
1964Goldfinger...Stunt Double
1962Dr. No...Stunt Double
1961The Guns of Navarone...Stunt Coordinator
1961The Guns of Navarone...Stunt Double
1961The Guns of Navarone...Stunts
1961The Secret Ways...Stunt Coordinator
1961Fury at Smugglers' Bay...Stunt Coordinator
1954The Black Knight...Stunt Double
1939Jamaica Inn...Stunts