Michael Lonsdale passes. French actor was the dastardly Bond villain, Hugo Drax, in "Moonraker"
The James Bond Movie Encyclopedia presents This Day in James Bond Movie History, sadly marking the passing of actor Michael Lonsdale, who died today at the age of 87. A proud Frenchman, Michael carved a memorable niche in 007 lore as Hugo Drax, a megalomaniac billionaire (is there no other kind in the Bond universe?) in "Moonraker," the spaciest of James Bond adventures. Among his many pursuits, Drax builds space shuttles for NASA, and when one of those shuttles is destroyed while being transported by a British 747, James Bond (Roger Moore) is sent to California to investigate. There he meets the decidedly low-key Drax, who plans to literally destroy all humanity with a deadly toxin fired towards earth from his fleet of shuttles - after which, he will repopulate with his gorgeous super race. In the past, villains in cinema have been hysterical, wildly theatrical, definable crazy, and sometimes off the wall funny - Lonsdale was none of the above. A man of few words, and controlled energy, he sits at his desk and tells his assistant, "Look after Mr. Bond. See that some harm comes to him." When his helicopter pilot - the lovely Corinne Clery - betrays him, Drax doesn't hesitate to give his Doberman guard dogs a tasty snack (in an early scene that made great trailer bate). So let's raise some champagne to a classic actor who will always be a charter member of the rogue's gallery of 007 villainy. Stay safe.
One of the best and most sinister villains in what was arguably the most camp 007 mission, which miraculously made it work so well somehow. Often overlooked but to relish when discovered. Ironically then, a character like Drax was ridiculously OTT, now arguably not so much!