By Alan Clendenning
MADRID (AP) --Movie director Guy Hamilton, who directed four hugely popular James Bond films and raised the profile of the Bond movie brand through his work with actors Sean Connery and Roger Moore, has died in a hospital on the Spanish island of Mallorca. He was 93.
Hamilton, who lived on Mallorca, died at the Hospital Juaneda Miramar in the city of Palma de Mallorca on Wednesday, the hospital said in an emailed statement Thursday to The Associated Press. The hospital declined to comment on the cause of death or how long he had been hospitalized, citing patient confidentiality rules.
Hamilton, who was British, directed Bond blockbusters "Goldfinger," ''Diamonds Are Forever," ''Live And Let Die" and "The Man With The Golden Gun."
Roger Moore tweeted he was "incredibly, incredibly saddened to hear the wonderful director Guy Hamilton has gone to the great cutting room in the sky."
Hamilton was born in Paris on Sept. 16, 1922, to British parents. He worked for the Paramount News newsreel company in England during World War II before serving in the Navy.
He got his big break in 1948 when legendary British director Carol Reed hired him as first assistant director for "The Fallen Idol," a thriller told from the perspective of a 9-year-old boy. Hamilton also worked with Reed on the "The Third Man" starring Orson Welles and with John Huston on "The African Queen" featuring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.
Hamilton went on to direct several movies in the 1950s. He turned down an opportunity to direct the James Bond movie "Dr. No" but accepted the job for "Goldfinger."
In a 2003 interview with the Film Talk website, Hamilton said the "Goldfinger" script was good but too "Americanized" and that he had to work on making the villains more believable.
"So I had to make sure all the English scenes became more English," Hamilton said. "I liked the idea of an intellectual villain. A Bond villain has to be (the) intellectual equal and a worthy opponent of Bond."
Hamilton directed 22 films in total and was married twice, to actresses Naomi Chance and Kerima, the stage name of Miriam Charriere.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More