Albert Broccoli, Bond Movie Producer, Dies

Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, who turned British novelist Ian Fleming’s martini-swilling spy into the dashing man about the world James Bond and made Sean Connery an international star, has died. He was 87.

Broccoli, whose efforts created the longest-running movie series of all time, died Thursday at his Beverly Hills home of heart-related causes. He had been in poor health and had undergone major heart surgery last year.

“What do you think? Two films? Three? That should be about it, surely. Then the joke will be over,” Fleming told a Times columnist shortly after selling the film rights to his books to Broccoli and Harry Saltzman more than three decades ago.

The author died before the series took off and would undoubtedly be amazed by its seemingly perpetual popularity.

Broccoli, who took on the series alone after Saltzman left in 1976, produced 17 Bond films, from “Dr. No,” introducing Connery worldwide in 1962, through last year’s “Goldeneye” with yet another new 007, Pierce Brosnan. The films have grossed more than $1 billion at the box office.

The ebullient producer, who used the titles and little else of Fleming’s novels, ran out of books long ago. But he generated more films with the familiar formula of sex, glamorous settings around the globe (or underwater, or in space), adventure, technical gadgets and wry wit.

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Other Bonds have included David Niven (in the 1967 spoof “Casino Royale”), Roger Moore, George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton.

“We never had an argument or a disagreement during any of those years,” Moore said Friday. The actor worked with Broccoli for 14 years and they remained friends for 35. “He was a fine human being--an extremely talented producer, loved by every single member of any crew he employed.”

A little-known character actor before he played Bond, Connery was hired as the initial 007 only after Cary Grant turned Broccoli down (later expressing regret). Another factor was a comment by the producer’s wife after she saw Connery on a test film: “Take that one! He’s gorgeous!”

Connery, who eventually had a falling out and litigation with Broccoli over Bond profits, said Friday that he had “made his peace” with the producer, adding: “I’m extremely sorry to hear of the loss. He will be missed.”

Brosnan, through a spokesman, also expressed condolences. “Not a day went by on the making of ‘Goldeneye’ that I did not think of Cubby; we wanted it to be the success it was for him,” Brosnan said. “I am deeply saddened that he is gone. He was a very important and encouraging figure in my life.”

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Broccoli was an on-set producer, and he and his wife, Dana, lived in England for 27 years while producing Bond films at Britain’s Pinewood Studios.

His daughter Barbara and stepson, Michael Wilson, co-producers on “Goldeneye,” are carrying on Broccoli’s Bond production tradition.

In recent years, the producer had received several major honors, including the Irving G. Thalberg Award for career achievement at the Academy Awards in 1982, the Order of the British Empire in 1987 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990.

Albert Romolo Broccoli was born in New York and brought up to be an agronomist--his forebears were said to have developed the vegetable broccoli.

But Hollywood beckoned, and the young Broccoli began at the bottom--waking up the extras during shooting of the western “Outlaw.”

He loved the Hollywood glamour and quickly became a part of it--partying on Errol Flynn’s yacht, gambling at the Clover Club, taking starlets to dinner at the Mocambo and Ciro’s on the Sunset Strip.

Broccoli’s first film as producer was “The Red Beret,” starring Alan Ladd, in 1953. Soon after that, Broccoli co-founded Warwick Pictures with Irving Allen in England. Within a few years, he found Fleming and fame.

Quickly successful financially, Broccoli was asked in 1979 why he didn’t simply retire.

“Because I honestly feel a responsibility toward all the Bond fans out there,” the then 70-year-old producer told The Times. “I know they look forward to these pictures. And so I’m going to go on delivering them as long as I can.”

” . . . I could retire,” he mused, “but it would be a waste.”

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After “Dr. No,” Broccoli’s string of James Bond films included “From Russia With Love,” “Goldfinger,” “Thunderball,” “You Only Live Twice,” “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” “Diamonds Are Forever,” “Live and Let Die” and “The Man With the Golden Gun.”

Also, “The Spy Who Loved Me,” “Moonraker,” “For Your Eyes Only,” “Octopussy,” “A View to a Kill,” “The Living Daylights,” “Licence to Kill” and the latest, “Goldeneye.”

Broccoli also produced a few popular non-Bond films, including “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” in 1968.

In addition to his wife and his daughter Barbara, Broccoli is survived by another daughter, Tina, and a son, Tony.