George Robert Lazenby was born on September 5, 1939, in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia, to Sheila Joan (Bodel) and George Edward Lazenby. He spent his early years in Australia before moving to London, England in 1964, after serving in the Australian Army.
Before pursuing a career in acting, Lazenby worked in various jobs, including as an auto mechanic, used cars salesman, prestige car salesman, and male model in London. His early experience in the entertainment industry was limited to commercials, with his only film appearance being a bit-part in a 1965 Italian-made Bond spoof.
Lazenby's big break came in 1968 when he was cast as James Bond, despite having no extensive acting experience. He won the role based on a screen-test fight scene, the strength of his interviews, fight skills, and audition footage. A chance encounter with Bond series producer Albert R. Broccoli in a hair salon in 1966 had given Lazenby his first shot at getting the role.
To prepare for the role, Lazenby went to great lengths, including spending his last pounds on a tailor-made suit from Sean Connery's tailor, which was originally made for Connery, and purchasing a very Bondish-looking Rolex watch.
However, Lazenby quit the role of Bond right before the premiere of his only film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969),citing that he would get other acting roles and that his Bond contract, which was fourteen pages thick, was too demanding on him.
In his post-Bond career, Lazenby has acted in a wide range of projects, including TV movies, commercials, various recurring roles in TV series, the film series "Emmanuelle", several Bond movie spoofs, TV guest appearances, provided voice for several animated movies and series, and several Hong Kong action films, using his martial arts expertise.
