Lists · Movies

All 43 Bond Boys Ranked

This one’s for the boys.
Bond Boys Ranked
By  and  · Published on August 13th, 2020

10. Q as seen in the Daniel Craig era

Skyfall Q

Played by: Ben Whishaw
Appears in: Skyfall and Spectre

A young Q! He’s fun, smart, and stylish. Q quickly develops a rapport with Bond and each shows the other a thing or two. Q is willing to bend the rules for Bond, but he also knows how to uphold professionalism and not mess around. Whishaw’s Q never tries to imitate those who have come before, and his performance is energetic, even when in a minor role. We look forward to more fresh-faced Q, and we can only hope the franchise continues to deliver.


9. René Mathis

Matthis

Played by: Giancarlo Giannini
Appears in: Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace

Mathis innocent! Sure, he photoshops evidence and disposes of dead henchmen like a mob boss, but how can you stay mad at a man that dedicated to fucking up a bad guy’s day? So he has a little fun doing it! Shame on Bond for thinking that a man this warm, welcoming, and in love with the game of poker would give him up to Le Chiffre. Boo!


8. Felix Leiter as seen in Dr. No

Screenshot At Pm

Played by: Jack Lord
Appears in: Dr. No

This OG Felix, in addition to being a noted sunglass aficionado, is a classic in every sense. Though he’s not heavily involved with the plot, Lord’s portrayal suggests that this is a Felix with a hell of a lot of game and he’s a perfect pairing with the ever-cool Connery. He’s a rather beguiling Felix, one we wish we could have gotten to know better. It’s a shame he didn’t stick around for future films, but at least this style icon is immortalized in Dr. No.


7. Marc-Ange Draco

Screenshot At Pm

Played by: Gabriele Ferzetti
Appears in: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

A boy, a father-in-law, and the head of a crime syndicate. Draco’s got it all! Draco and Bond have “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” dynamic, and the former is more than willing to help 007 take down Blofeld. He’s also a doting father, eager to make amends with Tracy and ease the tensions of their relationship. As far as minor characters go, Draco is one of the more fleshed out examples of Bond allies, and this richly characterized and lovable baddie is a highlight of an already spectacular Bond film.


6. Felix Leiter as seen in Live and Let Die and Licence to Kill

Screenshot At Pm

Played by: David Hedison
Appears in: Live and Let Die and Licence to Kill

A genuine Felix Lighter! The first Felix to perform double duty, Hedison is also one of the greatest to take on the role. First serving Bond during a Harlem excursion, Felix is happy to follow the trail led by Bond all the way to sunny Louisiana. He’s clearly willing to do whatever is necessary to get the job done, and for proof, look no further than Hedison’s Felix delaying his own wedding in Licence to Kill in order to capture Sanchez. Hedison’s Felix works hard, parties harder, and when things go south for Bond’s favorite ally, it doesn’t come as a shock that 007 will do whatever it takes to avenge him. That’s in the bro code, right?


5. Kincade

Skyfall Kincade

Played by: Albert Finney
Appears in: Skyfall

Kincade is as close as we’re going to get to seeing Bond’s dad on screen. Skyfall’s groundskeeper is three things: Scottish, tough as nails, and Scottish. While Kincade is certainly the Alfred to the Batman-ification that Skyfall represents, more charitably, Kincade is a living reminder of Bond’s past: a ghost from his childhood and a wall-breaking nod to the old ways of the franchise. Sam Mendes had flirted with the idea of Sean Connery playing Kincade (an idea scrapped, rightfully, as “distracting”). Albert Finney and Connery’s physical resemblance has been noted before (notably, by series co-producer Harry Saltzman). All told, Kincade serves this double role well; he’s a thread to Bond’s past in both a diegetic and winking sense. Kincade is a symbol of Bond’s roots and a nod that Bond has evolved on his own terms, too.


4. Valentin Dmitryovich Zukovsky

Goldeneye Zukovsky

Played by: Robbie Coltrane
Appears in: GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough

Can YOU read the phrase “ex-KGB agent turned Russian mafia boss who runs a bar, a casino, and a caviar factory” without uttering a soft, respectful “hell yeah”? Because we can’t! Zukovsky and Bond haven’t always been on the same page, but what’s a little under the table arms dealing between on-and-off enemies? We’d like to think that Zukovsky could have become Bond’s beluga caviar guy once the air totally cleared. Zukovsky is also awarded bonus buddy points for consistently referring to 007 as “Bond, James Bond,” which is a good bit.


3. Ali Kerim Bey

From Russia With Love Kerim

Played by: Pedro Armendariz
Appears in: From Russia With Love

Of all Bond’s allies, Kerim is perhaps the most similar to 007. Like Bond, Kerim is a confident hedonist who keeps cool under pressure, enjoys women, and loves completing missions no matter the cost. What Kerim has that Bond doesn’t is a large army of sons. And frankly, that’s Bond’s loss. Kerim is robust, warm, open, and wise; — a covert father-figure for Bond as well as a faithful companion.


2. Jaws

Moonraker Jaws

Played by: Richard Kiel
Appears in: The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker

Jaws, or as we have taken to calling him, “Chompy Boy,” is the GOAT. Starting his tenure off as a menacing henchman heavy and crossing the finish line as an unconventional ally, Jaws and his giant set of metal teeth are, quite simply, iconic. While Jaws’ ruthlessness is undeniable (let’s be honest, the man has put more effort into killing Bond than most), his murderous antics always ring with an indelible sense of charm, largely thanks to Kiel’s off-the-charts endearing performance. He’s a big man with (it turns out) a big heart. We’re all smiles when Jaws is on screen.


1.  Q as seen from 1963 to 1999

Screenshot At Pm

Played by: Desmond Llewelyn
Appears in: From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, and The World Is Not Enough

Bonds change, but for 36 years, Q stayed the same. Our number one spot obviously goes to Bond’s longest-serving ally: his faithful quartermaster, a man who isn’t afraid to put 007 in his place. Q is everything we want from a Bond boy and so much more. Whether he’s outfitting Bond at headquarters or showing up unannounced in a Hawaiian shirt, seeing Q is always a treat. It’s hard to decide what’s better: Q’s gadgets or his legendary dunks. Lewellyn’s charm, humor, and sass are as fundamental to a Bond film as a martini or a tux. For nearly forty years, he was a vital and irreplaceable presence that made Bond, Bond.

Pages: 1 2 3 4

Related Topics: ,

Anna Swanson is a Senior Contributor who hails from Toronto. She can usually be found at the nearest rep screening of a Brian De Palma film.