Richard Kiel: Sir Roger Moore 'totally distraught' as actor who played Bond villain Jaws dies aged 74

The former 007 star paid tribute to the 74-year-old actor, best known for playing the metal-toothed baddie ‘Jaws’ in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker, who died yesterday.

Sir Roger, 86, wrote on Twitter: “I am totally distraught to learn of my dear friend Richard Kiel’s passing. We were on a radio programme together just a week ago. Distraught.”

He added: “Can’t take it in.”

Kiel, who was 7ft 2ins, died at a hospital in Fresno, California. A spokeswoman for Saint Agnes Medical Center confirmed Kiel’s death, but would not reveal the cause.

His agent, Steven Stevens, also declined to provide further details.

Kiel first appeared as Jaws in 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me but returned for Moonraker in 1979 due to popular demand from fans.

The latter featured his memorable fight with Roger Moore on board a cable car above Rio de Janeiro, when Bond quipped of the silent baddie: “His name’s Jaws. He kills people.” The character famously bites through a metal cable, which the actor later revealed was made of liquorice.

He also appeared in 1996 comedy Happy Gilmore with Adam Sandler, but could never escape the role of the iconic villain.

He said earlier this year: “To this day, I go out in sunglasses and a hat because people will shout `Hey, Jaws!’ at me from across the street. The only way I can explain it is that he’s like the Road Runner, which Coyote keeps trying to blow up, but he keeps going.”

In 2012, Sir Roger picked Kiel as his favourite Bond villain. He wrote: “The most memorable of all, however, has to be Jaws, sidekick to the evil Karl Stromberg in The Spy Who Loved Me.

Richard Kiel died at the Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno California (Rex) “Jaws was played by my good friend Richard Kiel, who stands 7ft 2 in. Jaws got his name from the ominous, glinting steel teeth he wore, of course. Poor devil, they were so uncomfortable to wear – Richard could only keep them in for about half a minute at a time.”

Born in Detroit, Kiel had the hormonal condition acromegaly, which was said to have contributed to his height. His break came in 1959 when he played the alien Kanamit in Twilight Zone and he went on to appear in many TV shows and films in the 1960s, including the Western series Laramie.