Desmond Llewelyn

Striking color photo signed by Desmond Llewelyn, most noted for his role as “Q” in the James Bond film series.

Desmond Llewelyn (1914-1999) was a Welsh actor, famous for playing Q in 17 of the James Bond films between 1963 and 1999. He was chosen for the role of Q because of his work with director Terence Young in the 1950 war film They Were Not Divided, in which he played a tank gunner. Beginning with From Russia with Love in 1963, Llewelyn appeared as Q, the quartermaster of the MI6 gadget lab (also known as Q Branch), in almost every Bond film until his death, only missing an appearance in Live and Let Die in 1973.

His last appearance as Q prior to his death was in The World Is Not Enough in 1999. During his briefing of 007 in the film, Q introduces John Cleese’s character, R, as his heir presumptive, and the film alludes to Q’s retirement—which Bond, after seeing R, expresses his hope that it will not be any time soon. Q’s response is to admonish Bond to “always have an escape plan”, after which he lowers himself through the floor of his lab. Llewelyn had stated not long before his death that he had no plans to retire and that he would continue playing Q “as long as the producers want me and the Almighty doesn’t.”

In all, Llewelyn appeared in 17 Bond films, more than any other actor, and worked with the first five James Bond actors.

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