British actor Roger Moore of James Bond fame dies at 89

Moore, an UNICEF goodwill ambassador who acted in  Bond films like Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, A View to Kill and Octopussy playing the irresistible British secret agent and a charming lady killer, was last seen in the 2011 film A Princess for Christmas.

A View to Kill in 1975 was his last Bond film.

Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian uploaded a write up on Moore's twitter account which reads, "It is with a heavy heart that we must announce our loving father, Sir Roger Moore, has passed away today in Switzerland after a short but brave battle with cancer. The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was s great it cannot be quantified in words alone".

In the same tweet from the father's account, Moore's children said that they are all devastated.

The children said that they would organise a private funeral as per the wishes of their father.

Moore stepped into the big shoes of Sean Connery in 1972, and made his first appearance as 007 in Live and Let Die (1973). The longest serving Bond to date, Moore essayed the spy in six more films.

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) are among them.

He was chosen as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1991. Moore was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for "services to charity". In 2008, the French government appointed Moore a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and the same year he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Condolences poured in as actor, singer and broadcaster Michael Ball said: "My dearest uncle Roger has passed on. What a sad, sad day this is. Loved the bones of him. Generous, funny, beautiful and kind."

Mia Farrow posted: "Few are as kind & giving as was Roger Moore. Loving thoughts with his family & friends," while Boy George added: "RIP Sir Roger Moore. He was the king of cool."

Actor Ewan McGregor said: "Thank you, Roger, for having championed so tirelessly the rights of all children for the last 26 years."