Rik Van Nutter
May 1, 1929 - October 15, 2005
Rik Van Nutter, the third actor to play Felix Leiter, was born 79 years ago today. I recently watched Thunderball and I really enjoyed his portrayal of our favorite CIA agent. He was certainly better than his predecessor, Cec Linder, and I wish he had returned in Diamonds Are Forever instead of Norman Burton. Not just for the sake of continuity (which there had been none of in the Leiter role at the time) but because Burton wasn’t that great.
Ever wonder how Van Nutter got the role? Check out 00Twelve’s An Uncommon Opportunity: How Rik Van Nutter Got the Role. It’s a fascinating read!
Speaking of Van Nutter, check out what I recently won on eBay:
Ernestt
02.22.2009 @ 3:16 am
The late Mr.Van Nutter was the 2nd best ‘Leiter’,and the late Mr.Jack Lord 4 #1′Leiter’. Recently, the Spy world lost another great 1 in Jan.,of this yr..Mr. Patrick McGoohan, of Secret Agent man (Dangerman)fame. We will miss him,as we miss them all.Tha ERN (008)