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!

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]]> http://www.felixleiter.com/2009/05/01/rik-van-nutter-born-80-years-ago-today/feed/ 0 http://www.felixleiter.com/2008/11/30/thunderball-metaphor-on-the-oreilly-factor/ http://www.felixleiter.com/2008/11/30/thunderball-metaphor-on-the-oreilly-factor/#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2008 05:14:14 +0000 Chris Wright http://www.felixleiter.com/?p=743 One of my favorite comedians Dennis Miller used a Thunderball metaphor on Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor on November 12. The metaphor which referenced Emilio Largo’s Disco Volante was used to describe how William S. Paley and Edward R. Murrow turned in their graves when Katie Couric bombed during her first month at CBS. I think it’s pretty funny so check it out! The reference starts at 1:36 into the video but I suggest watching it from the beginning to get the full context.

David Hedison was interviewed by Dr. Sky last week. I just listened to it here and I highly recommend it! Steve Kates aka Dr. Sky asked a lot of great questions about Mr. Hedison’s career (including questions about The Fly, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Felix Leiter).

During the interview, it is mentioned that the song, “The Movies” by the Statler Brothers, name-checks David Hedison. This is a wonderful tidbit that was news to me. What a nice tribute to Mr. Hedison to be mentioned in a song entitled, “The Movies.”

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO “THE MOVIES”

Listen closely and you’ll hear Dr. No and Thunderball name-checked also. I don’t think I have to remind you that Jack Lord and Rik Van Nutter played Felix Leiter in those films, respectively. What a great song!

Stay tuned to FelixLeiter.com because we will be conducting our very own David Hedison interview very soon…

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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:

Rik Van Nutter’s story about getting the role as Felix Leiter in 1965′s Thunderball is one of the most interesting casting stories of the James Bond franchise that I’ve ever heard. At the time, he was married to actress Anita Ekberg and as Bond fans may know, Anita’s film Call Me Bwana, in which she co-starred alongside Bob Hope, was advertised in 1962′s From Russia with Love during the scene in which Kerim Bey shoots Krilencu as he attempts to climb out of the secret escape hatch of his hideout through Anita’s smiling mouth on the giant poster adorning the side of the building. Anita never asked producer Cubby Broccoli for payment in exchange for the use of her image. In return, during dinner with Anita and Rik one evening, Cubby turned to Rik and declared, “You, Rik! You’re Felix Leiter in Thunderball!”

The rest is history.

See the original story located here along with a link to writer John F. Murray’s website and personal tribute to Rik Van Nutter.