UPDATE: Mr. Pfeffer posted an e-mail I sent him in a follow-up article, From the Mail Bag.

The cinematic Felix Leiter was recently profiled on a cool website called Blessed are the Geeks, a blog operated by Donald W. Pfeffer. Not only is the article a great read but FelixLeiter.com was mentioned as a great source for information on Leiter. Thanks to Donald for honoring our favorite Company man and for giving FLc a shout out!

Much appreciated, brother.

ARTICLE #1: BOND BIOS: FELIX LEITER

ARTICLE #2: FROM THE MAIL BAG

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From 1989 until last year when Quantum of Solace was released, Mr. Hedison had the distinct honor of being the only man to play Felix Leiter in two seperate films (Live and Let Die & Licence to Kill). Today, he and Jeffrey Wright share that honor, however, Hedison is still many Bond fans’ favorite Felix Leiter.

If you don’t already own Licence to Kill on home video, I suggest buying the Ultimate Edition DVD or Blu-ray because (1) it’s one of the best James Bond films and (2) it features James Bond’s brother from Langley (although the film shows Leiter liaising with the Drug Enforcement Administration)!

Welcome to…

The David Hedison FLc Interview

Hunter Graybeal: In your extended biography located in chapter two of The Fly at Fifty, it says that you were in the theatre company for the 1951 season at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. Being from nearby Bristol, Tennessee, I’d love to know what it was like for you to live there that summer, being a vastly different region than your native New England.

David Hedison: Barter wasn’t my first time living in the South. I spent a year in Jacksonville, Florida in 1945-46 as a seaman second class in the US Navy. I like the South. It may be different than New England, but people are people no matter where you go. I have always enjoyed Southern hospitality whenever and wherever it is offered.

HG: Also in your biography, it says that you appeared in A Month in the Country alongside your own teacher, Ms. Uta Hagen, and under the direction of Sir Michael Redgrave. As a young professional actor, what was it like to be on the stage with such heroes and heroines of the acting world?

DH: I learned a lot. It was great experience. I really could relate to the tutor, Belieav, and that came out in my performance. Hagen believed in my talent, which helped immensely. I gave that part everything I had.

Redgrave was an excellent director. It showed in the reviews we got and in the awards I won. I knew I needed to do well in this part. It was my first real break after almost a year of trying to make it on the stage in New York, so I went for it. And I ended up in Hollywood making movies, but that’s another story!

HG: If another The Fly remake were to be greenlit and produced again, would you be interested in playing a part in it?

DH: Not sure what I’d play now, but if the part was right for me, and they asked me to do it, I’d certainly say yes.

Chris Wright: July 14, 2009 will mark the 20th anniversary of Licence to Kill. Can you tell us what your fondest memory is from filming your second Bond film?

DH: I loved the Key West location. In particular, winding down beside the hotel pool in the evening after a hard day’s work, with my wife, Bridget, and Benicio del Toro, who is a lovely, warm person, nothing like Dario. Del Toro was not well known then, but I could see he had talent. There was a boat there and my wife and I would go out sailing.

CW: What did you think when you read the script and it said your character was going to get married and maimed in the film?

DH: I was coming down to the set from another job – a play called Return Engagements – and my advance script got lost in the mail. So I arrived for my first day of shooting with no script. Barbara Broccoli was kind enough to lend me hers to get me through the day, until they could get me one, so I really didn’t know what I was doing, at first.

CW: Do you wish you had been asked to do more Bond films as Felix Leiter?

DH: I certainly would have played the part if someone had asked me to, but no one did. They took Roger’s Bond in a direction that did not include Felix until his last film and then they decided “Felix” should be an Asian. I never complained about them casting me in the two films they did. Felix in the Fleming books is supposed to be blond and from Texas, and I am neither.

CW: Can you tell us about any of your current or future projects?

DH: I plan to make some personal appearances later this year, but the dates are not announced yet. They will show up on my website, DavidHedison.com, when they are set. I’m still working at the Actors Studio West and I enjoy that very much.

HG & CW: FelixLeiter.com would like to thank you for taking the time to participate in this interview.

DH: My pleasure.

THE FLc INTERVIEW WILL RETURN…

“Get me a make on a white pimpmobile!”

David Hedison, two-time Felix Leiter, turns 82 years old today and all of us here at FelixLeiter.com would like to wish him a wonderful happy birthday!

Mr. Hedison appeared in 1973′s Live and Let Die and 1989′s Licence to Kill. He was the first actor to portray the cinematic Leiter twice, a record he now shares with Jeffrey Wright. Many Bond fans consider him their favorite interpretation of Felix Leiter and many wish he had been given the opportunity to play the character more. I too share this sentiment and wish he had at least returned in 1987′s The Living Daylights. I don’t dislike John Terry in that film but I think we can all agree that David Hedison IS Felix Leiter! Mr. Terry was merely filling in for him until he returned two years later in Licence to Kill as far as I’m concerned.

I had the opportunity to meet him as well as Priscilla Barnes (Della Leiter) at the first annual International Sports & Entertainment Festival in Cleveland, Ohio in June 2006. I shared my experience at this event in this article at CommanderBond.net. Mr. Hedison was the first actor from a James Bond film that I had ever met and I will always remember that experience.

Thank you for being a class act and FLc hopes you have many more happy birthdays to come!

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FelixLeiter.com is now on Twitter. Follow us at FelixLeiterNews!

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March ’09 News Update: WonderCon, Oscar Snub, Twitter and More!

CLICK HERE FOR DEALS!

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New Limited Edition Autograph Cards Now on eBay

March ’09 News Update: WonderCon, Oscar Snub, Twitter and More!

On Wednesday, Rittenhouse Archives Ltd. released a new collection of James Bond trading cards called James Bond Archives. This set contains the following Felix Leiter cards:

New Autograph Cards

David Hedison as Felix Leiter in Live And Let Die (Limited)

John Terry as Felix Leiter in The Living Daylights (Very Limited)

Priscilla Barnes as Della Churchill in Licence to Kill (Limited)

Last December, FLc published an extensive article on the last release of Rittenhouse’s James Bond trading card series. Please consult that article for a list of the other Felix Leiter cards that have been released thus far.

The other day I purchased the David Hedison autograph card and today, I won the John Terry autograph card. This will be the first John Terry card in my personal Felix Leiter trading card collection.

It is important to note that these aren’t the first autograph cards for these specific actors from Rittenhouse Archives Ltd. A David Hedison card was released back when Eon Productions was celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the James Bond film series in 2002. The other two cards were released last year in the James Bond in Motion collection:

Older Autograph Cards

A16 – David Hedison as Felix Leiter in Licence to Kill (released on 8.28.2002)

A95 – Priscilla Barnes as Della Leiter in Licence to Kill (40th Anniversary Style) (Limited)

A116 – John Terry as Felix Leiter in The Living Daylights (40th Anniversary Style) (Very Limited)

Stay tuned to FLc for all the latest news on Rittenhouse Archives’ Felix Leiter trading cards. All of the aforementioned autograph cards are now available on eBay. Visit SciFiHobby.com for more information on all of Rittenhouse Archives’ James Bond trading card collections as well as checklists for each collection.

Related Articles:

New Leiter Trading Cards from Rittenhouse

David Hedison News

Super MegaFest Reports (incl. pictures) by Diane Kachmar et al.

Two ‘Fly at Fifty’ authors at their appearance
in Boston, November 22-23, 2008.

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Famous Monsters of Filmland Names The Fly at Fifty #6 Best Book of 2008

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

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Directing David Hedison by Paul Kyriazi

An article about Mr. Kyriazi’s experience directing David Hedison

on four of his audiobooks as well as meeting him at SpyFest.

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WonderCon Report (incl. pictures) by Diane Kachmar

David Hedison autographing pictures at WonderCon
in San Francisco, February 27 – March 1, 2009.

WonderCon Video

David Hedison and Richard Kiel aka “Jaws” appear
at 4:19 and 4:50 into the video, respectively.

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New Felix Leiter (Live and Let Die) Autograph Card Out Now

You can find this card on eBay. For more information, visit SciFiHobby.com.

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Jeffrey Wright News

“Vereen hits Jeffrey Wright Oscar snub” by Scott Galupo

Actor Ben Vereen told The Washington Times it was an “injustice” that Jeffrey Wright

wasn’t nominated for his performance as Muddy Waters in ‘Cadillac Records.’

Video of Vereen and Wright’s response included.

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Oliver Stone’s W. Hit DVD/Blu-ray on February 10th!

Jeffrey Wright is Colin Powell

in

W.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE DVD

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASED BLU-RAY

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Cadillac Records Hit DVD/Blu-ray on March 10th!

Click here to read FelixLeiter.com’s review of the film.

Jeffrey Wright is Muddy Waters

in

Cadillac Records

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE DVD

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE BLU-RAY

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‘Bond 23′ Filming Begins in 2010

According to CBn, Daniel Craig has stated that filming for ‘Bond 23′ will begin in 2010.

There is still no word on when exactly production will begin or whether Wright will return as Leiter.

His return depends on whether or not the script features the character but he has heard “rumblings.”

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Central Intelligence Agency News

On January 8, FLc reported that President Barack Obama named Leon Panetta as Director of the CIA.

Panetta was confirmed by the Senate and was sworn in on February 12, 2009.

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World Factbook Second Edition

Somebody posted a link to the World Factbook Second Edition on Twitter.

This very cool high-tech tool would make Felix Leiter proud!

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FelixLeiter.com News

FLc Now on Twitter!

We will be updating FelixLeiterNews with the latest Felix Leiter news as frequently as possible.

Richard Kiel aka Jaws from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979) will also be in attendance.

Please visit WonderCon’s official website for more information on purchasing advance tickets, hotel reservations, directions, etc. I highly recommend booking the con hotel early since around 30,000 people will be attending the event.

WonderCon 2009
Moscone Center South
747 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

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’70s Leiters Norman Burton and David Hedison came thisclose to meeting on screen in an episode from the second season of Wonder Woman, “The Queen and the Thief.”

Burton played series semi-regular (he was only around for eight episodes) Joe Atkinson, boss to agents Diana Prince and Steve Trevor Jr. in IADC (Inter-Agency Defense Command), a government agency headquartered in Washington, D.C. In this episode they are assigned to capture the suave and sophisticated international thief Evan Robley (Hedison) who is in Palm Beach to steal the crown jewels of Malakar, which were brought there by the Queen as goodwill collateral for a loan from the United States.

Since Burton doesn’t accompany his agents to Palm Beach, he and fellow Leiter Hedison never meet.

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CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER @ AMAZON.COM

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DIVE INTO THE FINAL SEASON OF 

SEASON FOUR, VOLUME ONE

The Classic Sci-Fi Series Surfaces On DVD March 31^st  
From Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

All-New Bonus Features, Including Never Before Seen Interviews With 
David Hedison And More

CENTURY CITY, Calif. – Escape on another “Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea” as Season Four, Volume One submerges onto DVD March 31^st from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  Based on Irwin Allen’s action-packed 1961 film Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, the television series chronicles the adventures of Admiral Nelson (Richard Basehart: “Knight Rider”), Captain Crane (David Hedison: License To Kill, “The Young and the Restless”) and the fearless crew of the notorious SSRN Seaview as they embark on uncharted waters full of sci-fi espionage, action and suspense.  Featuring the first 13 episodes from the final season on a three-disc set, “Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea” Season Four, Volume One boasts the re-cut, unaired pilot, interviews with Hedison and still photos.  This unsinkable set will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.98 U.S./$54.98 Canada.

Synopsis:

As this ground-breaking action-adventure series went into its final season, the unparalleled genius of producer Irwin Allen kicked into creative overdrive, resulting in some of the greatest science-fiction television of all time. From rampaging gorillas and diabolical puppet masters to time-travelling androids and interplanetary kidnappings, this is the show that defined the genre, setting new standards for suspense, vision, and imagination. Now, join Admiral Nelson, Captain Crane and the rest of the crew aboard the Seaview, the Earth’s most powerful nuclear submarine, and dive deep into the unknown in this penultimate volume of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

DVD Features:

The “Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea” Season Four, Volume One three-disc DVD collection includes the first 13 episodes of the final season presented in wide screen format (4×3 1.33 aspect ratio) with English, Spanish and French Mono sound and English, Spanish and French subtitles. Individual disc content as follows:

o       The Deadly Dolls

o       Cave of the Dead

o       Journey with Fear

o       Sealed Orders

o       Man of Many Faces

o       Fatal Cargo

o       Time Lock

o       Rescue

o       Terror

o       Eleven Days to Zero (Re-cut, Unaired Pilot)

o       David Hedison Interviews

·        Years 1-4

·        Irwin’s Goal

·        Irwin’s Office

·        Work Hours

·        Voice-overs

o        Still Gallery

A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD) as well as acquisitions and original productions.  The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.  Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.

‘Chicago 10′ featuring Jeffrey Wright on DVD Tuesday

‘Dynasty – Season Three, Vol. Two’ Coming to DVD in October

‘Hawaii Five-O: The Fourth Season’ Now on DVD

‘The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Volume Three – The Years of Change’ Now on DVD

‘The Love Boat – Season One, Vol. One’ Now on DVD

‘The Invasion’ & ‘Blackout’ Now on DVD

Bond Allies

BA26 – Felix Leiter in Live And Let Die
BA29 – Felix Leiter in Thunderball
BA30 – Felix Leiter in Goldfinger
BA35 – Felix Leiter in Diamonds Are Forever

Costume/Prop Relic Cards

DC04 – Felix Leiter from Casino Royale (Double)

Autograph Cards

A116 – John Terry as Felix Leiter in The Living Daylights (40th Anniversary Style) (Very Limited)

The James Bond: Dangerous Liaisons and The Complete James Bond trading cards from 2006 and 2007, respectively, also contain the following Felix Leiter cards:

James Bond: Dangerous Liaisons

Bond Allies

BA01 – Felix Leiter in Dr. No

The Complete James Bond

Casino Royale: Dangerous Liaisons

DL3 – James Bond-Felix Leiter

Casino Royale Expansion Cards

BA19 – Felix Leiter in Casino Royale

I noticed there is a “Bond Allies” card for 6 of the 7 “official” Felix Leiter actors (Jack Lord, Cec Linder, Rik Van Nutter, Norman Burton, David Hedison and Jeffrey Wright). I don’t think a John Terry “Bond Allies” card exists yet but he does have an “Autograph Card” that matches Rittenhouse’s 40th Anniversary cards. As I mentioned above, this specific card is included in the new James Bond in Motion set.

On March 4, 2009, Rittenhouse will release James Bond Archives. It will retail for $84.00. Since I only care about the Felix Leiter trading cards, I will avoid the extravagantly priced sets and just buy the individual Leiter cards on eBay. I’m already in possession of the ”Bond Allies” cards for Jack Lord, Cec Linder, Rik Van Nutter and Jeffrey Wright.

(Older trading cards featuring David Hedison as Felix Leiter can be viewed at DavidHedison.net, FYI)

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