Michael Lonsdale, actor who played Bond villain in ‘Moonraker,’ dies at 87

Michael Lonsdale, the British-French actor famous for playing one of James Bond’s most iconic villains, has died at 87. [contfnewc] Lonsdale passed away on Monday at 7 a.m. ET, his agent confirmed to CNN. The cause of his death is unknown.[contfnewc] Lonsdale starred opposite Roger Moore in the 1979 film “Moonraker” as the villain Hugo Drax, an industrialist who was plotting to commit global genocide.[contfnewc] “We are very sad to learn of the passing of Michael Lonsdale, who played Hugo Drax in Moonraker,” longtime 007 producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said in a tweet. “He was an extraordinarily talented actor and a very dear friend. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”[contfnewc] The family-run twitter account for Sir Roger Moore, who died in 2017, described Lonsdale as “a smooth-tongued and cultured adversary to 007.”[contfnewc] “Michael Lonsdale, a legend who will be missed but not forgotten!” actor Jean-Claude Van Damne wrote on Twitter..

Lonsdale passed away on Monday at 7 a.m. ET, his agent confirmed to CNN. The cause of his death is unknown.