Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Actor Bruce Glover, Best Known for James Bond Villain, Dies at 92
Veteran character actor Bruce Glover, famed for his role as the sinister Mr. Wint in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, has passed away at the age of 92. The news of his death was shared by his son, actor Crispin Glover, on Friday, who posted a series of heartfelt retrospective photos on Instagram, announcing his father’s passing on March 12.
Remembering Bruce Glover’s Career
Bruce Glover solidified his place in cinematic history with his portrayal of Mr. Wint, one half of the menacing assassin duo in the 1971 James Bond installment Diamonds Are Forever, which starred Sean Connery as the iconic 007 agent. Glover’s performance as the cold-blooded killer remains a memorable highlight of the film and the James Bond franchise.
Beyond his Bond role, Glover showcased his versatility in a range of notable film and television appearances. Three years after his Bond appearance, he played a key supporting role in Roman Polanski’s acclaimed neo-noir masterpiece Chinatown (1974), acting as the assistant to Jack Nicholson’s private investigator character.
Television and Film Roles
Glover’s extensive career spanned decades, with roles in numerous popular television series. He appeared in episodes of classic shows such as:
- Gunsmoke
- Perry Mason
- Mission: Impossible
- The Dukes Of Hazzard
- The Mod Squad
- Barney Miller
- CHiPs
- Murder, She Wrote
- The A-Team
- T.J. Hooker
His filmography also includes roles in:
- Black Gunn (1972)
- Hard Times (1975)
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in Chicago in 1932, Bruce Glover described his upbringing as that of a ‘tough working class kid.’ He started working at a young age, delivering groceries from the age of six. While excelling as a football star in school, he also nurtured his artistic inclinations by selling his paintings as a child.
Following his service in the Korean War, Glover’s foray into acting began unconventionally. His first job in show business involved dressing as a gorilla in a Florida nightclub act. It was a local magician who recognized Glover’s natural talent, advising him that his believable portrayal of the ape indicated he was ‘an actor.’
Broadway and Beyond
Inspired, Glover moved to New York and launched his Broadway career in the early 1960s. He performed in significant theatrical productions, including Tennessee Williams’ The Night Of The Iguana alongside Bette Davis and Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage And Her Children with Anne Bancroft.
Reflecting on his iconic Bond role, Glover recounted that Diamonds Are Forever director Guy Hamilton welcomed his creative input, stating, ‘…a lot of the success of the humor of that film was me.’ He highlighted specific comedic moments he contributed, emphasizing his impact on the film’s tone.
Personal Life and Legacy
Bruce Glover and his second wife, ballerina Betty Krachey, shared a 56-year marriage from 1960 until her passing in 2016. Together they raised Crispin Glover. Bruce articulated their parenting philosophy as fostering individuality, encouraging children ‘to help them find their way of doing it…’
In a final on-screen collaboration, Bruce and Crispin Glover acted together in a movie filmed at Crispin’s Czech Republic castle shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. While filmed in 2019, the project remained unreleased at the time of Bruce Glover’s death.
Bruce Glover, who also imparted acting knowledge through teaching for many years, summarized his perspective on his profession: ‘Acting isn’t important, what is important is being a real entity.’