Q (James Bond) was portrayed by Phil Proctor. Llewelyn has appeared in more Bond films — seventeen — than any other actor to date. In "The World Is Not Enough" an assistant to Q was introduced, played by John Cleese. His real name was never revealed, but he was initially credited as "R" in "The World Is Not Enough", stemming from a joke in which Bond asks the elder Q: "If you're Q, does that make him R?" Between films, Cleese was still referred to as "R" in the video games "" (2000), "007 Racing" (2000) and "Agent Under Fire" (2001). He was
Desmond Llewelyn film alludes to Q's retirement, to which Bond, after seeing Q, expresses his hope that it will not be any time soon. Q's response is to admonish Bond to "always have an escape plan", after which he lowers himself through the floor of his lab. Llewelyn had stated not long before his death that he had no plans to retire and that he would continue playing Q "as long as the producers want me and the Almighty doesn't." In the 2002 film "Die Another Day", John Cleese's character is the head of Q branch, having inherited the title of quartermaster