Ernst Stavro Blofeld or is heard in three novels: "Thunderball", "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"; and "You Only Live Twice"; as well as seven films from Eon Productions: "From Russia with Love" (1963); "Thunderball" (1965); "You Only Live Twice" (1967); "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969); "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971); "For Your Eyes Only" (1981) (the pre-title sequence of which shows an unnamed character resembling him fall to his death); and "Spectre" (2015). He also appears in "Never Say Never Again" (1983), the non-Eon remake of "Thunderball". Blofeld has been played on screen by Donald Pleasence, Telly Savalas, Charles Gray, Max von Sydow,
James Bond filmography by Connery, was selected as the third-greatest hero in cinema history by the American Film Institute. When Sean Connery had been cast in November 1961, David Niven had been Fleming's choice for the role as the actor reflected his image of the character. In 1965 producer Charles Feldman signed Niven to play Sir James Bond for "Casino Royale", a film not made by Eon Productions. Connery and Peter Sellers had both turned down the role. Niven was 56 when he played Bond and his characterisation was that of an elderly man who had won the Victoria Cross at the Siege