Ernst Stavro Blofeld perhaps six foot three (190 cm), and powerfully built." It is indicated that Blofeld has by now gone completely insane, as he all but admits himself when Bond levels the accusation. Bond strangles him to death at the end of the novel. In both "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and "You Only Live Twice", Blofeld is aided in his schemes by Irma Bunt, who is clearly his lover in the latter, and posing as Shatterhand's wife. Bond incapacitates her in their Japanese castle base before it blows up, killing Bunt. The final mention of Blofeld is in the beginning of
Ernst Stavro Blofeld the next novel, "The Man with the Golden Gun", published in 1965. In the film series, Blofeld first appears in "From Russia with Love" (credited as "Blofeld", though the name is never heard), then in "Thunderball" (uncredited). In these two appearances, his name is never pronounced, his face is not seen, and only his lower body is visible as he strokes his trademark white cat. Czech actor Jan Werich was originally cast by producer Harry Saltzman to play Blofeld in "You Only Live Twice". Upon his arrival at the Pinewood set, both producer Albert R. Broccoli and director Lewis Gilbert