Felix Leiter has been a part of the James Bond franchise for as long as the British secret agent himself, with numerous actors stepping in to play the role. The American secret agent first appeared in Ian Fleming’s original James Bond novel, “Casino Royale”. The character’s name was borrowed from two of Fleming’s own friends, Ivar Felix Bruce and Oatsie Charles Leiter. Leiter’s American identity distinguishes the character within the largely British gallery of James Bond’s allies.

From a storytelling perspective, it’s interesting to introduce a counterpart to Bond, one whose own distinct national interests make him a separate character. Politically, it’s possible to read the dynamic as a representation of the “special relationship” the US and UK have always enjoyed. However, the James Bond film franchise has historically struggled with finding the right way to represent the character. Indeed, Felix Leiter has been recast even more times than Bond himself. It’s worth examining the different portrayals, and what they say about the Felix Leiter character.

9 Michael Pate – Casino Royale TV Version

The first screen adaptation of the James Bond and Felix Leiter characters predates Sean Connery’s first outing as the spy. In 1954, Ian Fleming’s first Bond novel, “Casino Royale”, was adapted into a one-hour TV movie as part of the CBS anthology series Climax Mystery Theatre. The adaptation made James Bond an American agent working for the “Combined Intelligence Agency.” However, the English-American dynamic between Bond and Leiter was maintained by transforming Felix Leiter into the British Clarence Leiter, played by Australian actor Michael Pate. Pate enjoyed a successful career on American television, appearing on numerous series including Zorro, Gunsmoke, Batman and Mission: Impossible.

8 Jack Lord – Dr. No

The first mainstream Eon-produced James Bond outing was the 1962 film Dr. No. While Fleming’s original novel doesn’t feature an appearance from Felix Leiter, the filmmakers were keen to include him in order to maximize American appeal. Because of his absence from the book, Leiter is largely extraneous to the action of Dr. No, although American actor Jack Lord plays him with a swagger that sells the character as James Bond’s American counterpart. Lord refused to reprise the role without more money and co-star billing in the next Bond outing, but the actor would go on to see great success in the starring role of Jack McGarrett in Hawaii Five-O.

7 Cec Linder – Goldfinger

For Goldfinger, the third of Sean Connery’s James Bond films, Polish-Canadian actor Cec Linder was cast as Felix Leiter. The character appears at the beginning of the film to brief Bond on his newest assignment. Linder plays Felix Leiter as an older man, closer to Bond’s uncle than his counterpart. It’s a refreshing take on the character, but it loses sight of the charm of Bond and Leiter’s dynamic. Over the course of Cec Linder’s career, he amassed more than 200 screen credits, including a substantial role in Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita as well as recurring appearances in the Perry Mason TV movies and the cult sci-fi show Quartermass and the Pit.

6 Rik Van Nutter – Thunderball

American actor Rik Van Nutter plays Felix Leiter in the fourth Connery Bond film, Thunderball. While the character still isn’t written with a lot of depth, it’s the first film to see Leiter in a more proactive role. Thunderball benefits from Van Nutter’s performance, which meets the relaxed façade of Connery’s Bond with an equally cool demeanor. While Van Nutter’s pre-Bond career was mostly composed of minor roles and European B-movies, Thunderball gave his career a boost. The actor saw top billing on his next two films, Dynamite Joe and A Stroke of 1000 Millions, although he never saw mainstream Hollywood success.

5 Norman Burton – Diamonds are Forever

Diamonds are Forever once again sees Felix Leiter play a more active role in the support of Connery’s Bond. However, his interpretation under American actor Norman Burton is a questionable one. Burton’s Leiter lacks the look and personality consistent with the best iterations of the character. Rather, his exasperation at Bond’s methods loses the unique charm of their dynamic to make Leiter just another stuffy establishment figure who serves as a contrast to the British spy. Burton played supporting roles in numerous mainstream works over the years, including Planet of The Apes, The Towering Inferno and The New Adventures of Wonder Woman.

4 David Hedison – Live And Let Die & Licence To Kill

David Hedison is one of the few actors to play Felix Leiter across multiple films, and the only one to play him against multiple Bonds. The American Hedison was initially cast in the first of Roger Moore’s James Bond films, Live and Let Die, in 1973. Moore and Hedison were good friends and the two actors achieve an easy chemistry that makes the pairing come alive. However, the Felix Leiter character doesn’t reappear during Roger Moore’s Bond run.

16 years later, Hedison was asked to return to the role in the Timothy Dalton Bond film, Licence to Kill. In the film, Bond vows revenge on a drug lord who tortures Felix Leiter, a plot beat taken from the original “Live and Let Die” novel. Hedison saw considerable screen success outside of James Bond. The actor starred in the 1958 sci-fi classic The Fly, the sci-fi series Voyage to The Bottom of The Sea, and even had another turn as a spy in the espionage series Five Fingers.

3 Bernie Casey – Never Say Never Again

In 1983, Sean Connery returned to play James Bond in the non-Eon produced Never Say Never Again. The controversial film was recently voted the worst James Bond movie, but there are plenty of bright spots, including Bernie Casey’s Felix Leiter. Casey was the first of two Black actors cast as Felix Leiter. Casey’s Leiter didn’t have much to do in Never Say Never Again, but his charming performance holds its own against Connery’s Bond. Casey, also a celebrated NFL player, saw substantial roles in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Sharky’s Machine, Revenge of The Nerds, and many others.

2 John Terry – The Living Daylights

15 years after the last Eon appearance of Felix Leiter in Live and Let Die, American actor John Terry played the role in Timothy Dalton’s The Living Daylights. It’s hard to gauge much about Terry’s take on Leiter or his chemistry with Bond from his brief appearance in the film, wherein he helps Bond infiltrate the mansion of an American arms dealer. However, the Eon producers apparently weren’t impressed, as they asked David Hedison to return for Dalton’s next outing. John Terry is best known for his roles as Lt. Lockhart in Full Metal Jacket and Jack Shephard’s father in Lost.

1 Jeffrey Wright – Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace & No Time To Die

Jeffrey Wright broke a Bond franchise record by playing Felix Leiter three times during the Daniel Craig James Bond run. Due the Craig era’s rebooted continuity, Casino Royale is able to show the two agents meeting for the first time, when Leiter agrees to bankroll Bond to keep him in the high-stakes card game. He and Bond cross paths again in Quantum of Solace, and one final time in No Time to Die, where the character is mortally wounded by a CIA double agent and dies in Bond’s arms.

In keeping with the bleaker tone of Craig’s James Bond era, Wright doesn’t play Felix Leiter with the relaxed swagger of earlier iterations. Rather, the actor exudes a somber intensity that meshes well with Craig’s own icy charisma. The two don’t share an easy chemistry, but there’s an obvious mutual respect that sells the dynamic. Jeffrey Wright is a major Hollywood figure outside of James Bond. His most notable roles include Lt. Gordon in 2022’s The Batman, Roebuck Wright in The French Dispatch, and Bernard Lowe in HBO’s Westworld.