The late English actor, Roger Moore, known for portraying fictional spy James Bond, must be immortalized by naming important places after him, so say Nollywood actors.
Veteran Nigerian actor Jide Kosoko, along with other actors and fans of the deceased suggested this on Wednesday, while reacting to his death that occurred on Tuesday.
Moore was aged 89 years old.
According to them, memorials to the late actor will encourage contemporary actors to put their best into the profession.
They said that Moore’s death had left a great vacuum that would be difficult to fill in the entertainment industry.
Moore’s cool and calm personality made him the most suitable to play the espionage character in the movie series, fans say.
Jide Kosoko, reacting to the death of Moore, advised other actors to emulate the contributions and professionalism of Bond to the movie industry and the entire world.
According to him, the death of Moore is a great loss to the industry, especially now that the experiences of such great icons were needed for budding actors to help build a better society.
“Everyone will die; but what we ask for is a life long enough to empty the store of gifts and talents in us.
“Moore was a very popular figure not just in the entertainment industry but also in humanitarian services.’’
Kosoko advised up-and-coming artists and those in showbiz to add value to society by taking a cue from Bond’s philanthropic gestures.
Another Nigerian actor, Charles Awurum, said that Moore lived a great and enviable life by using his influence and reputation to fight for children all over the world through UNICEF.
Awurum said that the legend should be celebrated and immortalised by the entertainment world for his contributions to the movie-industry, especially the popular “James Bond” series of films.
“He is one of the first actors we watched on television while growing up and over time encouraged most of the present-day-actors to go into acting.
“I hope the world honours him in the right capacity so that others can pursue same dream of becoming renowned personalities in this business of ours.
“If that is done, we will be encouraged and know that our dreams of taking up the acting career will be realized over time,’’ he said.
For Amina Ndim, an actress, she said Moore was a good and a popular actor that was known all over the world.
“I liked his acting when I was growing up, especially the ‘007’ movie-series.
“He acted in many films and he added glamour to his craft, by adding comedy to his acting.’’
Moore contributed to the growth of Hollywood by improving that industry. May he rest in peace,’’ Ndim said.
Also, Tony Okuyeme, another actor, said that Moore was an actor with an extraordinary talent.
“Many people will miss him and his acting skills. He was always adding new things to his films.
“He was what you will call a natural talent. His comic way of doing things while on set was amazing.
“Hollywood and the whole world will miss him,’’ he said
A teacher and a fan of Moore, Mr George Olufemi, said that the deceased would be greatly missed because of his contributions to the sector while alive.
“Moore is smooth when it comes to representing James Bond. As Bond, he was really good with females but was equally dangerous around enemies.
“I thank God that he lived long and left a great mark in the movie industry,” Olufemi said.
To Mr John Alade, a businessman, Moore highly increased the audience of the “007’’ films which invariably popularised the movie and earned it more profit.
“It was because of Moore’s acting prowess that I became a fan of the James Bond’s series. Moore always had a way of thrilling his audience as the movie progressed,” he said.
An artist, Dele Afowodu, also expressed grief over the death of Moore.
He said that Moore’s death came as a shock to him because the deceased was still looking ‘hale and hearty’ in the films where he featured.
Afowodu expressed his condolences to the actor’s family and fans all over the world and thanked God that he left a positive mark in the entertainment industry.
(Source: NAN)