Guy Hamilton, the director of four James Bond films, has died on the Mediterranean island of Majorca at the age of 93. Hamilton was at the helm of iconic 007 movies Goldfinger in 1964 and Diamonds Are Forever in 1971, both starring Sean Connery, as well as 1973’s Live and Let Die and 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun, both with Roger Moore as Bond. Hamilton’s career started when he was 17 in the accounts department of a film studio in Nice, France, but he soon gravitated to a lowly production role.

Hamilton remains best known for his four Bond films, and he played a major part in developing the franchise’s distinctive style, including the glamour.

“Don’t take a train when you can take a plane, and if you’re going to take a plane, take the newest one around,” Hamilton said. “And if you give Bond a car, don’t show what’s been seen — show what’s not out yet.”

Did You Know?

• The James Bond series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections.
• Since Fleming’s death in 1964, eight other authors have written authorised Bond novels or novelizations.
• The character has also been adapted for television, radio, comic strip, video games and film.
• The films are the longest continually running and the third-highest-grossing film series to date, which started in 1962 with Dr. No, starring Sean Connery as Bond.
• The most recent Bond film, Spectre (2015), stars Daniel Craigin his fourth portrayal of Bond; he is the sixth actor to play Bond in the Eon series.