07/08/2026
Brother Sir Roger Moore, KBE (1927–2017)
To millions around the world, he was James Bond the sophisticated, quick-witted British secret agent who portrayed 007 in seven films, making him the longest-serving actor in the iconic role. Others knew him as Simon Templar in The Saint, Lord Brett Sinclair in The Persuaders!, or as one of Britain’s most beloved actors.
To Freemasons, he was also Brother Sir Roger Moore.
Brother Moore was initiated into Chelsea Lodge No. 3098, a lodge under the United Grand Lodge of England with a long history of members from the entertainment industry. Like countless Brethren before him, he became part of a fraternity dedicated to making good men better through the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.
Long before he became an international film star, Roger Moore answered his country’s call to serve. Following the Second World War, he completed his National Service and was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Army Service Corps. He later transferred to the Combined Services Entertainment branch, where he entertained and boosted the morale of British servicemen stationed in West Germany. By the end of his military service, he had attained the rank of Captain.
After leaving the military, Moore pursued acting and built one of the most recognizable careers in television and film history. His breakout role came as Simon Templar in The Saint, making him an international television star before he was chosen to succeed Sean Connery as James Bond.
Between 1973 and 1985, Roger Moore portrayed 007 in seven films:
• Live and Let Die
• The Man with the Golden Gun
• The Spy Who Loved Me
• Moonraker
• For Your Eyes Only
• Oc*****sy
• A View to a Kill
His portrayal of Bond was known for its charm, humor, sophistication, and unwavering sense of duty, making him one of the most beloved actors ever to wear the famous tuxedo.
Yet, Roger Moore often said that the accomplishment he was proudest of had nothing to do with Hollywood.
In 1991, he became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, dedicating more than 25 years of his life to helping children around the world. He traveled extensively to raise awareness for poverty, disease, education, and humanitarian crises, using his celebrity not for personal gain but to improve the lives of others.
His extraordinary humanitarian efforts led to him being knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2003, becoming Sir Roger Moore, not for portraying James Bond, but for his outstanding charitable service to humanity.
Throughout his life, those who worked with him consistently described him as one of the kindest, most humble, and most gracious gentlemen in the entertainment industry a reputation that reflected the values Freemasons strive to live every day.
Brother Roger Moore reminds us that Freemasonry has long been home to men from every profession and every walk of life. Soldiers, craftsmen, teachers, first responders, doctors, actors, laborers, business owners, and public servants all meet upon the level. It is not fame, wealth, or status that unites us it is a shared commitment to building ourselves into better men so we can better serve our families, our communities, and our fellow man.
It’s remarkable that despite examples like Brother Sir Roger Moore, Brother Danny Thomas, whose vision helped create St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the countless hospitals operated by the Shriners, there are still people who insist Freemasonry is something sinister.
The truth is far less sensational and far more meaningful.
Time and again, history shows men quietly serving their country, giving to charity, caring for children, and improving their communities without asking for recognition. Those are the kinds of men Freemasonry seeks to encourage.
As Freemasons, we don’t claim perfection. We simply strive to leave the world a little better than we found it.
“The world is not enough… but kindness, charity, integrity, and brotherhood leave a legacy that lasts forever.”
