I always thought Connery was the ideal Bond. Looking back at his portrayal compared to that of his successor Sean Connery, who's credited as putting Bond on the map, Nelson said, 'I don't spend much time regretting. Nelson was the first to introduce Bond to the world on screen, and he made his debut through a live TV adaptation of Casino Royale on CBS' anthology series Climax! Nelson was the only American Bond (known as Jimmy Bond), and he was well-received by audiences when the show aired in 1954. Barry Nelson as James Bond in the TV show 'Casino Royale' Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Imagesīarry Nelson built his acting career as a huge Broadway star before he decided to take on the role of Bond, albeit a 'sexless and glum' version dressed in a 'crooked bow tie,' observed the Los Angeles Times.
