MI6 got to chat with Richard Kiel last month about his world famous character Jaws featured in the films "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker". We also chatted about his other projects...

Interview - Richard Kiel
15th December 2003

MI6 got to chat to Richard Kiel thanks to our friends at Infinitely Better, last month. Hot on the heels of their Bond Girl's series, they have continued to bring all manor of stars into the public domain for adoring fans. In the coming months Infinitely Better will be bring more and more Bond actors to continue the Bond theme signings.

What do you think it is about the Bond film's that has made them so successful even after 40 years?
They give people their moneys worth, pure entertainment lots of fun beautiful locations, beautiful women lots of great gadgets, humour and action they are always different, when you buy a ticket you go for a great ride.

How do you feel about being part of the Bond family? It's been great, considering that since I did the last film it's been 25 years and just this year they came out with a 14inch, 30 joint articulated Jaws figure. It's the same year as they came out with the one for the Twilight Zone. I do think its kind of cool, my grand kids are wanting for toy's for Christmas. Left: Infinitely Better Store, Swindon.

Jaws has been voted the top Bond villain on a number of occasions. Why do you think that is?
Well you know, I think properly, Odd Job and Blofeld came in pretty close, I did two of them so I had a unfair advantage. But I think that Jaws is popular because he is the underdog and he is very determined, he would brush off his clothes and straightened his tie and keep going. And I think people enjoy that, he wasn't quite as predictable, you weren't sure if Bond was going to kill him or he was going to kill Bond. So they made it a little more fun.

Die Another Day

What did you think of Die Another Day?
I think they always have to get better and they go out of their way to make the next one bigger and better, some are bigger and better than others.

What are the chances of Jaws returning to face Pierce Brosnan in a film? I don't know it will take some innovative writing because I ended up helping Bond in "Moonraker" living and surviving it would have to be a little different? What was it like to work with Roger Moore? Roger is a terrific guy and my first experience filming in the UK. Instead of calling 'Action' they would call the name of actor who began the scene so they would say… 'Richard' it kind of through me off and I was having a hard time getting used to that. So Roger said let's do it the American way, I know how to do that it would be easier for Richard. They used 'Action' after that.

Above: Richard Kiel and young fan

Did you get to keep the metal teeth afterwards?
No, unfortunately I have never had the teeth, they have been in a safe somewhere with the Bond Producers. The guy that made them was a dental technician near Pinewood and he could only make the one set, so there is only one real set out there.

Have you been doing anything recently in film production?
No, the most recent thing I did was "Happy Gilmore", I did a film in India - it may play here, it was called "The Return of the Thief of Baghdad". And it had some Indian star in I can't remember his name but Jason Connery was in it as well.

Above: Richard Kiel and another fan

What is your opinion of CGI and how that change special effects? Well you know I think that in some instances they have done well in others the old fashion way is better - but it's certainly the way of the future. How did you feel about Jaws going soft? I don't think Jaws went soft he was a pretty tough guy and he sort of got redeemed falling in love with the Jaws girlfriend Dolly, which changed him like in real life.

Can you tell us about your 1991 film project "The Giant of Thunder Mountain" and how you prepared and made the crossing from Actor to Producer/Writer?
Yeah I co-wrote that movie. That was something very near and dear to my heart especially when you are producing your first film. When you envisioned the costumes and characters and the sets, it all gets built and the costumes get made. You're involved in the casting and come Monday morning you are there before the sun comes up and you see gigantic cabin, the bigger than normal logs the smoke coming out of the chimney, the chickens out there, its almost like having a child, to write and produce a movie like that.

25 years in the 'making' tell us about your project 'Cassius Clay'? Cassius Clay... What I wrote about was the white man who did more to end slavery except for Abraham Lincoln. It's kind of like a "Schindler's List" but it's about the America struggle with slavery. The original Cassius Clay freed all of his slaves when he was very young and inherited his father's estate, his father was one of the richest men in Kentucky. When he became active in trying to put an end to it all, they tried to assassinate him. They did kill his little boy who was named Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., and ironically that was Muhammad Ali's real name - his father was named after this guy, the guy was a hero to the black people long before the emancipation of proclamation of the thirteenth amendment he was already freeing the slaves providing education giving money to build schools and things. He actually ran for president at the same time as Abraham Lincoln, and through his support to Lincoln, it helped to get Lincoln to come out with the first emancipation of proclamation. Right: Richard Kiel biographical novel about 'Cassius Marcellus Clay'

Many thanks to Richard Kiel and the team at Infinitely Better. Keep a eye out for more guests and a exclusive Infinitely Better competition soon on MI6.

MI6 Biography Name: Richard Kiel Portfolio "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977) - Jaws "Moonraker" (1979) - Jaws "Everything or Nothing" (2004 - Video Game) - Jaws

Related Articles:
Moonraker MI6 Movie Coverage
The Spy Who Loved Me MI6 Movie Coverage
Infinitely Better's website