Dr. Julius No (Joseph Wiseman)

 

Datastream
Actor: Joseph Wiseman
Character: Dr. Julius No
Movie: Dr. No
Date of Birth: 15 May 1918
Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Distinguishing Feature: Steel hands
Status: Terminated
Organisations & Alliances: SPECTRE, Professor Dent

Profile
Son of German a solider and a young Chinese girl, Dr. Julius No grew to be one of the most brilliant masterminds of the 20th century. Fascinated by science and technology Dr. No became a nuclear physicist. In the process of his experimental work with radioactive materials he lost the use of both hands in a freak accident. His hands were amputated and replaced by robotic pincer-like hands, capable of crushing metal. Dr. No is tall and slim and holds a domineering and sinister figure among his employees.

“East, West, just points of the compass, each as stupid as the other. I'm a member of SPECTRE.”

Scheme
When both Eastern and Western superpowers turned down the services of this mastermind, Dr. No pledged his work to the villainous organisation SPECTRE. From his remote Jamaican island, Dr. No set about destroying the newly launched US space programme by sabotaging the space rockets via radio transmissions.

I've Been Expecting You
“One million dollars, Mr. Bond. You were wondering what it cost.”

Bond is captured when investigating Dr. No’s island lair. But instead of torture and death, Bond is invited to dinner. Bond is admiring the large glass wall in Dr. No’s dining room when the first of a long line of the Bond villains is revealed. Dr No had previously gazed over Bond and Honey Rider after they had been drugged in his mink-lined prison.

Headquarters
Dr No’s lair is buried deep in the jungles of Crab Key – an island off the coast of Jamaica. The lair doubles for Dr. No’s living quarters, his research labs and the radio control room, from where this mastermind launches his attacks.

His living quarters are buried deep under the sea. The feature wall of his dining room is made entirely of glass and peers into the sea. His living room is scattered with prize possessions – most of which were stolen.

 

Gadgets & Vehicles
A fire-breathing dragon guards Dr. No’s lair… or so the local legend goes. In fact, by night Dr. No’s men drive a large rumbling tractor fitted out with a flamethrower through the jungles of Crab Key, frightening away any trespassers

Dress Code
Dr. No is always seen to be clean and formal, preferring a modern oriental style cream suit and black boots.

Goodbye, Mr Bond
“Unfortunately I misjudged you, you are just a stupid police man... whose luck has run out.”

Bond’s dinner is cut short by the launch of the next US space rocket. These are the Doctor’s final words to 007 before the climatic battle where Bond wrestles Dr. No into a radioactive pool.

 

Biography
Joseph Wiseman was born in Montreal, Canada in 1918. Undoubtedly Wiseman is most recognised as 007’s very first arch enemy, Dr. No, yet Wiseman has been acting since the 1930s.

A master of theatre and film alike Wiseman has performed on Broadway in Shakespeare’s “King Lear”, Clifford Odets' "Golden Boy" and Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya.

On screen Wiseman has acted opposite Marlon Brando in “Viva Zapata!” and with Burt Lancaster in “The Unforgiven”.

Fans may also see Wiseman in pulp classics such as “MacGyver”, “L.A. Law” or “Law & Order”.