(December 30, 1920–January 21, 1998; birth name: John Joseph Patrick Ryan): American tough-guy actor who was the first to portray CIA agent Felix Leiter when the character made its debut in Dr. No in 1962. Unlike some of the later Leiters, who were given comic support roles almost to the point of high camp, Lord’s CIA man is strictly no-nonsense. The only time we get the hint of a smile is when Lord’s Leiter finds Bond in a clinch with Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) in the motorboat at the film’s conclusion.
From Dr. No, Lord went on to portray another serious detective in the tropics: Steve McGarrett in the original hit series Hawaii Five-O (281 episodes, 1968–1980). A New York City native, Lord made his motion picture debut in writer/director Edward J. Montagne’s action-drama Project X (1949).