Roger Moore has died at the age of 89, his family has announced.

The actor was best known for playing James Bond in seven Bond movies including Live and Let Die and A View to a Kill.

Roger Moore’s family confirmed the sad news on Twitter, saying he had died after “a short but brave battle with cancer”.

The statement, from the actor’s children, read: “Thank you Pops for being you, and being so very special to so many people.”

“With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated,” they said in a Twitter post.

Roger Moore took the character of James Bond in a more humorous direction than his predecessor Sean Connery.

Image source Wikimedia

His James Bond was calm and suave – a smooth operator who could seemingly get himself out of a tricky situation with ease.

Roger Moore, who died in Switzerland, will have a private funeral in Monaco in accordance with his wishes, his children said.

“The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone,” read the statement from Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian.

“Our thoughts must now turn to supporting Kristina [Tholstrup, Roger Moore’s wife] at this difficult time.”

The statement added: “We know our own love and admiration will be magnified many times over, across the world, by people who knew him for his films, his television shows and his passionate work for UNICEF which he considered to be his greatest achievement.”

Along with his famous James Bond role, Roger Moore was also known for 1960s TV series The Persuaders and The Saint.

Roger Moore was also well known for his humanitarian work – he was introduced to UNICEF by the late Audrey Hepburn and was appointed as a goodwill ambassador in 1991.