A Conversation with Robert Dix

Agent Hamilton from the film LIVE AND LET DIE

Robert Dix as agent Hamilton during the pre-credit sequence of LIVE AND LET DIE (1973).

A man waits alone on a street corner in New Orleans, smoking his fifth cigarette in nearly twenty minutes.  All the time observing a nefarious bar from across the street.  Agent Hamilton knew that he had to quit smoking, his doctor insisted as well as his superiors at British Intelligence.  But that will have to wait another day since this stakeout was too important to mess up from the effects of nicotine withdrawal syndrome.

Suddenly, the dead atmosphere on Bourbon Street is quickly awakened by the sound of a funeral dirge.  A jazz band slowly parades down the street, leading a casket of a fellow human being.  Another man walks up along side Hamilton as he pays his last respects to the weeping widow.

Hamilton, turns to the man next to him and casually says, "Whose funeral is it?"

The man reveals a knife and slides it quickly between the rib cage of the surprised agent.  "Yours!" says the silent assassin as Hamilton crashes to the street and into eternal darkness.

That scene became one of three vignettes that opened the eighth James Bond film and introduced Roger Moore as the intrepid agent OO7.  The film was Live and Let Die and the year was 1973.

Although Roger Moore is a household name and known around the world, the actor who played 'Hamilton' is not.  His name is Robert Dix and, at one time, his actor/father Richard Dix was perhaps one of the best known actors as Roger Moore is today.

Richard Dix was a huge Hollywood star who performed in numerous films such as 1923's The Ten Commandments and 1931's Cimarron.  He is also well known for his film noir series The Whistler, a precursor to television shows such as The Twilight Zone.

Dr. Shatterhand and actor Robert Dix at the Monster Bash 2008.

Robert Dix is one of twin sons to Richard and Virginia Dix.  At an early age, young Bob wanted to follow his father into acting.  At age sixteen he attended Summer Stock Theater in upstate New York.  Not to use nepotism to his advantage over other struggling actors, Bob changed his last name to his father's original name - Brimmer.

Soon after Bob would change Brimmer back to Dix and was working in Hollywood in studios such as MGM and 20th Century Fox.  It was while under contract that Bob Dix became close friends with another young actor - Roger Moore.

Dix did more than act, he taught Roger Moore how to ride a horse which obviously helped in his career with TV's Maverick, Moonraker and A View to a Kill.

In June 2008, Bob Dix was one of many celebrities to attend the Monster Bash in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He was very kind to offer a video interview for this website.

Please welcome Mr. Bob Dix to The Question Room.

Robert Dix played the part of Hamilton in Live and Let Die.  

The name Hamilton was taken from director Guy Hamilton by screenplay writer Tom Mankiewicz.

A better quality video and sound can be downloaded by clicking here.

For more information about Robert Dix, or if you wish to know when he will be releasing his autobiography "Out of Hollywood", please visit his website Bob Dix Online.