Sir Roger Moore, who played James Bond in the film franchise from 1973-1985 and starred on television as Simon Templar on “The Saint” from 1962-1969, has died.

Moore’s family posted a message on the actor’s Twitter account confirming his death. Moore died today in Switzerland after a “short but brave battle with cancer,” his children Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian said in the message.

“The affection our father felt whenever he walked on to a stage or in front of a camera buoyed him hugely and kept him busy working into his 90th year, through to his last appearance in November 2016 on stage at London’s Royal Festival Hall,” the message adds. “The capacity crowd cheered him on and off stage, shaking the very foundations of the building just a short distance from where he was born.”

Moore replaced Sean Connery as James Bond starting with “Live and Let Die” in 1973, and went on to play Bond in seven films, culminating with “A View to a Kill” in 1985. His 12-year run as Bond was the longest of any actor.

He was also the oldest actor to play Bond, having reached the age of 58 before announcing his retirement from the role in December 1985.

Moore had already become a familiar face to U.S. audiences before stepping into the 007 franchise. He played Beau Maverick, a British relative of the Maverick family that also included James Garner, Jack Kelly and Robert Colbert, in the TV Western “Maverick” from 1960-1961 before tackling the high-profile title role of Simon Templar in the spy thriller “The Saint.”

A British production, “The Saint” became a hit worldwide, including airing in the U.S. from 1962-1969.

Moore, who won a Golden Globe as World Film Favorite, Male, in 1980, took a five-year break from acting following his run as Bond, but later resumed his film work and maintained a busy career throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s. During this period his film appearances included “Bed & Breakfast,” released in 1991, “The Quest” in 1996 and “Spice World” in 1997.

Here’s a clip of Roger Moore highlights from the James Bond movies …