Which actor played the most popular version of James Bond 007?

Most people point to Sean Connery, the first screen Bond in Dr. No (1962) and the actor most often named as the definitive 007. He played the role in Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and returned once more for Never Say Never Again (1983), which was made outside the official series.

Popularity is hard to measure, though, so it depends on what you count. Roger Moore played the role in seven films and is often cited for box office, and Daniel Craig's five films (2006 to 2021) are frequently praised by critics and fans for their tone. Timothy Dalton, who played Bond in The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989), is generally rated highly by fans who prefer a harder, closer-to-Fleming Bond, which is why some folks still ask about him in the thread above.

If you want to see the difference for yourself, try From Russia with Love (1963) with Connery and Casino Royale (2006) with Craig, then compare them.

Also discussed here:
- Will Callum Turner likely be the next Bond 007?