Bryan Alexander | USA TODAY

Buzz60

David Hedison, best known for starring in two James Bond movies as CIA operative Felix Leiter, died July 18 at age 92, his press representative, Jennifer Allen, confirmed Monday.

Hedison starred as Leiter in 1973's "Live and Let Die" opposite Roger Moore and returned to the role in 1989 with Timothy Dalton as James Bond in "License to Kill."

The actor played scientist Andre Delambre, who turned into an insect in the 1958 film "The Fly."

In the mid-60s, Hedison rose to prominence as the captain of a futuristic nuclear submarine in Irwin Allen’s mid-‘60s sci-fi series, “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.” In the program, he played square-jawed Lee Crane, who teamed with Richard Basehart’s Admiral Nelson to command the Seaview for four seasons on ABC.

Alexandra Hedison, AP

Hedison died with his two daughters, Alexandra and Serena, at his side. They described him as a "wonderful father" and a loving best friend to his wife Bridget, who died in 2016.

"Even in our deep sadness, we are comforted by the memory of our wonderful father," the daughters said in a statement. “He loved us all dearly and expressed that love every day. He was adored by so many, all of whom benefited from his warm and generous heart. Our dad brought joy and humor wherever he went and did so with great style.”

James Bond returns: Recapping all the drama erupting around Daniel Craig's new 007 movie

The official James Bond Twitter account paid condolences to the Providence, Rhode Island, native.

"We are sorry to learn that David Hedison has passed away," the tweet stated, adding, "Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

We are very sorry to learn that David Hedison has passed away. David played Felix Leiter in LIVE AND LET DIE (1973) opposite Sir Roger Moore, he returned to the role in 1989 with Timothy Dalton as James Bond, in LICENCE TO KILL. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/G9cyRCvQNM — James Bond (@007) July 22, 2019

After filming "Live and Let Die," Hedison said he figured his Bond work was done. But more than a decade later he had a chance run-in with Bond producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli at a London restaurant.

"And what do you know? Sixteen years later I’m called in to do another Bond which happened by accident," Hedison said in a 2012 interview. "We said hello and maybe a light bulb went off in his head. Sure enough my agent called me, and we were off and running."

The screen friendship continued with Dalton's Bond in "Licence to Kill," with 007 appearing as best man at Leiter's Florida wedding. The celebration is cut short when Leiter's wife is murdered and he's kidnapped by drug lord Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi).

Leiter is left for dead after Sanchez lowers him into a shark pit (with Leiter's final shout, "See you in hell!"), which leads Bond to go on a vengeful rampage.

Jane Seymour, who played voodoo psychic Solitaire in "Live and Let Die," referred to Hedison as "a great man that I had the privilege of sharing the screen with."

"He remained a friend long after," Seymour said in a statement to USA TODAY. "I will miss him dearly."

Jeffrey Wright, who has played Felix Leiter alongside 007 Daniel Craig, paid respects on Twitter.

"RIP, brother. 92," Wright wrote. "Nice run."

Hedison's daughters noted in their statement that their father would joke, even in his final days, that instead of RIP he preferred SRO: "Standing Room Only."

View | 208 Photos

Celebrity deaths of 2019: Caroll Spiney, Harry Morton, Valerie Harper