Sir Roger Moore who played the iconic role of James Bond from 1973 to 1985 has died aged 89.

The actor passed away in Switzerland today after a battle with cancer.

“It is with a heavy hear that we must announce our loving father, Sir Roger Moore, has passed away today in Switzerland after a short but brave battle with cancer,” his three children – Deborah, Geoffrey, and Christian – said in a statement on Twitter.

“The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone.”

Born in 1924, Moore would in 1973 at the age of 49 become the third actor to play the iconic role of James Bond. Sean Connery and George Lazenby played the role before him.

With seven 007 movies under his belt, starting with Live And Let Die and ending with A View To Kill, he has starred as James Bond more times than any other actor.

He went on to have a successful television and stage career and his children believe the many roles he played would be forever remembered.

“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,” they said.

They also hailed his enduring relationship with his fans throughout his life.

“The affection our father felt whenever he walked onto 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 capacity crowd cheered him on and off stage, shaking the very foundations of the building just a short distance from where he was born.”