First 'James Bond' actor dies at 89

Barry Nelson, who was the first actor to play James Bond on-screen, has died aged 89.

He appeared as 007 in a one-hour version of Casino Royale made in 1954. He starred in other films from the 1940s including Shadow of the Thin Man and A Yank on the Burma Road.

The actor died on April 7 while on holiday in Pennsylvania and his cause of death is not yet known.

Nelson's agent, Francis Delduca, paid tribute to him. "He was a very naturalistic, believable actor," she commented. "He was good at both comedy and the serious stuff."

He was in the army during World War II and in the 1960s and 1970s had a successful stage career in New York. He is survived by wife Nansi and had no children.