Richard Kiel dead: Jaws from James Bond movies was 74

Richard Kiel was most famous for his role as Jaws in the Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. Actor Richard Kiel - who played steel-toothed villain Jaws in two James Bond films - has died in California aged 74. The towering American star, who appeared in The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977 and Moonraker in 1979, died in hospital in Fresno on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for Saint Agnes Medical Center confirmed Kiel's death, but did not reveal the cause.

The 7ft 2in (2.18m) actor also appeared in the sports comedy Happy Gilmore, starring Adam Sandler, in 1996. Kiel made his name as cable-chomping henchman Jaws opposite Roger Moore as 007. Sir Roger said he was "totally distraught" at the death of his co-star.

"We were on a radio programme together just a week ago," said the former Bond star, adding "I can't take it in". Kiel and Sir Roger were guests on BBC's Radio 4 programme The Reunion, which aired on Sunday, along with Bond actress Britt Ekland, recalling their roles in the spy series.

During the programme, Kiel said he initially thought playing Jaws - a man who killed people with his teeth - could appear "over the top". "I was very put off by the description of the character and I thought, well, they don't really need an actor, he's more a monster part," he said.

"So I tried to change that view of it... I said if I were to play the part, I want to give the character some human characteristics, like perseverance, frustration." His many other acting roles included deadly assistant Voltaire in the 1960s TV series The Wild, Wild West; playing opposite William Shatner in the 1970s TV sitcom Barbary Coast; taking on the lead character of Eli Weaver in the movie The Giant of Thunder Mountain; and spoofing his most famous role as "Famous big guy with silver teeth" in the movie version of Inspector Gadget. In recent years, he also spent much of his time touring the world and appearing at conventions to meet Bond fans.