Bernie Casey, the former-American Football player who became the first black actor to play James Bond's CIA ally Felix Leiter, is dead. He died in Los Angeles at the age of 78.

 

Casey, pictured in 2007, was a painter and a poet as well as an actor

The actor, who played Leiter opposite Sir Sean Connery in 1983's Never Say Never Again, had other roles in Boxcar Bertha & Revenge of the Nerds.

He also played a role in Cleopatra Jones & other so-called "Blaxploitation" films, they included Dr Black, Mr Hyde, a 1976 horror film inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll & Hyde story.

To a lot of people he is best known for playing Felix Leiter in "Rogue Bond" Never Say Never Again, reportedly at Sir Sean's instigation.

It’s said the star felt casting a black actor would help audiences remember a character who habitually failed to make much of an impression.

Two decades later, black actor Jeffrey Wright made 2 appearances as Leiter in "Official" Bond films Casino Royale & Quantum of Solace.