Ernst Stavro Blofeld is the biggest bad guy in James Bond history. When you think of 007, you can’t help but also think about the man who has given him more trouble than any other villain to date.
The bad guy will be back for No Time to Die, which releases later this year. Christoph Waltz will be reprising his role, having played the criminal mastermind in 2015’s Spectre with Craig as Bond. We now take a look at the best, and worst, takes on the iconic character.
John Hollis and Robert Rietty (1981)
Blofeld is an iconic James Bond character, one who is synonymous with the British secret agent. So you would think that, when it comes to killing him off, EON producers would try and make things as dramatic as possible. Right?
Wrong. That doesn’t happen and Blofeld’s death in For Your Eyes Only is memorable – but for all the wrong reasons. John Hollis plays him, while Robert Rietty provides the voice for this early showdown. The villain is dropped down a chimney via a chopper and the whole scene is rather sloppy, even for its time period. Even to this day, fans still hope to see Blofeld killed off again in a far better way than what they did the first time around.
Telly Savalas (1969)
Bald? Check. Fluffy cat? Check. White suit? Check. Telly Savalas is your typical Blofeld when it comes to most things but the decision to drop the villain’s iconic German accent and get rid of his scar was rather confusing.
Savalas is good, however, in trying to bring something new to the character. While Blofeld has long been considered a great bad guy because of his intelligence, he’s transformed into somebody more of a match for Bond on the physical side of things. That said, his plot in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service to spread a toxin that kills fertility in animals and crops is plain weird. And the fact he doesn’t recognize 007 when he’s undercover, despite the spy destroying his laboratory in You Only Live Twice, is a big oversight as well.
Christoph Waltz
When it was announced that Christoph Waltz would be in Spectre, fans immediately got speculating. On the cast list, he was officially announced as Franz Oberhauser, somebody with close links to Bond. However, it would later be revealed that Obenheiser was none other than Blofeld.
Waltz, while showing himself to be a more than capable villain, doesn’t hit the heights many were hoping for. He doesn’t have the same bald iconic look as other actors to take on the role and he doesn’t appear to have the same ruthless cutting edge, instead resorting to hostage-taking late in the day. We’re hoping he redeems himself, with Blofeld primed to return in No Time To Die.
Charles Gray
Charles Gray plays Blofeld in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. And he does the role justice, even if the villain’s actions within the blockbuster are plain bizarre.
Blofeld undergoes surgery to get himself a new face and, just because he can, then instructs his bodyguards to do the same. We’re not quite sure how much they would have to be paid in order to agree to this (or how much they were threatened, most likely) but it makes for a very odd movie. However, that’s not to say it isn’t fun. It’s a hoot. But if you were to produce the same storyline now, chances are it wouldn’t go down a hit with fans.
Max Von Sydow
Before he took on the role of Lor San Tekka in Star Wars in 2015, Max Von Sydow gave an enthralling and captivating performance as Blofeld in 1983’s Never Say Never Again.
San Tekka gives everything for the role, elevating the character in the process and adding some much-needed charisma. The only reason this doesn’t come higher on the list, though, is because it isn’t recognized by many as an actual Bond movie. Sony Pictures bought the rights for the movie, so it isn’t actually recognized by EON as a ‘proper’ outing for 007. Which, given how much San Tekka put into his character, is a crying shame.
Anthony Dawson and Eric Pohlmann
Once again, a double act was brought on board to try and make the character of Blofeld that bit more intriguing. Both Anthony Dawson and Eric Pohlmann worked together as the bad guy in 1963’s From Russia With Love and 1965’s Thunderball.
Dawson does much of the cat-stroking, while Pohlamnn provides the voice. The fact you don’t see his face makes fans of the franchise instantly want more and they portray Blofeld as a puppet-master, someone pulling the strings while disastrous events unfold, making him miles more interesting and fascinating in the process. A true villain, after all, rarely gets their own hands dirty.
Donald Pleasence
When you think of Blofeld, chances are Donald Pleasence is the man who pops into your head. You think of the Blofeld with the cat, the scar and, probably without choice, Austin Powers too.
He oozed villainous charm, with Pleasence clearly relishing the chance to portray the biggest bad guy in the history of the James Bond franchise. This Blofeld also had a lair that stands head and shoulders above anything else seen over the years. And, to this day, he remains the level that other actors taking on the mantra should aspire to be at.
