Lazenby is the second official actor to portray the British secret agent, following Sean Connery, who had become a cultural icon in the role. Lazenby had a difficult task in filling these shoes, and nearly everything about his portrayal of Bond has been controversial.
Lazenby quit the role of Bond right before the premiere of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, citing he would get other acting roles, and that his Bond contract, which was one and a half pages thick, was too demanding on him.