Albert "Cubby" Broccoli
Albert "Cubby" Broccoli was a self-made man who not only believed in the American dream but lived it as producer of the James Bond films, the longest-running film franchise in cinema history.
"This was a man who was a failed jewelry salesman," said Tom Mankiewicz, a writer on 1971's "Diamonds Are Forever" who also worked on two Roger Moore Bond films, including 1973's "Live and Let Die."
"He was an agent. He worked briefly for Howard Hughes as a gofer. He had such varied experiences in life in so many different departments that you were talking to a real guy who was wonderfully content. He really enjoyed himself."
Broccoli turned British novelist Ian Fleming's martini-swilling spy into the dashing man about the world James Bond and made Sean Connery an international star.
Fleming died before the series took off and would undoubtedly be amazed by its seemingly perpetual popularity.
"What do you think? Two films? Three? That should be about it, surely. Then the joke will be over," Fleming told a Times columnist shortly after selling the film rights to his books to Broccoli and Harry Saltzman more than three decades ago.
Broccoli, who took on the series alone after Saltzman left in 1976, produced 17 Bond films, from "Dr. No," introducing Connery worldwide in 1962, through 1996's "Goldeneye" with yet another new 007, Pierce Brosnan.
At the time of his death, the films had grossed more than $1 billion at the box office.
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