Did Peter Cushing inspire James Bond?

[Matt]

Not in the traditional sense, but this is a photo Ian Fleming drew of Bond.

One must admit there is quite a bit of resemblence to the late, great, Cushing.

Here is a good side-profile picture I found that really shows the resemblence:

 

[The Guard]

You mean visually? For what's it's worth, Fleming based Bond on himself.

 

[Gamma Ray]

You mean visually? For what's it's worth, Fleming based Bond on himself.

Exactly.

 

[Joker]

Yeah, Bond was based on Flemming himself in most everyway. I read an interview with him once where he discussed Casino Royale, and said that the main idea of the story (playing cards against the enemy to deprive there war effort of funds) was something he actually tried during WW2 against some Nazi officers in America (before they joined the war) and failed miserabely at.

 

[The Guard]

Read up on it, it's fascinating stuff. The man got himself into some crazy stuff.