Australian actor George Lazenby, who played James Bond in the 1969 film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,’ has announced his retirement from public appearances and autograph signings. The news comes as a surprise to fans of the iconic spy franchise, which has seen several actors portray Bond over the years, including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Lazenby’s portrayal of Bond in ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ was unique, as it was the only Bond film where he didn’t receive a title and instead referred to himself simply as James Bond. The film’s storyline followed Bond as he became smitten with Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg) and tried to protect her from Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas). Despite receiving positive reviews for his performance, Lazenby has largely remained out of the public eye since then. Fans had been hoping to catch a glimpse of him at future film festivals or fan events, but it seems that is no longer an option. As part of his retirement announcement, Lazenby released a statement saying he was ‘at peace’ with his decision and that he wanted to spend more time on his personal projects. It’s unclear what these projects might be, but fans will surely miss the opportunity to meet him in person and get his autograph.