Desmond Llewelyn's Height
6ft 2 (188 cm)
Welsh actor best remembered for his role of Q in the James Bond series of films. In a 1939 actors directory his height was being described as "6 feet 2 inches".
Photos via Wikimedia Commons / PrPhotos
Photos via Wikimedia Commons / PrPhotos
You May Be Interested
Sean Connery
6ft 2 (188 cm)
6ft 2 (188 cm)
Roger Moore
6ft 1 ¼ (186 cm)
6ft 1 ¼ (186 cm)
Pierce Brosnan
6ft ¾ in (185 cm)
6ft ¾ in (185 cm)
Daniel Craig
5ft 10 ¼ (178 cm)
5ft 10 ¼ (178 cm)
Add a Comment26 comments
Average Guess (11 Votes)
6ft 2.25in (188.6cm)
6ft 2.25in (188.6cm)
Sinclair said on 3/Aug/22
6’2.25” peak. An absolute giant for his generation.
6’2.25” peak. An absolute giant for his generation.
Vibram said on 20/Jun/22
He was definitely equal to 6ft2 /188cm Connery in the early Bond franchise. Then 6'1/186cm in the 70's/early 80's as he looked equal to Roger Moore. By the 90's he'd slumped to a weak 6ft0/high 5'11 imo. A year before his death age 84 he's looking shorter than 6'1 Brosnan: Click Here
Peak: 188cm. Latter years: 182.5cm.
He was definitely equal to 6ft2 /188cm Connery in the early Bond franchise. Then 6'1/186cm in the 70's/early 80's as he looked equal to Roger Moore. By the 90's he'd slumped to a weak 6ft0/high 5'11 imo. A year before his death age 84 he's looking shorter than 6'1 Brosnan: Click Here
Peak: 188cm. Latter years: 182.5cm.
5'7 and a bit said on 17/May/22
Will always be Q IMO.
Taller than Moore in his earlier films.
6'2 easy, same height as 6'2 Sean Connery and could sometimes appear a tiny bit taller.
Will always be Q IMO.
Taller than Moore in his earlier films.
6'2 easy, same height as 6'2 Sean Connery and could sometimes appear a tiny bit taller.
Sinclair said on 24/Feb/22
Rob, how tall would you say the first Q, Peter Burton was? 5’10.25”?
In Dr. No, there were 3-4 inches between Sean Connery and Burton. Burton also looked 5’10” range in the 1967 Casino Royale. Connery was 6’1.5”- 6’2” at peak, so perhaps Llewelyn really was only 6’2” flat, if Connery was 6’1.5”. 5’11” Martin Benson also had about an inch on Burton in Soho Incident.
Editor Rob
Rob, how tall would you say the first Q, Peter Burton was? 5’10.25”?
In Dr. No, there were 3-4 inches between Sean Connery and Burton. Burton also looked 5’10” range in the 1967 Casino Royale. Connery was 6’1.5”- 6’2” at peak, so perhaps Llewelyn really was only 6’2” flat, if Connery was 6’1.5”. 5’11” Martin Benson also had about an inch on Burton in Soho Incident.
Editor Rob5ft 10.5 at most with Sean
T.M. said on 22/Nov/21
6'2" in the Connery era. As he got older though, his posture worsened. And in The mid - late 90s, he looked 6'0 1/2". Peak 6'2 3/8"
6'2" in the Connery era. As he got older though, his posture worsened. And in The mid - late 90s, he looked 6'0 1/2". Peak 6'2 3/8"
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 11/Oct/21
It's been a good while since I've seen the old Bonds...I think Desmond was still taller than Moore in Live And Let Die but was beginning to look shorter and by A View To A Kill was roughly the same...and then obviously shorter by the time Dalton and Brosnan showed up
You forget, he was considerably older than Connery and Moore...I'm open to the possibility that he may have been taller than 6ft2 in his prime but by how much is the question?
It's been a good while since I've seen the old Bonds...I think Desmond was still taller than Moore in Live And Let Die but was beginning to look shorter and by A View To A Kill was roughly the same...and then obviously shorter by the time Dalton and Brosnan showed up
You forget, he was considerably older than Connery and Moore...I'm open to the possibility that he may have been taller than 6ft2 in his prime but by how much is the question?
Canson said on 16/Sep/21
Yea peak height was at least 6’2 flat
Yea peak height was at least 6’2 flat
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 14/Sep/21
I suppose it’s not impossible that he was a stronger 6ft2 than Connery...
I suppose it’s not impossible that he was a stronger 6ft2 than Connery...
Kale - 186.5 said on 12/Sep/21
Watching the early Bond films, Llewelyn is clearly taller than Connery when standing straight.
I'd give him at least 1.89 in the afternoon at that point, and in his youth.
Watching the early Bond films, Llewelyn is clearly taller than Connery when standing straight.
I'd give him at least 1.89 in the afternoon at that point, and in his youth.
Jug said on 13/Feb/21
He was the same height as Connery if not a smidge taller in all the early Bonds. Sometimes he could look a little taller than Moore. He did lose a lot of height it seems. Looked about 5’11 with Dalton and maybe 5’10 with Brosnan at the very end. A solid 6’2 as a young man is likely.
He was the same height as Connery if not a smidge taller in all the early Bonds. Sometimes he could look a little taller than Moore. He did lose a lot of height it seems. Looked about 5’11 with Dalton and maybe 5’10 with Brosnan at the very end. A solid 6’2 as a young man is likely.
berta said on 6/Feb/21
he already had bad posture and looked like he could have lost a fraction in the back in the first bond movies. this guy looked same height as sean connery with bad posture. i actually think if one of them was the taller one back at prime it could have been this guy. i can believe 188,5 peak. later in pierce bronsna era he wasnt mutch over 6 feet.
he already had bad posture and looked like he could have lost a fraction in the back in the first bond movies. this guy looked same height as sean connery with bad posture. i actually think if one of them was the taller one back at prime it could have been this guy. i can believe 188,5 peak. later in pierce bronsna era he wasnt mutch over 6 feet.
Sinclair said on 28/Aug/20
Rob, would you agree that Desmond Llewelyn was a stronger 6’2” than Sean Connery?
Editor Rob
Rob, would you agree that Desmond Llewelyn was a stronger 6’2” than Sean Connery?
Editor RobI don't know about that, I'd need to see him in 30's again.
Sinclair said on 6/Aug/20
In From Russia With Love and Goldfinger, Llewelyn seems to be taller than Sean Connery, who many of us have at 6’2” or a bit under. I’d argue 6’2.25” for Llewelyn at his prime, he was nearly fifty when he started with the Bond films, so he could have started to lose a very small bit of height by then and his posture was far from perfect, particularly in Goldfinger.
In From Russia With Love and Goldfinger, Llewelyn seems to be taller than Sean Connery, who many of us have at 6’2” or a bit under. I’d argue 6’2.25” for Llewelyn at his prime, he was nearly fifty when he started with the Bond films, so he could have started to lose a very small bit of height by then and his posture was far from perfect, particularly in Goldfinger.
movieguy said on 5/Nov/17
I agree Bugsy with the height loss thing. Such and such an actor was 6'4'' when 25 yrs old but has dropped to 6ft even by the age of 60. Doesn't work like that. More likely the actors height was exaggerated to start with. In my understanding men usually lose an inch over time and if they live into a very advanced age maybe 2 inches. I suppose health issues may have an affect in some cases though. The incredible shrinking celebrity is mainly a myth actors heights are routinely exaggerated, thus accounting for why actors supposedly suffer much greater height loss through ageing than ordinary people working in more physically demanding jobs.
I agree Bugsy with the height loss thing. Such and such an actor was 6'4'' when 25 yrs old but has dropped to 6ft even by the age of 60. Doesn't work like that. More likely the actors height was exaggerated to start with. In my understanding men usually lose an inch over time and if they live into a very advanced age maybe 2 inches. I suppose health issues may have an affect in some cases though. The incredible shrinking celebrity is mainly a myth actors heights are routinely exaggerated, thus accounting for why actors supposedly suffer much greater height loss through ageing than ordinary people working in more physically demanding jobs.
Bugsy said on 1/Aug/17
Judging by the 70's Bond movies, he was the same height as or a tiny bit shorter than Roger Moore so about 6 ft. At that time he was more or less 60 so that's close to his peak. I must admit I can not know how tall he really was in 1939 (did the "actors directory" know his precise barefoot height in the evening?)
There seems to be a persistent false belief all over this site about age-related height loss. The phenomenon is real, but it occurs MUCH later than is widely believed. My grandfather was 5'9" as a young man and he was STILL 5'9" at well over 60 years old. He only started to shrink when he retired for good, which was years later. So anyway, no, you don't lose several inches between the ages of 20 and 60 - actor or not.
Judging by the 70's Bond movies, he was the same height as or a tiny bit shorter than Roger Moore so about 6 ft. At that time he was more or less 60 so that's close to his peak. I must admit I can not know how tall he really was in 1939 (did the "actors directory" know his precise barefoot height in the evening?)
There seems to be a persistent false belief all over this site about age-related height loss. The phenomenon is real, but it occurs MUCH later than is widely believed. My grandfather was 5'9" as a young man and he was STILL 5'9" at well over 60 years old. He only started to shrink when he retired for good, which was years later. So anyway, no, you don't lose several inches between the ages of 20 and 60 - actor or not.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 10/May/16
Similar range to Connery at peak. Both were not under 6ft2...
Similar range to Connery at peak. Both were not under 6ft2...
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 31/Mar/15
He didn't look anywhere this by The World Is Not Enough.
His death was tragic
He didn't look anywhere this by The World Is Not Enough.
His death was tragic
Tunman said on 10/Mar/15
More like a weak 6'2 peak
Of course I watched him only in the Bond films but still he looked roughly 5'11 range with Brosnan maybe 181 tops.Has he lost 3" by 1995 aged 80?hmmm...
possibly 6'1.5 could be more accurate,Rob?
More like a weak 6'2 peak
Of course I watched him only in the Bond films but still he looked roughly 5'11 range with Brosnan maybe 181 tops.Has he lost 3" by 1995 aged 80?hmmm...
possibly 6'1.5 could be more accurate,Rob?
Connor6ft said on 8/Mar/15
Rob I think you should put 6ft 2 as Desmonds peak height, he shrunk to 6ft when he was in the bond films with Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan.
Editor Rob
Rob I think you should put 6ft 2 as Desmonds peak height, he shrunk to 6ft when he was in the bond films with Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan.
Editor Rob when someone dies I just put them back to their peak height.
Paul said on 28/Dec/14
Probably about 187cm peak, 183cm Roger Moore period, 181-2cm with Pierce.
What a guy....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRoIohXDz-c
Probably about 187cm peak, 183cm Roger Moore period, 181-2cm with Pierce.
What a guy....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRoIohXDz-c
Sam said on 22/Dec/14
I actually had no idea he was this tall but pictures show that he was at least equally as tall as Connery.
I actually had no idea he was this tall but pictures show that he was at least equally as tall as Connery.
Arch Stanton said on 21/Dec/14
I get what you mean with aristocratic looking, he looks like he could have played Lara Croft's butler or something yeah.
I get what you mean with aristocratic looking, he looks like he could have played Lara Croft's butler or something yeah.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 20/Dec/14
Rob, who do you think was taller in their prime Connery or Llewelyn?
Editor Rob
Rob, who do you think was taller in their prime Connery or Llewelyn?
Editor Rob hard to tell, probably within a little bit of each other.
Arch Stanton said on 20/Dec/14
OK so we have Q now, and we have R (Cleese), how about M :-)? Bernard Lee would be worth adding at some point, and unlike Q was also known for others roles, he was superb in films like The Third Man, Battle of River Plate and The Purple Plain (opposite Peck). Got a good look at him in The Purple Plain next to Peck and somewhere in 6'0.5-6'1" range looked accurate. By Bond though I think he'd lost a bit and looked more 6' flat with Roger Moore I think. 6'0.5" I think would be the best shout. I can't remember if Lee stood next to Orson Welles in The Third Man though.
Editor Rob
OK so we have Q now, and we have R (Cleese), how about M :-)? Bernard Lee would be worth adding at some point, and unlike Q was also known for others roles, he was superb in films like The Third Man, Battle of River Plate and The Purple Plain (opposite Peck). Got a good look at him in The Purple Plain next to Peck and somewhere in 6'0.5-6'1" range looked accurate. By Bond though I think he'd lost a bit and looked more 6' flat with Roger Moore I think. 6'0.5" I think would be the best shout. I can't remember if Lee stood next to Orson Welles in The Third Man though.
Editor Rob 6ft 0.5 could have been possible
Arch Stanton said on 20/Dec/14
Nice one!! Yeah he did look a proper 6 ft 2 in his prime. I frequently spot him as a younger man in minor parts in some 40s and 50s movies. The Lavender Hill Mob and Hamlet for instance. I think it's only worth mention his role as Q though.
Editor Rob
Nice one!! Yeah he did look a proper 6 ft 2 in his prime. I frequently spot him as a younger man in minor parts in some 40s and 50s movies. The Lavender Hill Mob and Hamlet for instance. I think it's only worth mention his role as Q though.
Editor Rob I think that's a kind of 'role for life' part he got.
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