Richard Kiel, who played the towering, steel-toothed baddie 'Jaws' in two James Bond movies, has died aged 74.
The 2.18m (7'2") actor, who made a career playing giants and villains, passed away in the Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California.
He would have been 75 on Saturday.
Kiel also had several television roles during a career that began in the 1950s.
He also appeared opposite Adam Sandler in the 1996 comedy 'Happy Gilmore' and voiced Vlad in Disney's Oscar-nominated animated film 'Tangled'.
The Detroit-born actor hit the big time with his 007 performances, starting with 'The Spy Who Loved Me' in 1977 alongside Roger Moore and he returned two years later in 'Moonraker'.
"I had convinced the producer that Jaws should have some characteristics that were human to counteract the steel teeth," he said in a 2009 interview.
"I guess I overdid it - I became too likable to kill off!"
Kiel's height was attributed to a hormonal condition called acromegaly. He published an autobiography in 2002 titled Making It Big in the Movies.
Mr Moore said this morning that he was "totally distraught" at the death of his former co-star.
They had both appeared BBC Radio 4's The Reunion last week to talk about the films.
Moore said: "I am totally distraught to learn of my dear friend Richard Kiel's passing. We were on a radio programme together just a week ago. Distraught. Can't take it in."
