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Desmond Llewelyn

Desmond Llewelyn

Actor · Died December 19, 1999, aged 85 · Newport, England, UK

Desmond Wilkinson Llewelyn was a Welsh actor. He was best known for his role as Q in 17 of the James Bond films between 1963 and 1999.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 12, 1914
Died
December 19, 1999 (aged 85)
From
Newport, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 79 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 21% in 30 days

What are Desmond Llewelyn's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
38%
Power
27%
Ideas
14%
Bonds
11%
Self
6%
Survival
4%
Power5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTechnology3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 4 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 1 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 2 · Intense 7

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 6 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 6
Trickster
2 of 6
Ally
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
8
Tense
5
Romantic
5
Warm
1
Contemplative
1
Other
7

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Desmond Llewelyn's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Desmond Llewelyn's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

79 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page; 16 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Tribute to Desmond Llewelyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Q (archive footage)

  • The Millennium Disaster - Computer Crash 2000 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Peregrin Morley

  • The World Is Not Enough(1999)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Tomorrow Never Dies(1997)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • In Search of James Bond with Jonathan Ross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Q

  • GoldenEye(1995)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Goldfinger Phenomenon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Merlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Dr. Mycroft

  • Licence to Kill(1989)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Prisoner of Rio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Commissioner Ingram

  • The Living Daylights(1987)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • A View to a Kill(1985)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Octopussy(1983)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • James Bond: The First 21 Years(1983)

    as Q (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Soft Targets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Official in Dream

  • For Your Eyes Only(1981)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Life and Times of David Lloyd George (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Lord Lansdowne

  • The Happy Autumn Fields (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Papa

  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde(1980)

    as Sir Danvers Carew

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Speed King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Major Bill Whittall

  • Moonraker(1979)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Professor Dixon

  • Wilde Alliance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel Thripp

  • The Spy Who Loved Me(1977)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Nine Tailors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Charles Thorpe

  • A Man in the Zoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Chairman

  • The Love School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Thomas Coombe

  • The Man with the Golden Gun(1974)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Bill Whittall · as Papa

  • Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Diamonds Are Forever(1971)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Follyfoot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 39 episodes · as Colonel Geoffrey Maddocks

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Official in Dream

  • Codename (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Barrett

  • Doomwatch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Thompson

  • On Her Majesty's Secret Service(1969)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Softly Softly: Task Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Somers

  • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang(1968)

    as George Coggins

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • You Only Live Twice(1967)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Q

  • Mickey Dunne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Lord Boutard

  • Softly, Softly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Thunderball(1965)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Moulded in Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 5 episodes · as Squire

  • Goldfinger(1964)

    as Q

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Silent Playground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Dr. Green

  • From Russia with Love(1963)

    as Boothroyd - 'Q'

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Cleopatra(1963)

    as Senator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Pirates of Blood River(1962)

    as Tom Blackthorne (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Suspense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Company Spokesman · as Ian MacDonald · as President of the Court

  • Only Two Can Play(1962)

    as Clergyman on Bus

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Stryker of the Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Curse of the Werewolf(1961)

    as 1st Footman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Sword of Sherwood Forest(1960)

    as Wounded Fugitive (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles - Doorman

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Sapphire(1959)

    as Police Constable

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • No Hiding Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Corridors of Blood(1958)

    as Operations Assistant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Further Up the Creek(1958)

    as Chief Yeoman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Invisible Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Det. Sergeant

  • A Night to Remember(1958)

    as Seaman at Steerage Gate (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Robin Hood(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Two Fingers

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Dixon of Dock Green (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Bank Manager · as Det. Insp. Jones · as Dr. Pearce

  • Spider's Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Constable Jones

  • Tim Driscoll's Donkey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Doctor

  • The Devil’s Jest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Policeman

  • Knights of the Round Table(1953)

    as A Herald (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Operation Diplomat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Police Constable at Barrier

  • Street Corner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Police Constable

  • My Wife Jacqueline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 6 episodes · as Keith

  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Mr. Hyde

  • They Were Not Divided (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as '77 Jones

  • Guilt Is My Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Pub customer (uncredited)

  • Sunday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Pandimiglio

  • The Chiltern Hundreds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as First Guardsman (uncredited)

  • Adam and Evelyne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Barman in Restaurant (uncredited)

  • Hamlet(1948)

    as Extra (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Captain Boycott (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Gentleman on Train (uncredited)

  • Ask a Policeman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Headless Coachman

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 79 titles from 1939 to 2000; peak year 1964.

Biggest box office

The World Is Not Enough (1999)

$362M worldwide

Highest rated

Thunderball (1965)

Midcredits 75th

Most popular right now

You Only Live Twice (1967)

Film career

19392000

Peak 1964 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting79 of 79: 79 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1930s1 · acting1940s4 · acting1950s19 · acting1960s20 · acting1970s16 · acting1980s11 · acting1990s7 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 25 roles
486373

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Desmond Llewelyn's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 31; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

96thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th7

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · actor

James Bond: The First 21 Years (1983)

86th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

A Night to Remember (1958)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Desmond Llewelyn's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and sex & nudity run heavier than most films and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles52–67 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles37–49 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles20–29 · median 25 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles30–36 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles36–55 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Desmond Llewelyn work with?

People who share at least 2 of Desmond Llewelyn's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ian Fleming shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles