French actor and former 'Bond villain' Michael Lonsdale dead at 89

From his role as villain in the 1979 James Bond film 'Moonraker' to that of a monk in Algeria in 'Of Gods And Men,' Michael Lonsdale worked, often in second roles, with top directors from Orson Wells to Spielberg. Photo: AFP Relaxnews

Michael Lonsdale, a giant of the silver screen and theater in France who worked with some of the world’s top directors in an acting career that spanned 60 years, died on Monday, his agent said. He was 89.

From his role as villain in the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker to that of a French monk in Algeria in the 2011 movie Of Gods And Men, Lonsdale acted, often in brilliant second roles, under top directors including Orson Welles, Steven Spielberg, Francois Truffaut and Louis Malle.