Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter)

Jeffrey Wright playing Felix Leiter

Born in Washington, USA on 7th December 1965

Starred in Casino Royale (2006)

Film information

It's great to see the appearance of Felix Leiter once again in the Bond series. After a 17 year gap Jeffrey Wright steps in the role played by many actors over the years. Forgetting the fact that Bond formally introduces himself to Leiter in Dr No, Casino Royale is the first time Bond meets him.

Entered into the high stakes poker game in Montenegro along with Bond, Leiter initially doesn't reveal who he is until he watches Bond for a while. It is not until Vesper Lynd refuses to provide Bond with the funds needed to buy back in, that Leiter introduces himself. Whilst Bond grabs a knife and plans to kill Le Chiffre, Leiter grabs him on a stairwell and introduces himself as a 'brother from Langley'. With him losing chips fast, Leiter suggests to Bond that the CIA will provide Bond with the money needed, on the condition that they have Le Chiffre. Bond agrees, and returns to the poker table.

When Bond leaves the table in hurry after Valenka poisons his drink, Leiter is clearly worried that their plan will fall apart. Regrettably throwing in his last chips, Leiter is relieved when Bond returns to the table. After Le Chiffre is defeated, Leiter expresses his appreciation for his 'brothers' co-operation. Whilst Bond and Vesper enjoy a celebratory meal, she gets a text informing them that Leiter has made contact with Le Chiffre and the CIA will extract him by dawn. Le Chiffre is however killed by Mr White before he can be extracted, and so sadly Felix Leiter doesn't make another appearance. §