Jaws

A towering enforcer with steel teeth who defied death and found redemption.

Jaws stands as one of the most iconic figures in the James Bond franchise, instantly recognized by his imposing size, immense strength, and distinctive metal teeth. Portrayed by Richard Kiel, he debuted in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) as a relentless henchman for Karl Stromberg before returning in Moonraker (1979). Initially depicted as a near-invincible assassin, the character's popularity led to his survival at the end of his first film. Over time, he evolved from a silent force of destruction into a more comedic figure who eventually turns against his masters, marking a unique trajectory for a Bond villain.

Quick Facts

Series: James Bond
First: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Last: 007 Legends (2012)
Portrayed by: Richard Kiel
Voice: Jan Rabson (James Bond Jr.)

Lore & Background

Jaws was inspired by Ian Fleming's description of Sol "Horror" Horowitz in the novel The Spy Who Loved Me, who possessed steel-capped teeth. During production, Albert R. Broccoli insisted on adding these steel teeth to Richard Kiel's character. Dental technician Peter Thomas constructed the appliances after initial attempts failed; however, Kiel found them so uncomfortable he could only wear them for less than one minute before gagging. In The Spy Who Loved Me, Jaws served Karl Stromberg as a ruthless assassin. His survival was secured after test screenings showed audiences loved him, changing his fate from death by shark to escape. By Moonraker (1979), the character shifted tone, becoming more comedic and eventually falling in love with Dolly, a mute woman who became the primary reason for his reformation against villain Hugo Drax.

Reader's Guide

Jaws represents the ultimate physical challenge for James Bond, requiring inventive tactics rather than brute force. In The Spy Who Loved Me, Bond escaped Jaws' unbreakable death grip by using a broken electric lamp to send an electric shock through his steel teeth. In Moonraker, Jaws' strength and durability forced Bond to rely on the environment and strategy. While primarily a henchman, his role expanded in other media: he appeared as a partner to Nick Nack in the animated series James Bond Jr. (1991) where he spoke regularly, and served as a boss or unlockable character in games like GoldenEye 007 and Everything or Nothing. In Christopher Wood's novelization of The Spy Who Loved Me, Jaws is given the name Zbigniew Krycsiwiki, a Polish circus strongman turned mute assassin with steel jaws, though these details are not canonical to the films.

Did You Know?

In Moonraker, Jaws speaks his only line in the entire franchise: "Well, here's to us."
In 2002, the actual metal teeth used in the films were displayed at the Science Museum in London for Dr. No's 40th anniversary.