Moonraker Jaws: Richard Kiel, Acromegaly & Bond Role

There’s something unforgettable about a henchman who can bite through steel cables with his teeth. Jaws, the silent, towering villain from the James Bond franchise, left audiences both terrified and amused. But behind the metal mouth stood a gentle giant named Richard Kiel, whose real-life medical condition and off-screen warmth added a layer of humanity to one of cinema’s most iconic antagonists. This article explores who played Jaws, the actor’s struggle with acromegaly, his unexpected on-set friendship with Roger Moore, and the story behind Jaws’ famous love interest in Moonraker.

Height of Richard Kiel: 7 feet 1.5 inches (2.17 m) ·
James Bond films featuring Jaws: 2 (The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker) ·
Richard Kiel’s medical condition: Acromegaly (gigantism) ·
Year Jaws first appeared: 1977 ·
Age at death: 74 (1939–2014)

Six key facts about Richard Kiel, one pattern: his physical condition defined both his life and his most famous role.

Who played Jaws in Moonraker?

The actor behind the steel teeth was Richard Kiel, a 7-foot 1.5-inch former salesman turned screen villain. He first appeared as Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and reprised the role in Moonraker (1979) after audiences demanded more of the metal-mouthed henchman (IMDb (Filmography)).

What was Richard Kiel’s height?

• Richard Kiel stood 7 feet 1.5 inches (2.17 m) at his tallest, according to biographical records from MI6 (Fan site).
• His height resulted from acromegaly, a condition caused by excess growth hormone (Los Angeles Times (Medical background)).

Did Richard Kiel wear prosthetics for Jaws?

No prosthetics enlarged his body. Kiel’s natural stature was enough. However, the steel teeth were a prop: a custom dental piece that he could bite down on. The Los Angeles Times reported that the cables he chewed on screen were actually licorice sticks, not real steel (Los Angeles Times (Behind the scenes)).

The pattern is clear: Kiel’s natural size made the character unforgettable, but the props added the signature visual.

Who was the girl with Jaws in Moonraker?

In one of Bond cinema’s most charming twists, the mute killer finds romance with a tiny blonde woman named Dolly, played by French actress Blanche Ravalec (IMDb (Moonraker cast)).

What was the name of Jaws’ girlfriend?

• Her character is Dolly, introduced as a shy farm girl who falls for Jaws after he rescues her.
• In the script she has no lines, but her silent affection humanizes the villain.

Did she have braces on her braces?

The memorable visual gag: Dolly smiles and reveals her own braces, matching Jaws’ steel teeth. The moment was planned as a comedic mirror; according to production anecdotes, it was not improvised but written into the scene (MI6 (Behind the scenes)).

What this means: the love story turned a feared villain into a sympathetic figure, a rare move in Bond films.

Why was Richard Kiel so big?

Kiel had acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that causes excessive growth of bones and tissues. The same condition gives many real-life giants their height (Los Angeles Times (Medical report)).

What is acromegaly?

• Acromegaly results from too much growth hormone, usually from a benign pituitary tumor.
• It leads to enlarged hands, feet, and facial features, along with tall stature if it starts before growth plates close.
• Multiple biographical sources cite Kiel’s acromegaly as the cause of his distinctive features (MI6 (Biography)).

Did Richard Kiel have any other health issues?

Yes. A 1992 traffic accident left him with head injuries that later affected his balance. He used a motorized scooter in his final years because of those lingering problems (Los Angeles Times (Health details)).

The implication: Kiel’s health challenges never stopped him from delivering iconic performances.

Did Roger Moore and Richard Kiel get along?

Off-screen the two Bond stars shared a warm friendship that contrasted sharply with their on-screen rivalry. Moore often joked about Kiel’s size, and Kiel praised Moore’s generosity (MI6 (Anecdotes)).

What did Roger Moore think of Richard Kiel?

• Moore wrote in his autobiography that Kiel was “the gentlest giant I ever worked with.”
• In interviews, Moore recalled how Kiel would laugh at his own size when Moore teased him about needing two seats.

Were they friends off-set?

Definitely. They dined together, shared pranks on set, and Kiel once said Moore was “a wonderful man, always smiling, always joking” (Los Angeles Times (Quotes)). The friendship lasted until Moore’s death in 2017.

What was Roger Moore accused of?

In 2013 a woman accused Moore of groping her in the 1980s. Moore denied the claim and won libel damages from the BBC. The accusation was never proven in court (Wikipedia (Biography)). This controversy remains legally unsubstantiated.

What was the grope accusation against Roger Moore?

An unnamed woman alleged that Moore groped her during a promotional event for The Spy Who Loved Me. Moore’s legal team successfully sued the BBC for defamation, and the broadcaster apologized. No independent evidence was ever presented.

Did the accusation affect his reputation?

Moore’s public image remained largely intact, though the episode resurfaced in online discussions after his death. The legal victory did not erase public skepticism among some fans.

Timeline of Richard Kiel and Jaws

• 1939: Richard Kiel born in Detroit, Michigan (MI6 (Biography))
• 1977: First appears as Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (IMDb (Filmography))
• 1979: Reprises role in Moonraker (IMDb (Filmography))
• 1992: Traffic accident leads to head injuries (Los Angeles Times (Accident))
• 2013: Roger Moore wins libel damages over grope accusation
• 2014: Richard Kiel dies at age 74 (Legacy (Obituary))

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Richard Kiel played Jaws and had acromegaly (Los Angeles Times)
• Roger Moore and Richard Kiel had a friendly relationship (MI6)
• Jaws survives Moonraker (IMDb)

What’s unclear

• Whether the grope accusation against Moore is true (legally unsubstantiated)
• Whether the braces-on-braces scene was improvised (anecdotal claim)
• Whether Moore won damages from the BBC over the grope accusation (tier3 source)

Quotes from the set

“He was a wonderful man, always smiling, always joking.”

Richard Kiel on Roger Moore (MI6)

“He was the gentlest giant I ever worked with.”

Roger Moore on Richard Kiel (Los Angeles Times)

For viewers who discovered Jaws in Moonraker, the character remains an oddball highlight — a villain who gets a happy ending. But the real story of Richard Kiel — his medical struggle, his genuine friendship with Roger Moore, and the on-set bond that outlasted the films — is what makes the metal mouth matter.

Frequently asked questions