Jaws Moonraker: Richard Kiel Biography and Character Guide

First appearance: 1977 (The Spy Who Loved Me) ·
Actor height: 7 ft 1.5 in (217 cm) ·
Steel teeth count: 32 (full set) ·
Films appeared in: 2 (The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker) ·
Character weapon: Stainless steel teeth ·
Year of Moonraker release: 1979

Eight key details about Jaws and Richard Kiel, drawn from verified sources.

What did Richard Kiel suffer from?

Richard Kiel’s medical condition

• Richard Kiel had acromegaly, a disorder caused by excess growth hormone, which led to his unusual height and facial features (MI6-HQ (fan archive)).
• The condition is often caused by a benign pituitary tumor. Kiel’s case was not publicly treated until later in life (MI6-HQ).

How acromegaly affected his career

• Before acting, Kiel worked as a nightclub bouncer, a cemetery plot salesman, and a night school math instructor (MI6-HQ).
• His size led to frequent casting as henchmen, strongmen, and monsters (TCM (film reference)).
• Kiel began full-time acting in 1960 after a series of odd jobs (MI6-HQ).

The implication: Without acromegaly, Kiel’s career path would have been very different. The condition gave him a unique physical presence that made him perfect for Jaws, but it also limited the variety of roles he could play.

What happened to Jaws in Moonraker?

Jaws’ role at the beginning

• Jaws is hired by the villain Hugo Drax to eliminate Bond (Wikipedia (film database)).
• He survives several accidents, including a fall into a pool of piranhas and a cable-car crash (Wikipedia).

Jaws fails to kill Bond

• Despite multiple attempts, Jaws cannot defeat Bond, adding a comedic tone to his menace (TCM).
• His character shifts from pure villain to a more sympathetic figure (TCM).

Jaws saves Bond and Dolly

• Jaws abandons Drax and teams up with Bond during the space station battle (The Independent (obituary)).
• He helps defeat Drax’s forces and escapes with Dolly (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Jaws’ arc in Moonraker is a rare redemption for a Bond henchman. The character’s transition from terrifying to lovable is one of the franchise’s most unexpected moments.

How tall was Jaws in Moonraker?

Richard Kiel’s actual height

• Kiel stood 7 feet 1.5 inches (217 cm) at his tallest (MI6-HQ).
• Some sources, including the Los Angeles Times obituary, reported him as nearly 7 feet 2 inches, noting he often rounded his height to 7-2 for convenience (Los Angeles Times (obituary)).

How Jaws’ height was used on screen

• His height was not exaggerated with special effects; the camera simply captured his natural size (TCM).
• Directors used low-angle shots to emphasize his towering presence over Bond (Roger Moore, who was 5 ft 10 in) (The Independent).

The trade-off: Kiel’s height made him an unforgettable screen presence, but it also meant his roles were largely typecast. The inconsistency in reported height (7-1.5 vs 7-2) reflects the actor’s own casual rounding.

Did Roger Moore and Richard Kiel get on?

Kiel and Moore’s off-screen friendship

• Moore and Kiel had a warm relationship. Moore described Kiel as a “gentle giant” (The Independent (obituary)).
• Kiel said Moore was a “great friend” and that they often laughed between takes (James Bond Fandom (fan wiki)).

How Moore praised Kiel’s professionalism

• Moore publicly praised Kiel’s work ethic and sense of humor, noting that Kiel never let his size intimidate others on set (The Independent).
• Their on-screen chemistry—both in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker—is often cited as a highlight of the films (TCM).

The implication: The genuine friendship between the two actors added a layer of warmth to the Bond-Jaws dynamic. It’s a rare example of a villain and hero bonding off-screen as well as on.

What happened to Jaws at the end of Moonraker?

Jaws’ final scene

• In the climax, Jaws abandons Drax and helps Bond disable the space station (Wikipedia).
• He reunites with Dolly, and the two are last seen alive and safe on Earth (Wikipedia).

Jaws and Dolly escape

• The ending is a clear tonal shift from villainy to redemption and romance (The Independent).
• Jaws’ survival means he could theoretically return, but the character never appeared in another Bond film (TCM).
• Fan speculation continues about what happened to Jaws after Moonraker—some suggest he lived a quiet life with Dolly (Wikipedia).

The catch: While Jaws gets a happy ending, the film itself was criticized for its over-the-top space plot. Yet the character’s redemption arc remains one of the most talked-about elements.

Specifications: Jaws character and Moonraker film

Key specs that define the character and the film.

The pattern: The specs that define Jaws are a mix of real-life measurements and on-screen inventions, which is why the character feels both larger than life and grounded in a real actor’s body.

Timeline: Key dates in the life of Richard Kiel and Jaws

• 1939 – Richard Kiel born in Detroit, Michigan (Los Angeles Times).
• 1977 – Jaws debuts in The Spy Who Loved Me (TCM (film reference)).
• 1979 – Jaws returns in Moonraker (Wikipedia (film database)).
• 2014 – Richard Kiel dies at age 74 (The Independent (obituary)).

The pattern: The 1970s were the peak of both Jaws’ screen presence and Kiel’s fame, and the character’s afterlife has outlasted the actor by remaining a pop-culture reference.

Clarity: What we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Richard Kiel had acromegaly (MI6-HQ)
• Kiel stood 7 ft 1.5 in (MI6-HQ)
• Jaws survived Moonraker (Wikipedia)
• Jaws’ girlfriend Dolly did not wear braces (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

• Whether Jaws had a canonical first name
• Exact number of scenes Jaws appears in Moonraker
• Whether Kiel’s height was exactly 7 ft 1.5 in or 7 ft 2 in (Los Angeles Times)
• Whether Dolly’s character was originally intended as a love interest

The implication: The gaps in official records leave room for fan theories, but the confirmed facts anchor the story.

Quotes: The men behind the characters

“Richard Kiel was a gentle giant. He had a wonderful sense of humor and never let his size define him.”

— Roger Moore, as quoted in The Independent (obituary)

“Roger was a great friend. We used to laugh a lot on set. He made me feel welcome.”

— Richard Kiel, in his autobiography, cited by James Bond Fandom (fan wiki)

“The visual contrast between Jaws’ terrifying appearance and his later tenderness made him one of the most memorable villains in cinema history.”

— Irish Independent (obituary)

The pattern: Both actors used the word “friend” to describe a partnership that turned an on-screen rivalry into a lasting off-screen bond.

For fans of Richard Kiel, the legacy is clear: he turned a potentially one-dimensional henchman into a character with heart. For Bond enthusiasts, Jaws remains proof that even a villain can find redemption. Readers interested in other actors whose physical conditions shaped their careers can explore Peter Dinklage: Net Worth, Diagnosis, Family & Career, and for another unforgettable screen presence, see Leslie Nielsen Movies and TV Shows: Full Filmography Guide. Richard Kiel’s performance ensured that Jaws’ place in pop culture is secure.

Frequently asked questions