Several local actors made their mark in 'Bond' films

By Ben Wood

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 13, 2012

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DESIGNING 007: 50 Years of Bond Style," an exhibition of some 400 items from the James Bond films, went on display July 6 in London. The exhibit wouldn't be complete without the deadly bowler hat with the sharp steel brim that was worn by Oddjob in 1964's "Goldfinger" as he tried to dispatch 007, portrayed by Sean Connery. Connery was the first, and in my opinion, the best actor to play the British spy. Oddjob was portrayed by the late Harold Sakata, who was born on the Big Island and won a silver medal in weightlifting in the 1948 London Olympics in the light-heavyweight division. He later became a professional wrestler known as Tosh Togo before he was cast as Oddjob. Tosh, who died in July 1982, was a good friend and was a guest at my apartment for parties. He told me the late James Bond creator Ian Fleming, who wrote books and short stories involving the fictional spy, visited the set during filming of "Goldfinger" and looked him over. Fleming, who was in British naval intelligence in World War II, said words to the effect that Tosh was born for the role. Tosh gave me a copy of his bowler hat, made in London, as a wedding present. I treasure it to this day. It does not have the killer steel brim. …
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