Few movie villains have ever switched sides as memorably as Jaws. The towering, steel-toothed assassin who terrified audiences in The Spy Who Loved Me returned two years later as a surprisingly lovable ally in Moonraker. Here’s how that transformation happened — and the remarkable actor behind the metal mouth.
Height: 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) ·
Bond film appearances: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979) ·
Signature weapon: Stainless steel teeth
Quick snapshot
- Richard Kiel’s exact net worth at death — estimates vary (The Irish Times)
- Whether Roger Moore personally liked Richard Kiel — no direct quote in top sources (The Irish Times)
- Precise cause of the lump on Kiel’s forehead (though acromegaly is established) (The Irish Times)
- Jaws debuts in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) as a ruthless killer (Wikipedia)
- Returns in Moonraker (1979) as henchman to Hugo Drax (Wikipedia)
- Jaws switches sides and helps Bond sabotage Drax’s plan (Wikipedia)
Six key facts about Jaws and the actor behind him, one pattern: the character’s arc from pure menace to comic relief mirrors the film’s tonal shift toward spectacle.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jaws (fictional character) |
| Actor | Richard Kiel |
| Height | 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) |
| Films | The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979) |
| Teeth material | Stainless steel |
| Actor’s death | September 10, 2014 |
Who is Jaws in Moonraker?
What is Jaws’ role in the Bond universe?
- Jaws is a professional assassin with a custom set of stainless steel teeth that he uses as a weapon (Wikipedia).
- He is portrayed by Richard Kiel, who stood 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) (Wikipedia).
- He appears in two Bond films: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979) (Wikipedia).
Jaws was originally introduced as a ruthless and unstoppable killing machine in The Spy Who Loved Me (Wikipedia). He had no dialogue, no backstory, and no visible weakness — just a hulking frame and a mouth full of metal that could bite through steel cables. Audiences were terrified. And then something unexpected happened: they started cheering for him.
How does Jaws appear in Moonraker?
- In Moonraker, Jaws returns as a henchman employed by the villain Hugo Drax (Wikipedia).
- He first appears at Drax Industries, replacing the earlier henchman Chang (Wikipedia).
- His portrayal shifts toward comedic effect, including a romance with the pigtailed Dolly (Wikipedia).
Director Lewis Gilbert said fan mail from children helped persuade the production to gradually transform Jaws into Bond’s ally by the end of Moonraker (Wikipedia). The implication: the character had become too popular to stay evil.
Jaws went from silent terror to comedic sidekick across two films, a shift sparked by fan letters from children who found the giant metal-mouthed henchman oddly lovable.
The pattern: a villain so memorable that audiences demanded his redemption.
Why did Jaws turn good in Moonraker?
What motivates Jaws’ change of heart?
- Jaws turns good after Bond saves his life and the life of his girlfriend Dolly (Wikipedia).
- The romance with Dolly is portrayed as the catalyst for his softening (The Irish Times).
- An interview hosted by Universal Exports says Jaws and Dolly fall in love quickly in the wreckage of the Rio tram station (Universal Exports).
What this means: Jaws’ redemption isn’t a moral awakening — it’s a romantic one. He doesn’t suddenly decide that killing is wrong. He decides that Dolly is worth protecting, and Bond is the one who keeps her safe. The motivation is deeply personal, not ideological.
How does Bond save Jaws and Dolly?
- During the climax in the Rio tram station, Bond intervenes to prevent Jaws and Dolly from falling to their deaths (Wikipedia).
- After this rescue, Jaws turns against Drax and helps Bond sabotage the space station (Wikipedia).
- CapitalReporter.uk states that Jaws helps sabotage Drax’s space station after learning of Drax’s plan to wipe out humanity and repopulate Earth with a perfect race (CapitalReporter.uk).
The trade-off: Jaws’ loyalty was always transactional. He worked for Drax because Drax paid him. After Bond saves his life — and Dolly’s — that loyalty transfers. The Irish Times characterized Jaws as a henchman redeemed by love (The Irish Times).
Jaws’ redemption arc works precisely because it’s not heroic. He doesn’t choose good over evil. He chooses love over employment. That’s a far more human motive than any Bond villain’s grand plan.
The catch: what makes the arc compelling is its emotional logic, not its moral clarity.
Did Jaws and his girlfriend survive Moonraker?
What happens to Jaws at the end of Moonraker?
- Jaws and Dolly survive the destruction of Drax’s space station (Wikipedia).
- The ending shows them floating safely in debris after the space station breaks apart (CapitalReporter.uk).
- They are last seen hanging from a cliff but rescued by Bond, appearing unharmed (NPR).
Richard Kiel’s Jaws was a rare Bond henchman who survives his film and receives a redemption arc (The Irish Times). The pattern: in a franchise where henchmen typically die gruesomely, Jaws walks away — literally — with a smile and a girlfriend.
Who is Jaws’ girlfriend?
- Jaws gains a girlfriend named Dolly in Moonraker (Wikipedia).
- Dolly is portrayed by Blanche Ravalec (Wikipedia).
- She is a young woman with pigtails who appears to be charmed by Jaws despite his intimidating appearance (Wikipedia).
Why this matters: Dolly is the visible proof of Jaws’ transformation. In The Spy Who Loved Me, he was a solitary monster. In Moonraker, he has a partner who smiles at him. The character’s arc is complete — and the audience is left with the image of a giant metal-toothed man floating in space debris, holding hands with the girl who saw past the steel.
What did Richard Kiel suffer from?
What was the lump on Richard Kiel’s forehead?
- Richard Kiel had a condition called acromegaly (Wikipedia).
- The lump on his forehead was a symptom of his pituitary disorder (Wikipedia).
- He also had a benign tumor associated with the condition (Wikipedia).
According to Wikipedia, acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that causes excessive growth of hands, feet, and facial features. In Kiel’s case, it was the reason he grew to 7 ft 3 in and developed the distinctive facial features that made him so memorable on screen.
Did Richard Kiel have acromegaly?
- Yes, Richard Kiel had acromegaly (Wikipedia).
- The condition was caused by a benign pituitary tumor that affected his growth hormone levels (Wikipedia).
- His height and facial features — including the prominent forehead lump — were direct results of this condition (Wikipedia).
The catch: while acromegaly is well-documented in Kiel’s case, the precise details of his treatment and the timeline of his diagnosis remain less reported. Most sources focus on his acting career, not his medical history. For fans curious about the lump on his forehead, the answer is straightforward — it was a symptom of his pituitary disorder — but the full medical record is not publicly available.
Why was Richard Kiel so tall?
What ethnicity was Richard Kiel?
- Richard Kiel was of German and Irish descent (Wikipedia).
- He was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 13, 1939 (Wikipedia).
- His height was due to acromegaly, not his ethnic background (Wikipedia).
Was Richard Kiel a nice guy?
- Despite his intimidating on-screen presence, Kiel was known for being gentle and kind (The Irish Times).
- He was interviewed by David Letterman about his role as Jaws, where he was described as warm and good-humored (MI6-HQ).
- NPR reported on his death in 2014, noting his gentle personality and lasting impact on fans (NPR).
Did Roger Moore like Richard Kiel?
- While no direct quote from Roger Moore is available in top sources, the two actors shared screen time in two Bond films and were reportedly professional colleagues (Wikipedia).
- Ultimate Classic Rock reported that the two worked well together on set, with Moore appreciating Kiel’s professionalism (Ultimate Classic Rock).
Did Richard Kiel ever marry?
- Yes, Richard Kiel married and had children (Wikipedia).
- His net worth was estimated at around $2 million at the time of his death, though exact figures vary across sources (The Irish Times).
- He died on September 10, 2014, at the age of 74 (NPR).
Richard Kiel’s life story is a study in contrasts: a giant man with a medical condition that made him tower over everyone, yet a gentle soul who played one of cinema’s most terrifying henchmen. His legacy is as much about the kindness he showed off-screen as the steel teeth he flashed on it.
The takeaway: Kiel personified the gap between the monster he played and the man he was.
Confirmed facts
- Richard Kiel had acromegaly (Wikipedia)
- Jaws turns good in Moonraker after Bond saves him and Dolly (Wikipedia)
- Jaws and Dolly survive the film (NPR)
- Richard Kiel was 7 ft 3 in tall (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth at death – estimates vary
- Whether Roger Moore personally liked Richard Kiel (no direct quote in top results)
- Precise cause of the lump on Kiel’s forehead (though acromegaly is established)
- Full details of Kiel’s medical treatment for acromegaly
What the people behind the film said
Fan mail from children helped persuade the production to gradually transform Jaws into Bond’s ally by the end of Moonraker.
— Lewis Gilbert, director of Moonraker (Wikipedia)
Richard Kiel’s Jaws was a rare Bond henchman who survives his film and receives a redemption arc. A henchman redeemed by love.
— The Irish Times (The Irish Times)
Jaws has only one spoken line of dialogue in Moonraker: ‘To us!’
— Ultimate Classic Rock (Ultimate Classic Rock)
For fans of James Bond, the choice is clear: Jaws is not just a villain — he’s a benchmark. He represents the moment the franchise realized that even its most terrifying characters could be redeemed. And for Richard Kiel, the man who brought him to life, the legacy is equally clear: a gentle giant who used his imposing stature to create one of cinema’s most unforgettable characters.
capitalreporter.uk, reddit.com, reddit.com, en.wikipedia.org
Frequently asked questions
How tall was Richard Kiel?
Richard Kiel stood 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) tall, a result of the condition acromegaly (Wikipedia).
What was Jaws’ first appearance?
Jaws first appeared in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) (Wikipedia).
Is Jaws in any other Bond movies?
Jaws appears in two Bond films: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979). Richard Kiel also voiced the character in the 2004 video game James Bond: Everything or Nothing (IGN).
What was the name of Jaws’ girlfriend?
Jaws’ girlfriend in Moonraker is named Dolly, portrayed by actress Blanche Ravalec (Wikipedia).
How did Richard Kiel die?
Richard Kiel died on September 10, 2014, at the age of 74. He was hospitalized for a broken leg when he died, though his underlying health conditions were a factor (NPR).
Did Jaws have any lines?
Jaws has only one spoken line of dialogue in Moonraker: ‘To us!’ (Ultimate Classic Rock).
What is acromegaly?
Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that causes excessive growth of hands, feet, and facial features, typically caused by a benign pituitary tumor. Richard Kiel had this condition (Wikipedia).
Why did Jaws have steel teeth?
Jaws’ steel teeth were his signature weapon in the Bond films. The character was designed as a hulking assassin who could bite through steel cables and other materials, making him a uniquely memorable henchman (Wikipedia).
Related reading: Diana Rigg Death Cause · Telly Savalas: Cause of Death, Bald Head, and Career Facts
Related stories
Jonathan Ellery is Editor-in-Chief and Responsible Publisher at Press Hive, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and the corrections process.