The Lazenby Legacy: Unveiling the Family Ties of George Lazenby’s Parents
George Lazenby, the Australian actor who graced the silver screen as the iconic James Bond, has a story that extends beyond the glamorous world of Hollywood.
Early Life
Born on September 5, 1939, in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia, George Robert Lazenby grew up in a modest yet loving household. His parents, George Edward Lazenby and Sheila Joan Lazenby (née Bodel), played pivotal roles in shaping his character and values.
George Edward Lazenby
George Edward Lazenby, the patriarch of the Lazenby family, earned his living as a dedicated railway worker. His blue-collar profession reflected the hardworking ethos that characterized many Australians of his generation.
George Edward’s commitment to providing for his family laid the foundation for young George Robert’s sense of responsibility.
Sheila Joan Lazenby
Sheila Joan Lazenby (née Bodel), George Robert’s mother, worked at Fosseys, a retail store that became a part of the family’s narrative.
Her contributions to the household, combined with the nurturing environment she provided, played a crucial role in shaping the values that George Robert would carry into adulthood.
The Siblings
George Lazenby’s parents, George Edward and Sheila Joan, expanded their family to include three more children.
George Samuel Lazenby was born on July 12, 2004, while twins Kaitlin Elizabeth “Kate” Lazenby and Samuel Robert “Sam” Lazenby arrived on September 19, 2005.
This sibling dynamic undoubtedly influenced the familial bonds that George Lazenby cherished throughout his life.
The Early Years and Fatherhood
At the age of 21, while working as a car salesman, George Lazenby became a father to a daughter named Jennifer with Maureen Powell, an Australian Army Sergeant and PE/fitness instructor at Royal Military College, Duntroon.
This early experience of fatherhood added layers to Lazenby’s life story, contributing to the complexities that would shape his journey.
Marriage to Chrissie Townson and Growing Family
In 1973, George Lazenby married his girlfriend of three years, Christina Ross “Chrissie” Townson (now Matser). Chrissie, an heiress of the Gannett family, became George’s partner in building a family of their own.
They had two children, daughter Melanie Andrea Lazenby (born September 13, 1973), and son Zachary “Zack” Lazenby (born November 9, 1974), at Woden Valley Hospital (now Canberra Hospital) in Garran.