Bond actor denies beating up first wife

Published on Wednesday 27 August 2008 21:52

THE former James Bond star George Lazenby has denied allegations he assaulted his first wife and was an abusive alcoholic.

The claims were made in papers filed in a Los Angeles court, where he is fighting for custody of his three children by the former tennis star Pam Shriver.

His first wife, Christina Master, from whom he separated in 1994, and their daughter, Melanie Lazenby, 34, alleged that he beat, threatened and tormented them.

It is the latest twist in the bitter divorce battle between Lazenby, 68, and Shriver, 46, a five-times Wimbledon doubles champion, which got under way earlier this month.

The Australian-born actor, who played Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969, said: "I wish Christina would show me a medical report, X-rays and pictures that show I broke her nose. I never punched her in my life."

He apologised to his daughter for not being attentive to her during his son Zack's illness but denied the allegation that he was drinking at the time.

"I did not have one drink while attending to Zack for eight years," he said. Zack died of cancer 14 years ago at the age of 19.

Lazenby claimed Shriver had sought out Ms Master and her daughter in Paris during the French Open in May, as she was "secretly preparing" to divorce him. The couple married in 2002 and have three children.

Shriver has filed for divorce from Lazenby, citing "irreconcilable differences".