James Bond Lifestyle pioneer Paul Kyriazi has died

News recently emerged of the death of the man who popularised the idea of the James Bond Lifestyle.

Paul Kyriazi doing what he loved best

Last week I received an email from a newsletter subscriber telling me of the passing last year of Paul Kyriazi, known best by Bond fans for his James Bond Lifestyle books and audio seminars. It appears to be confirmed by a comment by his sister left on his Facebook page, who on 30th August 2023 wrote:

My brother Paul Kyriazi passed away after a sudden & short illness. When he was 8 years old, he saw the making of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” on Disneyland TV and said, “I want to make movies.” And that’s what he did.

He will certainly be missed for the unique perspective he offered to the Bond community through his Bond Lifestyle seminars and his eternal enthusiasm and positivity. His work inspired fans to not just admire the iconic character of James Bond but to embody the qualities that make Bond such a lasting figure in popular culture.

The Complete James Bond Lifestyle Seminar was originally taught live at The Learning Annex and SpyFest back in 1998 and published the following year as a 90 minute cassette. Paul later expanded it as How to Live the James Bond Lifestyle to an 8-CD box set and to print versions.

Far more than copying the spy’s gadgets or style, he focused on the deeper qualities that make Bond stand out – confidence, drive and the skills to be our best selves. Paul believed that while anyone can dress like James Bond,  what makes the difference is the inner game of 007. In much the same way, Terence Young understood that Sean Connery would only be able to successful project Bond once he had internalised the trappings of James Bond and  instructed Connery to sleep in his bespoke Anthony Sinclair suit so that it became second nature. Paul’s insights gave fans new ways to connect with their 007 beyond the movies and books and almost certainly the person who first coined the phrase “James Bond lifestyle”.

While attending San Francisco State University between 1965 and 1969 Paul’s passion for karate saw him write and direct martial arts shorts. This was a few years before Bruce Lee popularised the genre in the West. After graduating  he served in the USAF movie department for four years, during which time he filmed rocket launches for NASA.

Paul’s career as a movie director spanned several decades, during which he directed a small number of independent films that often reflected his interests in adventure, action, and the martial arts. He also directed an episode of Sesame Street, and appeared in a number of films, including as an uncredited extra in the San Francisco crowd scenes of A View to a Kill.

Beyond his work as a filmmaker, Paul produced a number of original audiobooks. He skilfully translated the suspense and excitement of cinema into audio formats, engaging audiences with just as much passion as his visual works.

I first got to know Paul in 2009 when we exchanged emails. He was kind enough to send me How to Live the James Bond Lifestyle to review on CD, and later sent me a copy of the 2015 edition of the book on Kindle. Beyond that he offered support for my book, The Complete Guide to the Drinks of James Bond, despite not drinking; he once sent me – completely out of the blue – a signed photo of George Lazenby; and he supported The James Bond Dossier on Patreon.

Paul lived in Japan for many years and, from what I know of him, must have been well into his 70s when he died. The way he lived his life, very much on his own terms, serves as an inspiration to all who knew him or were touched by his work.

Thanks to David Howcroft.