Geoffrey Palmer (Admiral Roebuck)

Geoffrey Palmer playing Admiral Roebuck

Born in London, England on 4th June 1927

Starred In Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

Film information

Admiral Roebuck played by Geoffrey Palmer appears only in one James Bond film – Tomorrow Never Dies. Present with M in the technological communications centre, Roebuck orders the HMS Chester to fire a cruise missile at the terrorist arms bazaar they are watching on screen, courtesy of Bond.

However, after the missile is fired, Bond reveals a couple of nuclear missiles, previously unseen. Unable to destroy the missile, Bond does his job and manages to recover the missiles, prevent a nuclear disaster, and make Roebuck look a fool at the same time. Later Admiral Roebuck tells M that he doesn’t like her method of pussyfooting around and tells her she has forty-eight hours to investigate before he sends the entire British fleet into China.

Character information

Living up to his name, Admiral Roebuck is the impatient, hawkish, hardliner in charge of the British naval fleet. Roebuck takes the stance of firing first, and then asking questions later. This is the practice that nearly causes disaster twice in the film because of his aggressive military actions, but it is Bond who manages to save the day once more. §