AceShowbiz -

Roger Moore paid tribute to his co-star in James Bond movies "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker", Richard Kiel, who passed away on Wednesday, September 10. The 86-year-old English actor tweeted on Thursday, "I am totally distraught to learn of my dear friend Richard Kiel's passing. We were on a radio programme together just a week ago. Distraught. Can't take it in."

Roger told Yahoo U.K. of Richard, "He was talking from Fresno, and we were in a studio in London - Barbara Broccoli, Michael Wilson, and John Glen the director Moore. He sounded very, very weak. We were told that the line was bad from Fresno and that he would sound a bit strange. But he'd had a hell of a job getting into the studio and getting out of his car."

He continued, "What we didn't know was that he'd had surgery that week, that he'd broken his leg. He'd fallen and that weight and height that he was, falling was a very serious thing." Roger added that Richard was "a big man with an even bigger heart."

Meanwhile, Adam Sandler, who played alongside Richard in 1996's "Happy Gilmore", tweeted, "Richard Kiel was one of the nicest, funniest guys I've ever met. I'll never forget hanging out with him & how good he was to everyone. Richard was a special man. My thoughts are with his family."

Richard died at the age of 74. Prior to his passing, Richard was hospitalized after breaking his leg in the previous week. He is survived by his wife, four children and nine grandchildren.