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Kerim Bey:
In what is possibly the best performance of any Bond ally to date, Pedro Armendariz plays Kerim Bey, head of station T, Turkey.
Kerim Bey runs the Istanbul branch of MI6 from his office hidden inside of a carpet market. From here he has access to an ancient maze of Roman sewers to secretly travel in and a periscope within them (it was installed during construction work) that allows him to spy on the Russian consulate. Kerim advises Bond during his stay in Istanbul and becomes a powerful ally and close friend. He aids Bond with the help of his many sons, who he says are the largest family payroll in Turkey, and his gypsy friends. After joining Bond and Tatiana on the Orient Express to escape with the Lektor, he is killed by Red Grant, who makes it appear as if he and a Russian agent killed eachother.
Armendariz was diagnosed with inoperable cancer during the production but opted to complete the film despite the pain he was in. His scenes got top priority and he completed all of them, being held up from behind in some of them. Immediately after filming, Armendariz was hospitalized and committed suicide soon after with a gun he smuggled in.
News of Armendariz's death soon reached the cast and crew of the film, who were deeply saddened. Armendariz was a distinguished actor outside of From Russia With Love and this humble tribute to the film is dedicated in his memory.
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