Lew Grade cast Moore as Simon Templar in a new adaptation of The Saint, based on the novels by Leslie Charteris.
Moore said in an interview in 1963 that he wanted to buy the rights to Leslie Charteris's character and the trademarks.
The television series was broadcast by ITV in the UK between 1962 and 1969, and its overseas success made Moore a household name.
After the strong performance in the US of the first two series in first-run syndication, NBC picked up the show in 1966.
By early 1967, Moore had achieved international stardom.
The series established his suave, quipping style which he carried forward to James Bond, and also saw him exhibit his trademark raised eyebrow.
Francis Blagburn in The Telegraph writes,
The raised eyebrow is perhaps the hardest facial gesture to perfect in the gentleman's arsenal.
Get it right and you give the impression of someone who is in total control; get it wrong and you look like, well, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson (and no one wants that).
Sir Roger wrote the book in how to raise an eyebrow... as Simon Templar, he cooly infers that he knows, and he knows that you know that he knows.

The Saint ran from 1962 for six series and 118 episodes.
Moore went on to direct several episodes of the later series, which moved into colour in 1967.
Moore grew increasingly tired of the role, and was keen to branch out.
Lew Grade cast Moore as Simon Templar in a new adaptation of The Saint, based on the novels by Leslie Charteris. Moore said in an interview in 1963 that he wanted to buy the rights to Leslie Charteris's character and the trademarks. The television series was broadcast by ITV in the UK between 1962 and 1969, and its overseas success made Moore a household name. After the strong performance in the US of the first two series in first-run syndication, NBC picked up the show in 1966. By early 1967, Moore had achieved international stardom. The series established his suave, quipping style which he carried forward to James Bond, and also saw him exhibit his trademark raised eyebrow. Francis Blagburn in The Telegraph writes,
The raised eyebrow is perhaps the hardest facial gesture to perfect in the gentleman's arsenal. Get it right and you give the impression of someone who is in total control; get it wrong and you look like, well, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson (and no one wants that). Sir Roger wrote the book in how to raise an eyebrow... as Simon Templar, he cooly infers that he knows, and he knows that you know that he knows.
The Saint ran from 1962 for six series and 118 episodes. Moore went on to direct several episodes of the later series, which moved into colour in 1967. Moore grew increasingly tired of the role, and was keen to branch out.
Roger Moore