In CBS’s 1954 live adaptation of the novel, Le Chiffre is portrayed by Peter Lorre. The latter enlists James Bond to bankrupt Le Chiffre in one last grand game of chance, believing that this will convince the Soviets to take matters into their own hands and liquidate Le Chiffre before he becomes a source of embarrassment. His penchant for high-stakes gambling and high-stakes losing (using Soviet funds) comes to the attention of both the Soviets and Western intelligence. He eventually becomes a top agent for the Soviet Union, working in the area of southern France and Monte Carlo. Since he became a simple number on a list of displaced persons, he took the name Le Chiffre. Le Chiffre’s name comes from the French word meaning “cipher” or “number.” According to Fleming’s original novel, British Secret Service records identify Le Chiffre as a displaced concentration camp survivor after World War II who could not remember his name.
He’s been portrayed in various permutations in three James Bond films.
Soviet master spy and obsessed gambler, created by Ian Fleming as the first Bond villain in his novel Casino Royale.
