There are few cinematic characters with as much history or staying power as Ian Fleming’s James Bond. With 50 years on screen, and 23 (and counting) official films and adaptations, the character has become a cultural icon. In honor of the character, an official “James Bond Day” has been declared to coincide with Bond’s 50th anniversary.

Celebrating 50 years of Bond, creators of the 007 series have declared October 5th to be “Global James Bond Day,” a marker in a year-long celebration of Bond’s long-running film series. “Global James Bond Day” coincides with the 1962 release of Dr. No starring Sean Connery as Bond, the first film in the franchise. This year, Craig will make his third appearance as the character in Sam Mendes’ Skyfall due for release in the US on November 9th.

Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will sponsor the day-long series of events, reports MSN.

Among the day’s events celebrating Bond’s 50th, an online and live auction charity event, a global survey to find favroite Bond films by country, a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, a performance of music from Bond films in Los Angeles hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Designing 007: 50 Years of Bond Style, an exhibition at the Toronto Film Festival.

A new documentary by Stevan Riley titled Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007 will also see release this year. The documentary will focus on the relationship between Bond producers Broccoli and Harry Saltzman and the spy novels’ author Ian Fleming.

Are you celebrating “Global James Bond Day?” Can you believe he’s made it 50 years? Oh, and here’s the trailer for Skyfall in case you missed it:

‘Global James Bond Day’ Announced To Celebrate 007′s 50th Anniversary is a post from: The Inquisitr