He's been around on the big screen for 46 years, but amazingly, only six actors have been able to proclaim on screen that they were "Bond … James Bond."

The 22nd Bond movie adventure, "Quantum of Solace," opens in theaters Friday, as actor Daniel Craig reprises the role of 007 that he first played in the 2006 blockbuster "Casino Royale."

See Movie Clips From "Quantum of Solace" in our Holiday Season Movie Section

Bond fans, of course, know the history of the character on film left, right and center. But for the uninitiated, here's a quick reference guide:

Craig follows in the footsteps of Pierce Brosnan, who assumed the iconic role from 1995 to 2002. He played Bond four times, in "GoldenEye," "Tomorrow Never Dies," "The World is Not Enough" and "Die Another Day."

Prior to Brosnan, Timothy Dalton played Bond for two films: "The Living Daylights" (1987) and "License to Kill" (1989).

In the longest run of playing 007, Roger Moore starred as Bond in seven films, from 1973 in "Live and Let Die" to "A View to a Kill" in 1985. In between, Moore starred in "The Man With the Golden Gun," 'The Spy Who Loved Me," "Moonraker," "For Your Eyes Only" and "Octopussy."

George Lazenby's service as Bond was short-lived. He replaced Sean Connery for one film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" in 1969.

Connery, the original big-screen Bond, began his run as the character in 1962 with "Dr. No," and with the Lazenby break included, played 007 through 1971 with "Diamonds are Forever." In between, Connery played Bond in "From Russia With Love," "Goldfinger," "Thunderball" and "You Only Live Twice."

If technicalities don't bother you, 007 was played by the likes of Peter Sellers, David Niven, Ursula Andress and Woody Allen in the 1967 Bond spoof "Casino Royale," and by Connery again in "Never Say Never Again" in 1983. Mired by legal battles over rights issues, "Never Say Never Again" is not a part of the MGM 007 film franchise, and thus is not officially considered a Bond film.

Interested in what the actors who played Bond look like today? Then click into our James Bond Stars: Then and Now slideshow.