Sure, he wasn't seen for most of Diamonds Are Forever, and it turns out that most of the time you thought it was him, it turned out to be Blofeld using a voice box, but still, one cannot ignore the impact that Willard White, a.k.a. Jimmy Dean (of country music and sausage fame), had when he actually appeared on screen, and it wasn't so much what he did as it was what he said and how he said it. The first, and probably most memorable for a lot of people, is what he says right after James Bond and the authorities have freed him and then find themselves the target of would-be assassin Bert Saxby, loyal employee of Willard White (though I'll leave you to guess which one). It is only after Saxby has been slain and tumbles down the rocky terrain that White learns of his identity, and it is at this point he utters the immortal words, "Bert Saxby? Tell him he's fired." Now, I'm sure that most people see this as a memorable line because of the timing. Me? I remember this line, and I love saying it, because of the way the line is delivered, particularly the word Bert.
What can I say? The guy had a way with the letter b and this is further shown a short time later when good old Willard utters what I think is another great line involving a little place just off the coast of a certain peninsula south of California.
Oh Willard, it's a shame that you didn't have more screen time, but maybe it isn't because I might have gotten tired of you and they might have overused you. At least you made the most of your appearances and gave me yet another reason to tune in whenever Diamonds Are Forever is on. For that, sir, I thank you.
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