Emilio Largo played by Adolfo Celi is the main villain of Thunderball. A high-ranking SPECTRE agent, Largo is assigned the task of stealing two nuclear weapons from a NATO Vulcan bomber that will be used to hold the UK and the USA to ransom.

Other SPECTRE agents Fiona Volpe, Count Lippe and Angelo Palazzi undertake a plan to steal the nuclear bombs by killing NATO pilot Francois Derval and replacing him with a identical twin Angelo Palazzi, who has undertook extensive plastic surgery.

Largo recovers the bombs when the Vulcan is submerged underwater hidden away from view. After Bond interacts with Largo at the casino, he sends one of his henchmen, Quist to kill Bond, who fails. After Bond visits Largo at his waterfront estate for a social call, Fiona Volpe takes on the job of killing Bond. After sleeping with him, Fiona proceeds to escort him back to Largo. Bond manages to escape Fiona and disappears into the local carnival passing by. Fiona manages to catch up with Bond but when Largo's henchmen try to kill Bond, they kill Fiona instead with help of some nifty footwork by Bond.

After seducing Dominique ‘Domino’ Derval, Bond follows Largo to the location of the bombs, hidden underwater. After the resulting large battle at the end of the film Bond fights with Largo underwater and as Largo escapes, Bond manages to board the Disco Volante. After a vicious fight aboard the Disco Volante with Bond, Largo and his henchmen, Domino comes to the rescue and shoots Largo in the back.