Was James Brolin's appearance a personal James Bond inside joke?
Before a deal was made for Roger Moore to come back to play James Bond in 1983's Octopussy, James Brolin was in line (or at the very least, screen tested) to play him.
https://moviechat.org/tt0082398/For-Your-Eyes-Only/58c73bf86b51e905f66ba652/Should-this-have-been-Rogers-last-bond-film?page=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhkUWMJoccQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksjXilVYIxw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxjyZ3lb8dc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJOqz6CPxLY