Sean Connery: Hollywood legend and first James Bond passes away at 90

The Scottish actor, who was knighted in 2000, won numerous awards during his decades-spanning career, including an Oscar, three Golden Globes, and two Bafta awards.

sean connery

Legendary actor Sean Connery, best known for playing fictional spy James Bond, has died at the age of 90, leading to an outpouring of tributes for one of Britain’s best-loved screen heroes.

The Scottish actor, who was knighted in 2000, won numerous awards during his decades-spanning career, including an Oscar, three Golden Globes, and two Bafta awards.

Sean Connery played a series of noteworthy roles besides Bond and won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a tough Chicago cop in The Untouchables.

Sir Sean’s son Jason told the BBC that his father died peacefully in his sleep overnight while in the Bahamas, having been “unwell for some time”.

“He was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond,” said the movie franchise’s producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

“He revolutionised the world with his gritty and witty portrayal of the sexy and charismatic secret agent.”

The pair added Connery was “undoubtedly largely responsible for the success of the film series and we shall be forever grateful to him.”

A bricklayer, lifeguard, and coffin polisher, among other manual jobs, before he found fame, Connery kickstarted his acting career after a bodybuilding hobby led him to enter the Mr Universe competition.

There, a fellow competitor urged him to audition for acting parts and he soon started landing small roles.

His big break came by starring as Bond in 1962’s “Dr. No”, the franchise’s first film.

He went to play Bond in “From Russia With Love” (1963), “Goldfinger” (1964), “Thunderball” (1965), “You Only Live Twice” (1967) and “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971).

He made a comeback as the British spy in the unofficial 1983 film “Never Say Never Again”.

Off-screen, Connery was a fiercely proud Scot and a financial backer of the Scottish National Party (SNP), which advocates for independence for Scotland from the UK.

The nation’s former First Minister Alex Salmond reacted to his death by describing Connery as “the world’s greatest Scot, the last of the real Hollywood stars, the definitive Bond.”

Salmond said his signature voice, spirit and passion had endured even though “his health was failing” in recent years.

The first actor to utter the unforgettable “Bond, James Bond”, Connery made six official films as novelist Ian Fleming’s creation, giving what many still consider as the definitive portrayal.

 

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March 2024
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