The Scottish James Bond actor Sir Sean Connery, who appeared in seven of the spy thrillers, died overnight in his sleep. Sir Connery was the first to bring the role to the big screen. He had been unwell for some time and he passed away in Bahamas. He died at the age of 90, his family said.
His acting career spanned decades and his many awards included an Oscar, two Bafta awards and three Golden Globes.
The James Bond actor’s other films included The Hunt for Red October, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and The Rock. He was largely regarded as the best actor to have played 007.
He won an Oscar in 1988, when he was named best supporting actor for his role as an Irish cop in The Untouchables.
He was knighted by the Queen at Holyrood Palace in 2000. In August, he celebrated his 90th birthday. Sean Connery was the definitive James Bond for many.
Thomas Sean Connery was born in the Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh on August 25, 1930, the son of a Catholic factory worker and a Protestant domestic cleaner. Of the seven spy thrillers Sean Connery acted, his roles in Dr. No, Goldfinger and You only live twice are admired the most.
He left school at the age of 13 to work as a milkman. He polished coffins and laid bricks before joining the Royal Navy but was later discharged on medical grounds.
At the age of 18, he took to bodybuilding and got work as a model. He entered the Mr Universe contest in 1953 but did not win. Having interest in acting, Connery used his Mr Universe visit to London to audition for a stage version of South Pacific, and landed in a role in the chorus.
He then acted in small roles in TV shows and his first credited film role arrived in 1957, playing a hoodlum in the 1957 British thriller No Road Back.
Connery did a substantial role in the war-set melodrama Another Time, Another Place in 1957 opposite Lana Turner, who was a big Hollywood star at that time.
At the age of 30, his casting in the first film adapted from Ian Fleming’s series of James Bond novels, established his screen status. The first James Bond movie he acted was Dr No (1962) and it was a huge success. It did well both in Britain and in the US.
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