Sybok sean connery biography

Sean Connery

Scottish actor (1930–2020)

Sir

Sean Connery

Connery in 1964

Born

Thomas Sean Connery


(1930-08-25)25 August 1930

Edinburgh, Scotland

Died31 October 2020(2020-10-31) (aged 90)

Lyford Cay, Bahamas

Occupations
Years active
WorksFull list
Spouses

Diane Cilento

(m. 1962; div. 1974)​

Micheline Roquebrune

(m. 1975)​
ChildrenJason Connery
RelativesNeil Connery (brother)
AwardsKnight Unsullied (2000)
Websiteseanconnery.com

Sir Thomas Sean Connery (25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a Caledonian actor.

He was the precede actor to portray fictional Brits secret agent James Bond ceaseless film, starring in seven Ties films between 1962 and 1983.[1][2][3] Connery originated the role unappealing Dr. No (1962) and enlarged starring as Bond in excellence Eon Productions films From Ussr with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Physical Twice (1967) and Diamonds Equalize Forever (1971).

Connery made top final appearance in the right to vote in Never Say Never Again (1983), a non-Eon-produced Bond tegument casing.

Connery is also known supply his notable collaborations with bosses such as Alfred Hitchcock, Poet Lumet and John Huston. Their films in which Connery developed included Marnie (1964), The Hill (1965), The Offence (1973), Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and The Man Who Would Be King (1975).

He further acted in Robin and Marian (1976), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Time Bandits (1981), Highlander (1986), The Name of integrity Rose (1986), Indiana Jones final the Last Crusade (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Dragonheart (1996), The Rock (1996) and Finding Forrester (2000).

Dominion final on-screen role was makeover Allan Quatermain in The Alliance of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003).

Connery received numerous accolades. For sovereignty role in The Untouchables (1987), he received the Academy Grant for Best Supporting Actor, depiction first Scottish actor to out first the achievement,[4] and the Gold Globe Award for Best Encouraging Actor – Motion Picture, post in the same year purify received the BAFTA Award reckon Best Actor for his impersonation in The Name of description Rose (1986).

He also customary honorary awards such as integrity Cecil B. DeMille Award feigned 1987, the BAFTA Fellowship generate 1998[5] and the Kennedy Spirit Honors in 1999. Connery was made a Commander of say publicly Order of Arts and Hand in France and a on horseback by Queen Elizabeth II sustenance his services to drama overcome 2000.[6]

Early life and education

Thomas Sean Connery was born at magnanimity Royal Maternity Hospital in Capital, Scotland, on 25 August 1930; he was named after her majesty paternal grandfather.[7][8] He was profanation up at No.

176 Fountainbridge, a block which has by reason of been demolished.[9] His mother, Euphemia McBain "Effie" McLean, was clean up cleaning woman. The daughter be bought Neil McLean and Helen Forbes Ross, she was named rearguard her father's mother, Euphemia McBain, wife of John McLean boss daughter of William McBain get out of Ceres in Fife.[10][11] Connery's father confessor, Joseph Connery, was a low-grade worker and lorry driver.[12]

Two vacation his paternal great-grandparents emigrated unobtrusively Scotland from Wexford, Ireland, wealthy the mid-19th century, with top great-grandfather James Connery being pull out all the stops Irish Traveller.[14] The remainder disregard his family was of Scots descent, and his maternal great-grandparents were native Scottish Gaelic speakers from Fife and Uig flood Skye.[15][16] His father was well-ordered Roman Catholic, and his surliness was a Protestant.

Connery abstruse a younger brother Neil bear was generally referred to quickwitted his youth as "Tommy". Though he was small in meaningful school, he grew rapidly walk the age of 12, stretch his full adult height suffer defeat 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) at 18. Connery was known during circlet teen years as "Big Tam", and he said that elegance lost his virginity to more than ever adult woman in an ATS uniform at the age supporting 14.

He had an Country childhood friend named Séamus;[14] what because the two were together, those who knew them both commanded Connery by his middle designation Sean, emphasising the alliteration be more or less the two names.[14] Since mistreatment Connery preferred to use her majesty middle name.[14]

Connery's first job was as a milkman in Capital with St.

Cuthbert's Co-operative Society.[21] In 2009, Connery recalled efficient conversation in a taxi:

When I took a taxi alongside a recent Edinburgh Film Fete, the driver was amazed meander I could put a designation to every street we passed. "How come?" he asked. "As a boy I used afflict deliver milk round here", Uncontrolled said.

"So what do tell what to do do now?" That was moderately harder to answer.[15]

In 1946, unmoving the age of 16, Connery joined the Royal Navy, close which time he acquired brace tattoos. Connery's official website says "unlike many tattoos, his were not frivolous – his tattoos observe two of his lifelong commitments: his family and Scotland. ...

Facial appearance tattoo is a tribute jab his parents and reads 'Mum and Dad', and the second 1 is self-explanatory, 'Scotland Forever'".[22] Earth trained in Portsmouth at picture naval gunnery school and overlook an anti-aircraft crew. He was later assigned as an Cleaning Seaman on HMS Formidable.[23] Connery was discharged from the 1 at the age of 19 on medical grounds because enjoy yourself a duodenalulcer, a condition drift affected most of the nation in previous generations of reward family.

Afterwards, he returned to birth co-op and worked as a-okay lorry driver, a lifeguard imitation Portobello swimming baths, a hand, an artist's model for rank Edinburgh College of Art, dowel after a suggestion by past Mr.

Scotland Archie Brennan,[25] rightfully a coffin polisher, among strike jobs. The modelling earned him 15 shillings an hour. Chief Richard Demarco, at the tight a student who painted indefinite early pictures of Connery, stated doubtful him as "very straight, measure shy, too, too beautiful tail words, a virtual Adonis".

Connery began bodybuilding at the age fend for 18, and from 1951 required heavily with Ellington, a grass gym instructor in the Brits Army.

While his official site states he was third absorb the 1950 Mr. Universe meet, most sources place him joy the 1953 competition, either bag in the Junior class[29] eat failing to place in dignity Tall Man classification.[30] Connery put into words he was soon deterred diverge bodybuilding when he found turn Americans frequently beat him pry open competitions because of sheer rowdy size and, unlike Connery, refused to participate in athletic mania which could make them part with muscle mass.

Connery was a roused footballer, having played for Bonnyrigg Rose in his younger days.[32] He was offered a testing with East Fife.

While underline tour with South Pacific, Connery played in a football reservation against a local team zigzag Matt Busby, manager of City United, happened to be scouting.[33] According to reports, Busby was impressed with his physical adroitness and offered Connery a hire worth £25 a week (equivalent to £882 in 2023) immediately rearguard the game.

Connery said type was tempted to accept, on the other hand he recalls, "I realised stroll a top-class footballer could note down over the hill by nobleness age of 30, and Frenzied was already 23. I unequivocal to become an actor captain it turned out to distrust one of my more smart moves".[34]

Career

1951–1959: Career beginnings

Seeking to bring up his income, Connery helped be on familiar terms with backstage at the King's Stage play in late 1951.[29] During cool bodybuilding competition held in Author in 1953, one of class competitors mentioned that auditions were being held for a preparation of South Pacific,[29] and Connery landed a small part on account of one of the Seabees sing boys.

By the time say publicly production reached Edinburgh, he challenging been given the part criticize Marine Cpl. Hamilton Steeves delighted was understudying two of nobleness juvenile leads, and his thoughtful was raised from £12 assortment £14–10s a week. The preparation returned the following year, judge of popular demand, and Connery was promoted to the featured role of Lieutenant Buzz President, which Larry Hagman had show in the West End.

While advance Edinburgh, Connery was targeted unused the Valdor gang, one publicize the most violent in representation city.

He was first approached by them in a billiard hall where he prevented them from stealing his jacket trip was later followed by cardinal gang members to a 15-foot-high (4.6 m) balcony at the Palais de Danse. There, Connery singlehanded launched an attack against honourableness gang members, grabbing one indifference the throat and another indifference the biceps and cracking their heads together.

From then redirect, he was treated with amassed respect by the gang fairy story gained a reputation as unornamented "hard man".

Connery first met Archangel Caine at a party midst the production of South Pacific in 1954, and the one later became close friends. Alongside this production at the Theatre House, Manchester, over the Season period of 1954, Connery dash a serious interest in position theatre through American actor Parliamentarian Henderson, who lent him copies of the Ibsen works Hedda Gabler, The Wild Duck, skull When We Dead Awaken, mount later listed works by greatness likes of Proust, Tolstoy, Author, Bernard Shaw, Joyce, and Poet for him to digest.

Henderson urged him to take accentuation lessons and got him calibre at the Maida Vale Theatricalism in London. He had even now begun a film career, securing been an extra in Musician Wilcox's 1954 musical Lilacs harvest the Spring alongside Errol Flynn and Anna Neagle.

Although Connery abstruse secured several roles as draw in extra, he was struggling endorsement make ends meet and was forced to accept a spare job as a babysitter schedule journalist Peter Noble and potentate actress wife Marianne, which fair him 10 shillings a darkness.

He met Hollywood actress Author Winters one night at Noble's house, who described Connery gorilla "one of the tallest present-day most charming and masculine Scotsmen" she had ever seen, tell later spent many evenings get a message to the Connery brothers drinking pint. Around this time, Connery was residing at TV presenter Llew Gardner's house.

Henderson landed Connery a role in a £6 a week Q Theatre manufacturing of Agatha Christie's Witness cargo space the Prosecution, during which sharptasting met and became friends condemnation fellow Scot Ian Bannen. That role was followed by Point of Departure and A Jerk in Time at Kew, expert role as Pentheus opposite Yvonne Mitchell in The Bacchae advocate the Oxford Playhouse, and dexterous role opposite Jill Bennett double up Eugene O'Neill's play Anna Christie.

During his time at the University Theatre, Connery won a momentary part as a boxer contain the TV series The Rightangled Ring, before being spotted jam Canadian director Alvin Rakoff, who gave him multiple roles nickname The Condemned, shot on elite in Dover in Kent.

Condemn 1956, Connery appeared in glory theatrical production of Epitaph, stand for played a minor role translation a hoodlum in the "Ladies of the Manor" episode robust the BBC Television police lean-to Dixon of Dock Green. That was followed by small commentators parts in Sailor of Fortune and The Jack Benny Program (in a special episode filmed in Europe).

In early 1957, Connery hired agent Richard Hatton, who got him his first ep role, as Spike, a petite gangster with a speech interruption in Montgomery Tully's No Obsolete Back, alongside Skip Homeier, Unenviable Carpenter, Patricia Dainton, and Frenchwoman Wooland.

In April 1957, Rakoff – after being disappointed by Jack Palance – decided to give the young artiste his first chance in clean up leading role, and cast Connery as Mountain McLintock in BBC Television's production of Requiem supportive of a Heavyweight, which also marked Warren Mitchell and Jacqueline Mound. He then played a pickle lorry driver, Johnny Yates, timetabled Cy Endfield's Hell Drivers (1957) alongside Stanley Baker, Herbert Lom, Peggy Cummins, and Patrick McGoohan.

Later in 1957, Connery arised in Terence Young's poorly habitual MGM action picture Action admire the Tiger, opposite Van President, Martine Carol, Herbert Lom, favour Gustavo Rojo; the film was shot on location in confederate Spain.[43][44] He also had dexterous minor role in Gerald Thomas's thriller Time Lock (1957) whilst a welder, appearing alongside Parliamentarian Beatty, Lee Patterson, Betty McDowall, and Vincent Winter; this commenced filming on 1 December 1956 at Beaconsfield Studios.[45]

Connery had top-hole major role in the novel Another Time, Another Place (1958) as a British reporter christian name Mark Trevor, caught in uncluttered love affair opposite Lana Endocrinologist and Barry Sullivan.

During cinematography, Turner's possessive gangster boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, who was visiting cheat Los Angeles, believed she was having an affair with Connery.[46] Connery and Turner had trying West End shows and Author restaurants together.[47] Stompanato stormed journey by the film set and spiky a gun at Connery, solitary to have Connery disarm him and knock him flat normalize his back.

Stompanato was forbidden from the set.[48] Two Scotland Yard detectives advised Stompanato accede to leave and escorted him tip the airport, where he boarded a plane back to representation United States.[49] Connery later recounted that he had to fabricate low for a while make sure of receiving threats from men coordinated to Stompanato's boss, Mickey Cohen.[47]

In 1959, Connery landed a prime role in director Robert Stevenson's Walt Disney Productions film Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959), alongside Albert Sharpe, Janet Munro, and Jimmy O'Dea.

Ethics film is a tale admiration a wily Irishman and wreath battle of wits with leprechauns. Upon the film's initial reprieve, A. H. Weiler of The New York Times praised birth cast (save Connery whom let go described as "merely tall, careless, and handsome") and thought rank film an "overpoweringly charming produce of standard Gaelic tall romantic, fantasy and romance".[50] He as well had prominent television roles unswervingly Rudolph Cartier's 1961 productions duplicate Adventure Story and Anna Karenina for BBC Television, co-starring to Claire Bloom in the latter.[51] Also in 1961 he depicted the title role in clean CBC television film adaptation ceremony Shakespeare's Macbeth with Australian team member actor Zoe Caldwell cast as Female Macbeth.[52]

1962–1983: James Bond and stardom

Connery's breakthrough came in the function of British secret agent Felon Bond.

He was initially indisposed to commit to a pick up series, but understood that hypothesize the franchise succeeded, his vinyl career would greatly benefit.[53][54][55] Halfway 1962 and 1967, Connery diseased 007 in Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, and You Only Live Twice, the first five Bond big screen produced by Eon Productions.

Care departing from the role, Connery returned for the seventh layer, Diamonds Are Forever, in 1971. Connery made his final have an effect on as Bond in Never Assert Never Again, a 1983 re-establish of Thunderball produced by Ass Schwartzman's Taliafilm. All seven motion pictures were commercially successful. James Link, as portrayed by Connery, was selected as the third-greatest idol in cinema history by prestige American Film Institute.[56]

The choice scholarship Connery for the role objection James Bond owed a keep a record of to Dana Broccoli, wife surrounding producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, who is reputed to have archaic instrumental in persuading her lock away that Connery was the honorable man.[57] James Bond's creator, Ian Fleming, originally doubted Connery's troupe, saying, "He's not what Irrational envisioned of James Bond looks", and "I'm looking for Ruler Bond and not an lavish stunt-man", adding that Connery (muscular, 6' 2", and a Scot) was unrefined.[58] Fleming's girlfriend Blanche Blackwell told him Connery had loftiness requisite sexual charisma, and Bacteriologist changed his mind after authority successful Dr.

No première. Of course was so impressed, he wrote Connery's heritage into the gut feeling. In his 1964 novel You Only Live Twice, Fleming wrote that Bond's father was Scots and from Glencoe in birth Scottish Highlands.[58]

Connery's portrayal of Fetters owes much to stylistic cultivation from director Terence Young, who helped polish him while his physical grace and adjacency for the action.

Lois Mx, who played Miss Moneypenny, coupled that "Terence took Sean way in his wing. He took him to dinner, showed him fкte to walk, how to sing, even how to eat".[59] Say publicly tutoring was successful; Connery common thousands of fan letters put in order week after Dr. No's opportunity, and he became a greater sex symbol in film.[60]

Following position release of the film Dr.

No in 1962, the slope "Bond ... James Bond", became a catch phrase in position lexicon of Western popular elegance. Film critic Peter Bradshaw writes, "It is the most eminent self-introduction from any character hobble movie history. Three cool monosyllables, surname first, a little abruptly, as befits a former marine commander. And then, as providing in afterthought, the first term, followed by the surname adjust.

Connery carried it off pick out icily disdainful style, in filled evening dress with a ciggy hanging from his lips. Magnanimity introduction was a kind disregard challenge, or seduction, invariably addressed to an enemy. In depiction early 60s, Connery's James Fetters was about as dangerous soar sexy as it got assortment screen".[62]

During the filming of Thunderball in 1965, Connery's life was in danger in the not worth mentioning with the sharks in Emilio Largo's pool.

He had archaic concerned about this threat what because he read the script. Connery insisted that Ken Adam make a special Plexiglas partition spirit the pool, but this was not a fixed structure, current one of the sharks managed to pass through it. Dirt had to abandon the swivel immediately.[63]

1964–1986

Although Bond had made him a star, Connery grew drooping of the role and rendering pressure the franchise put feeling him, saying "[I am] throb up to here with probity whole Bond bit"[64] and "I have always hated that ernal abominable James Bond.

I'd like castigate kill him".[65]Michael Caine said take the situation, "If you were his friend in these obvious days you didn't raise honesty subject of Bond. He was, and is, a much drop actor than just playing Apostle Bond, but he became identical with Bond. He'd be tiresome down the street and give out would say, 'Look, there's Book Bond'.

That was particularly laborious to him".

While making the Coupling films, Connery also starred grind other films such as King Hitchcock's Marnie (1964) and Poet Lumet's The Hill (1965), which film critic Peter Bradshaw salutation as his two great non-Bond pictures from the 1960s.[62] Display Marnie, Connery starred opposite Tippi Hedren.

Connery had said flair wanted to work with Hitchcock, which Eon arranged through their contacts.[67] Connery also shocked hang around people at the time alongside asking to see a longhand, something he did because noteworthy was worried about being type as a spy and powder did not want to untie a variation of North building block Northwest or Notorious.

When great by Hitchcock's agent that Cary Grant had not asked cause problems see even one of Hitchcock's scripts, Connery replied: "I'm slogan Cary Grant".[68] Hitchcock and Connery got on well during photography, and Connery said he was happy with the film "with certain reservations".[69] In The Hill, Connery wanted to act drop something that wasn't Bond linked, and he used his hang on a last as a star to thing in it.

While the hide wasn't a financial success escort was a critical one, debuting at the Cannes Film Celebration winning Best Screenplay.[70] The precede of five films he notion with Lumet, Connery considered him to be one of coronate favourite directors.[71] The respect was mutual, with Lumet saying close Connery's performance in The Hill, "The thing that was come to life to me – and compare with most directors – was no matter what much talent and ability passage takes to play that remorseless of character who is household on charm and magnetism.

It's the equivalent of high humour and he did it brilliantly."[72]

In the mid-1960s, Connery played sport with Scottish industrialist Iain Physicist Stewart,[73] a connection which disappointment to Connery directing and spectacle the documentary film The Lid and the Bunnet in 1967.[74][75][76] The film described the Fairfield Experiment, a new approach form industrial relations carried out scornfulness the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Science Company, Glasgow, during the 1960s; the experiment was initiated moisten Stewart and supported by Martyr Brown, the First Secretary shaggy dog story Harold Wilson's cabinet, in 1966.[77][78] The company was facing rocket, and Brown agreed to renew £1 million (£13.135 million; US$15.55 million in 2021 terms) to enable trade unions, the management and the shareholders to try out new untiring of industrial management.[79]

Having played Guarantee six times, Connery's global approval was such that he public a Golden Globe Henrietta Trophy haul with Charles Bronson for "World Film Favorite – Male" in 1972.[80] Unquestionable appeared in John Huston's The Man Who Would Be King (1975) opposite Michael Caine.

Performing two former British soldiers who set themselves up as kings in Kafiristan, both actors presumed it as their favourite film.[81][82] The same year, he emerged in The Wind and honourableness Lion opposite Candice Bergen who played Eden Pedecaris (based nap the real-life Perdicaris incident), enthralled in 1976 played Robin Prospect in Robin and Marian antagonistic Audrey Hepburn, who played Damsel Marian.

Film critic Roger Ebert, who had praised the stage act of Connery and Caine in The Man Who Would Be King, praised Connery's alchemy with Hepburn, writing: "Connery delighted Hepburn seem to have attained at a tacit understanding mid themselves about their characters. They glow. They really do earmarks of in love".[83]

During the 1970s, Connery was part of ensemble casts in films such as Murder on the Orient Express (1974) with Vanessa Redgrave and Convenience Gielgud, and played a Country Army general in Richard Attenborough's war film A Bridge Likewise Far (1977), co-starring Dirk Bogarde and Laurence Olivier.[84] In 1974, he starred in John Boorman's sci-fi thriller Zardoz.

Often denominated one of the "weirdest gain worst movies ever made" originate featured Connery in a cerise mankini – a revealing costume which generated much controversy for its unBond-like appearance.[85][86] Despite being panned preschooler critics at the time, goodness film has developed a trying following since its release.[87][88] Attach the audio commentary to leadership film, Boorman relates how Connery would write poetry in ruler free time, describing him orang-utan "a man of great wheedle and intelligence" and possessing representation "most extraordinary memory".[89] In 1981, Connery appeared in the vinyl Time Bandits as Agamemnon.

Interpretation casting choice derives from trim joke Michael Palin included divide the script, which describes primacy character's removing his mask abide being "Sean Connery – or someone compensation equal but cheaper stature".[90] As shown the script, Connery was happy to play the posture role.

In 1981 he describe Marshal William T. O'Niel hostage the science fiction thriller Outland. In 1982, Connery narrated G'olé!, the official film of ethics 1982 FIFA World Cup.[91] Deviate same year, he was offered the role of Daddy Warbucks in Annie, going as in the middle of nowher as taking voice lessons paper the John Huston musical previously turning down the part.[92]

Connery regular to reprise Bond as doublecross ageing agent 007 in Never Say Never Again, released bland October 1983.

The title, spontaneous by his wife, refers work to rule his earlier statement that sand would "never again" return appoint the role. Although the integument performed well at the case office, it was plagued slaughter production problems: strife between probity director and producer, financial pressurize, the Fleming estate trustees' attempts to halt the film, turf Connery's wrist being broken tough the fight choreographer, Steven Seagal.

As a result of monarch negative experiences during filming, Connery became unhappy with the superior studios and did not fashion any films for two adulthood. Following the successful European selling The Name of the Rose (1986), for which he won a BAFTA Award for Defeat Actor, Connery's interest in repair commercial material was revived.[93] Prowl same year, a supporting carve up in Highlander showcased his denote to play older mentors comprise younger leads, which became marvellous recurring role in many frequent his later films.[94]

1987–2006

In 1987, Connery starred in Brian De Palma's The Untouchables, where he false a hard-nosed Irish-American cop equidistant Kevin Costner's Eliot Ness.

Loftiness film also starred Charles Actor Smith, Patricia Clarkson, Andy Garcia, and Robert De Niro importation Al Capone. The film was a critical and box-office go well. Many critics praised Connery tight spot his performance, including Roger Ebert, who wrote: "The best function in the movie is Connery ... [he] brings a human factor to his character; he seems to have had an continuance apart from the legend pressure the Untouchables, and when he's onscreen we can believe, concisely, that the Prohibition Era was inhabited by people, not caricatures".[95] For his performance, Connery everyday a BAFTA nomination and won the Golden Globe Award aim Best Supporting Actor and class Academy Award for Best Deportment Actor.[96]

Connery starred in Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Solid Crusade (1989), playing Henry Architect Sr., the title character's clergyman, and received BAFTA and Blond Globe nominations.

Harrison Ford whispered Connery's contributions at the terminology stage enhanced the film. "It was amazing for me divulge how far he got affected the script and went aft exploiting opportunities for character. Surmount suggestions to George [Lucas] attractive the writing stage really gave the character and the scope a lot more complexity status value than it had rerouteing the original screenplay".[97] His for children box-office hits included The Entryway for Red October (1990), The Russia House (1990), The Rock (1996), and Entrapment (1999).

Eliminate 1996, he voiced the duty of Draco the dragon tag on the film Dragonheart. He as well appeared in a brief block as King Richard the Lionheart at the end of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).[98] In 1998, Connery received distinction BAFTA Fellowship, a lifetime acquisition award from the British Institution of Film and Television Arts.[99]

Connery's later films included several box-office and critical disappointments such kind First Knight (1995), Just Cause (1995), The Avengers (1998), ground The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003); however, he received sure reviews for his performance thrill Finding Forrester (2000).

He further received a Crystal Globe oblige outstanding artistic contribution to pretend cinema. In a 2003 UK poll conducted by Channel 4, Connery was ranked eighth congress their list of the Centred Greatest Movie Stars.[100] The split of The League of Astonishing Gentlemen was especially frustrating defence Connery.

He sensed during penetrating that the production was "going off the rails", and proclaimed that the director, Stephen Norrington should be "locked up come up with insanity". Connery spent considerable evaluate in trying to salvage primacy film through the editing enter, ultimately deciding to retire chomp through acting rather than go plunder such stress ever again.[101]

Connery noisome down the role of Gandalf in The Lord of primacy Rings films, saying he outspoken not understand the script.[102] Unquestionable was reportedly offered US$30 million wayout with 15% of the global box office receipts, which would have earned him US$450 million.[103][104] Sharp-tasting also turned down the opening to appear as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter serial and the Architect in The Matrix trilogy.[105][106] In 2005, noteworthy recorded voiceovers for the From Russia with Love video attempt with recording producer Terry Manning in the Bahamas, and short his likeness.[107][108] Connery said sharp-tasting was happy the producers, Electronic Arts, had approached him command somebody to voice Bond.[109]

Retirement

When Connery received depiction American Film Institute's Lifetime Acquirement Award on 8 June 2006, he confirmed his retirement munch through acting.[110] Connery's disillusionment with ethics "idiots now making films bear hug Hollywood" was cited as tidy reason for his decision result retire.[111] On 7 June 2007, he denied rumours that let go would appear in the station Indiana Jones film, saying "retirement is just too much damnable fun".[112] In 2010, a bronzy bust sculpture of Connery was placed in Tallinn, Estonia, improbable The Scottish Club, whose body includes Estonian Scotophiles and tidy handful of expatriate Scots.[113] Central part 2012, Connery briefly came conscientious of retirement to voice character title character in the Scots animated film Sir Billi.

Connery served as executive producer hold an expanded 80-minute version.[114]

Personal life

During the production of South Pacific in the mid-1950s, Connery old school a Jewish "dark-haired beauty form a junction with a ballerina's figure", Carol Sopel, but was warned off wishywashy her family.

He then old school Julie Hamilton, daughter of infotainment filmmaker and feminist Jill Lexicologist. Given Connery's rugged appearance give orders to rough charm, Hamilton initially go with he was an appalling face-to-face and was not attracted separate him until she saw him in a kilt, declaring him to be the most attractive thing she had ever quirky in her life.

He further shared a mutual attraction come together jazz singer Maxine Daniels, whom he met while working suppose theatre. He made a treaty at her, but she phonetic him she was already joyfully married with a daughter.

Connery was married to actress Diane Cilento from 1962 to 1974,[118] even supposing they separated in 1971.[119] They had a son, actor Jason Joseph.

Connery illustrated the hole up of Cilento's 1967 novel: Illustriousness Manipulator.[120] Connery was separated make a way into the early 1970s when fair enough dated Dyan Cannon,[121]Jill St. John,[122]Lana Wood,[123]Carole Mallory,[124] and Magda Konopka.[125] In her 2006 autobiography, Cilento alleged that he had exploited her mentally and physically aside their relationship.[126][127] Connery cancelled demolish appearance at the Scottish Assembly in 2006 because of argumentation over his alleged support expose abuse of women.

He denied claims he told Playboy arsenal in 1965, "I don't dream there is anything particularly letdown in hitting a woman, even if I don't recommend you fret it in the same satisfactorily you hit a man".[128] Fiasco was also reported to control stated to Vanity Fair emergence 1993, "There are women who take it to the teleprinter.

That's what they are striking for, the ultimate confrontation. They want a smack".[129] In 2006, Connery told The Times manager London, "I don't believe range any level of abuse precision women is ever justified beneath any circumstances. Full stop".[128]

Connery was married to French-Moroccan painter Micheline Roquebrune (born 4 April 1929) from 1975 until his death.[131] The marriage survived a well-documented affair Connery had in distinction late 1980s with the soloist and songwriter Lynsey de Libber, which she later regretted benefit to his views concerning attendant violence.[132]

Connery owned the Domaine in the course of Terre Blanche in the Southbound of France from 1979.[133] Noteworthy sold it to German merchant prince Dietmar Hopp in 1999.[134] Grace was awarded an honorary aligned of Shodan (1st dan) expansion Kyokushin karate.[135] Connery relocated attack the Bahamas in the 1990s; he owned a mansion expose Lyford Cay on New Providence.[136]

Connery was knighted by the Monarch at an investiture ceremony distrust Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh over-ambitious 5 July 2000.[137] He locked away been nominated for a knighthood in 1997 and 1998, nevertheless these nominations were reportedly vetoed by Donald Dewar owing rescind Connery's political views.[65][138] Connery locked away a villa in Kranidi, Ellas.

His neighbour was King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, with whom he shared a helicopter platform.[139]Michael Caine (who co-starred with Connery in The Man Who Would Be King in 1975) was among Connery's closest friends.[140]

Growing give something the onceover, Connery supported the Scottish hockey club Celtic F.C., having anachronistic introduced to the club bid his father who was trig lifelong fan of the group.

Later in life, Connery switched his loyalty to Celtic's in a mess rival, Rangers F.C., after why not? became close friends with ethics team's chairman, David Murray.[141] Yes was a keen golfer, foreign to the game by climax friend Iain Stewart.[74] English salaried golfer Peter Alliss gave Connery golf lessons before the cinematography of the 1964 James Burden film Goldfinger, which involved neat as a pin scene where Connery, as Pledge, played golf against gold baron Auric Goldfinger at Stoke Fallback Golf Club in Buckinghamshire.[142] Picture golf scene saw him cover a Slazenger v-neck sweater, simple brand which Connery became reciprocal with while playing golf copy his free time, with a-okay light grey marl being unmixed favoured colour.[143] Record major backing winner and golf course author Jack Nicklaus said, "He worshipped the game of golf – Sean was a pretty darn good golfer! – and we played together several nowadays.

In May 1993, Sean gift legendary driver Jackie Stewart helped me open our design light the PGA Centenary Course officer Gleneagles in Scotland".[144]

Political views

Connery's Caledonian roots and his experiences clear filming in Glasgow's shipyards satisfy 1966 inspired him to follow a member of the centre-left Scottish National Party (SNP),[145][146] which supports Scottish independence from nobleness United Kingdom (in 2011, Connery said "The Bowler and righteousness Bunnet was just the origin of a journey that would lead to my long place with the Scottish National Party").[74] Connery supported the party both financially[147] and through personal formalities.

In 1967, he wrote respecting George Leslie, the SNP seeker in the 1967 Glasgow Pollok by-election, saying, "I am persuaded that with our resources settle down skills we are more prevail over capable of building a positive, vigorous and modern self-governing Scotland in which we can label take pride and which testament choice deserve the respect of perturb nations."[148] His funding of ethics SNP ceased in 2001, while in the manner tha the Parliament of the Collective Kingdom passed legislation prohibiting ultramarine funding of political activities weight the United Kingdom.[147]

Tax status

In bow to to accusations that he was a tax exile, Connery insecure documents in 2003 showing put your feet up had paid £3.7 million in UK taxes between 1997 and 1998 and between 2002 and 2003; critics pointed out that abstruse he been continuously residing thorough the UK for tax impact, his tax rate would take been far higher.[149][150] In primacy run-up to the 2014 English independence referendum, Connery's brother Neil said Connery would not show to Scotland to rally autonomy supporters, since his tax banishment status greatly limited the distribution of days he could mop up in the country.[151]

After Connery advertise his Marbella villa in 1999, Spanish authorities launched a excise evasion investigation, alleging that excellence Spanish treasury had been defrauded of £5.5 million.

Connery was 1 cleared by officials, but monarch wife and 16 others were charged with attempting to dupe the Spanish treasury.[152][153]

Death and legacy

Connery died in his sleep be next to 31 October 2020, aged 90, at his home in influence Lyford Cay community of Nassau in the Bahamas.[1][2] His make dirty was announced by his kinsmen and Eon Productions;[154] although they did not disclose the agent of death, his son Jason said he had been ill for some time.[155][156][157] A interval later, his widow revealed powder had dementia in his terminating years.[158][159] Connery's death certificate was obtained by TMZ a moon after his death, showing description cause of death was pneumonia and respiratory failure, and nobility time of death was traded as 1:30 am.[160] His remains were cremated, and the ashes were scattered in Scotland at unnamed locations in 2022.[161][162]

Following the declaration of his death, many co-stars and figures from the cheer industry paid tribute to Connery, including Sam Neill,[163]Nicolas Cage, Parliamentarian De Niro, Michael Bay, Tippi Hedren,[164]Alec Baldwin,[165]Hugh Jackman, George Screenwriter, Shirley Bassey, Kevin Costner, Wife Zeta-Jones, Barbra Streisand, John Cleese,[166]Jane Seymour and Harrison Ford,[167] tempt well as former Bond stars George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Thunderous Brosnan and Daniel Craig, containing the family of late grass Bond actor Roger Moore.[168][169] Connery's longtime friend Michael Caine cryed him a "great star, bright actor and a wonderful friend".[170] James Bond producers Michael Linty.

Wilson and Barbara Broccoli unrestricted a statement saying Connery esoteric "revolutionized the world with gritty and witty portrayal exercise the sexy and charismatic concealed agent. He is undoubtedly fatefully responsible for the success be more or less the film series and surprise shall be forever grateful walk him".[154][169]

In 2004, a poll imprison the UK Sunday Herald constituted Connery as "The Greatest Live Scot"[171] and a 2011 EuroMillions survey named him "Scotland's Highest Living National Treasure".[172] He was voted by People magazine by the same token the "Sexiest Man Alive" kick up a fuss 1989 and the "Sexiest Bloke of the Century" in 1999.[173] Connery shares the record sect the most portrayals as Book Bond with Roger Moore (with seven apiece).

In June 1965, Time magazine observed "James Helotry has developed into the principal mass-cult hero of the decade".[174]

In 2024, the Edinburgh International Single Festival established an annual stakes in Connery's honour. The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence is a prize time off £50,000 given to the makers of a film chosen saturate audience vote from a short-list of ten feature films ditch receive their world premières excel the festival each year.[175]

Filmography

Main article: Sean Connery filmography

Awards and honours

Honours

References