Sean Connery

Who Was Sean Connery?

Sean Connery was a legendary actor whose career spanned several decades, leaving an indelible mark on film history. In the 1950s, Connery began his career in numerous U.K. films and television programs. However, it was in the early 1960s that he became a global icon after landing the role of James Bond in Dr. No (1962). His portrayal of the suave British spy would define his career, with subsequent Bond films such as Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965) solidifying his status as a Hollywood star. Connery continued to work prolifically in film, winning an Academy Award in 1988 for Best Supporting Actor in The Untouchables. Later in his career, he starred in adventure films like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) before retiring from acting.

Early Life

Born Thomas Sean Connery on August 25, 1930, in Fountainbridge, Scotland, Connery was the son of Joe, a truck driver, and Euphamia, a laundress. Raised in a modest household, Connery’s early years were marked by poverty. He lived in a two-room flat where he was often cradled in a bureau drawer, as his parents couldn’t afford a crib. Reflecting on his humble beginnings, Connery once remarked, “We were very poor, but I never knew how poor because that’s how everyone was there.” His father earned only a few shillings a week, often spending it on whiskey or gambling.

Known as “Tommy” in his youth, Connery grew up in a tough neighborhood, playing soccer or tag with other local children. His size and strength earned him the nickname “Big Tam” among his peers. Connery attended Tollcross Elementary School, where he showcased an exceptional aptitude for mathematics. From an early age, he developed a love for reading, particularly comic books, and began creating his own imaginative stories. His passion for film was also evident, often skipping school to visit Blue Halls, the local movie theater.

When Connery was eight, his younger brother Neil was born, and the two became inseparable. They spent their childhood fishing in nearby Union Canal and skipping school to engage in mischievous activities, occasionally running with less-than-savory crowds.

Young Drifter and Bodybuilder

At 13, Connery left school to work full time at the local dairy. By the age of 16, he enlisted in the Royal Navy, where he received two tattoos: “MUM AND DAD” and “SCOTLAND FOREVER.” However, his naval career was short-lived, as he was discharged after three years due to stomach ulcers.

Upon returning home, Connery worked a variety of jobs, including shoveling coal, laying bricks, and polishing coffins. He also posed as a model for the Edinburgh Art School, and during this time, he saved enough money to join the Dunedin Weightlifting Club. Connery’s interest in weightlifting was initially driven by a desire to impress women, but his dedication earned him a spot in the Mr. Universe competition. In 1953, he traveled to London for the contest, where he introduced himself as “Mr. Scotland” and placed third in the tall men’s division. Although he didn’t win the competition, Connery’s striking appearance caught the attention of a casting director, who offered him a role in the chorus of the musical South Pacific playing in London’s West End. Despite lacking any formal training in singing or dancing, Connery’s physical presence made him a natural fit for the production, marking the beginning of his acting career.

Start of Acting Career

It only took one rehearsal for Sean Connery to realize his true calling in life. “I decided then and there to make acting my career,” he recalled. He chose the stage name “Sean Connery” because his first name, Sean, not only served as his middle name but also reminded him of his favorite movie hero, Shane, played by Alan Ladd. He felt it suited his image better than names like Tom or Tommy. His name was first listed in the program for South Pacific as a chorus member.

In the following years, Connery appeared in numerous films and television shows, including a highly praised BBC production of Requiem for a Heavyweight. Despite his growing career, Connery felt his lack of formal education was a hindrance. To address this, he immersed himself in the classics, reading authors like Proust, Tolstoy, and Joyce. However, his street-smart instincts remained sharp. While filming Another Time, Another Place (1958) alongside Lana Turner, Connery found himself in a physical altercation with Turner’s boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, with tabloids speculating that Connery and Turner were romantically involved.

Big Break as James Bond

Initially, Connery was known for his rugged, ladies’ man persona. However, everything changed in 1957 when, while filming a TV show for Britain’s ATV Playhouse, he met Diane Cilento, a beautiful Australian actress. Though married at the time, Connery was undeniably attracted to her. Cilento initially viewed him only as a friend, remarking that he seemed like a man with a “tremendous chip on his shoulder.” But in 1959, as Connery’s career was on the rise, Cilento contracted tuberculosis. Connery, deeply affected, chose to stay by her side during her recovery, turning down a significant role in El Cid to be with her. This decision ultimately benefitted his career, as he soon signed a contract with Twentieth-Century Fox and made several films in Hollywood.

When his contract ended, Connery’s next stroke of luck came when producers Harry Saltzman and Albert “Cubby” Broccoli cast him as the lead in a film based on Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels. The character of James Bond was born, and Connery’s portrayal of the suave, confident spy captivated audiences worldwide. His first appearance in Dr. No (1962) was followed by successful sequels: From Russia With Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), and You Only Live Twice (1967). As Bond, Connery became the quintessential embodiment of the British secret agent: sly, sexy, confident, and morally ambiguous. “We all knew this guy had something,” Saltzman would later remark. “We signed him without a screen test.”

Despite his iconic role, Connery also sought out non-Bond roles, including Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie (1964) and other projects like The Hill (1965) and A Fine Madness (1966). After his final Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Connery passed the torch to Roger Moore, who took over the role in Live and Let Die (1973).

Personal Conflict and Controversy

With his acting career well-established, Connery focused on his personal life. In 1962, he secretly married Diane Cilento at the Rock of Gibraltar while filming From Russia With Love. The couple’s honeymoon was short, as Connery returned to the U.S. for extensive publicity. The attention and adoration were a thrill for Connery, who boasted to The Saturday Evening Post, “Now, I can kill any s.o.b. in the world and get away with it. I eat and drink nothing but the very best, and I also get the loveliest ladies in the world.” However, Connery’s boldness in interviews sometimes backfired. In one notorious interview, he advocated for physical violence against women, stating that an open-handed slap was justified and, in extreme cases, even “putting your hand over her mouth.” These remarks would haunt him for years.

In 1973, after ten years and the birth of their son Jason, Connery and Cilento divorced amidst rumors of physical abuse, which Connery vehemently denied. He remarried in 1975 to French-Moroccan artist Micheline Roquebrune, whom he had met at a golf tournament in Morocco.

Bored of Being 007

By the time Connery had starred in six Bond films, he began to grow weary of the role. No longer relishing the spotlight, he withdrew from Hollywood and moved with his wife and her three children to mansions in England and Marbella, Spain. Despite the fame and fortune, Connery was disillusioned with the Bond image. “This Bond image is a problem in a way, and a bit of a bore,” he confided. It would be more than a decade before Connery agreed to return to the role for Never Say Never Again (1983), for which he received a lucrative paycheck. Though he earned millions, Connery remained bitter about his past experiences with the franchise.

In addition to his work in the Bond franchise, Connery used his earnings to support causes dear to him, including the Scottish International Education Trust, which helps students from underprivileged backgrounds. A fervent supporter of Scotland’s independence from the UK, Connery made substantial donations to the Scottish National Party.

Prestigious Projects and Oscar Win

Following his time as Bond, Connery remained an active presence in film. He starred in projects such as Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Man Who Would Be King (1975), Robin and Marian (1976), The Great Train Robbery (1979), and Time Bandits (1981). In 1986, he won the British Film Academy Award for his role in The Name of the Rose (1986), based on the novel by Umberto Eco. The same year, Connery also earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a Chicago cop in The Untouchables (1987), alongside Kevin Costner and Robert De Niro.

Connery’s career continued to flourish with high-profile roles in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). He further solidified his legacy with roles in films like The Rock (1996) and Dragonheart (1996), showcasing his versatility as an actor. Connery’s ability to transition from the iconic role of James Bond to complex, diverse roles earned him enduring success in the film industry.

‘Entrapment’ and Knighthood

In 1999, Sean Connery starred in Entrapment, a love story and thriller in which he portrayed a seasoned cat burglar. Connery also produced the film, which co-starred the then up-and-coming actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. The film sparked controversy due to the notable age difference between the two leads, with Connery being 40 years her senior. The following year, in 2000, Connery featured in Finding Forrester, a drama that showcased his versatility as an actor. This was followed by a role in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), a comic book adaptation where he took on the character of the legendary explorer Allan Quatermain.

Often referred to as “the rogue with the brogue,” Connery’s appeal remained undeniable even into his later years. In 1989, at the age of almost 60, he was named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” While his professional achievements were widely celebrated, his personal views occasionally stirred controversy. In 1998, he publicly expressed disappointment after being denied a British knighthood due to his outspoken support for the Scottish National Party. However, his contributions to cinema were ultimately recognized when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000, marking the occasion by donning traditional Highland attire. In the same year, he received the Kennedy Center Honor for Lifetime Achievement, followed by the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.

In 2008, Connery released Being a Scot, a work that focused on his Scottish heritage and the ideologies surrounding his homeland, rather than being a conventional autobiography. During this period, Connery revealed that he had been offered a role in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), but ultimately chose not to participate, finding the role too minor.

Although Connery officially retired from acting, he lent his voice to the animated film Sir Billi (2012). In 2015, Connery’s wife, Micheline, was involved in a tax fraud case concerning the sale of their Marbella estate. Subsequently, the couple relocated to the Bahamas, where they became actively engaged in environmental protection efforts.

Death

Sean Connery passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 31, 2020, at the age of 90, while residing in the Bahamas. According to his death certificate, the cause was attributed to pneumonia, old age, and atrial fibrillation.