Sean Connery: 1930 - 2020

 

Actor Sean Connery has passed away at 90. 

 

An international star and Oscar winner who shot to fame as the British secret agent James Bond, Thomas Sean Connery was born in Scotland in 1930. Raised in near poverty, he left school in his teens and worked as a skilled laborer. At 17 he was drafted into the Royal Navy and spent three years in service. 

 

After returning to Scotland he worked as a lifeguard and took up bodybuilding; placing third in the 1950 Mr. Universe competition. After a move to London, he picked up a role in the chorus line of a production of South Pacific, which he held for 18 months. With his excellent physique his best asset at the time, he modeled and picked up acting jobs where he could, and in 1956 he landed his first film, NO ROAD BACK.

 

His breakthrough came in 1962 when he was selected to play Ian Fleming’s British secret agent James Bond in DR. NO. He played 007 in the first five Bond films; DR. NO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963), GOLDFINGER (1964), THUNDERBALL (1965), and YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967). He would step away from the role but return for DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971), and NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983). All seven films were commercially successful.

 

Now with global popularity, he would take on high-profile roles in THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING (1975), and ROBIN AND MARIAN (1976). He would win a BAFTA in 1986 for his role as a Franciscan Friar in THE NAME OF THE ROSE, and would take home an Oscar for his hard-nosed, tough Irish cop in THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987). 

 

Other hits would come; he played the father to Indiana Jones in INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989), a defecting Russian submarine captain in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990), and a show-stealing cameo as King Richard the Lionheart in ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (1991). In 1996 he would draw on his own rich history, channeling his experience in the Royal Navy and as James Bond for his role in THE ROCK (1996). 

 

Other notable films include DARBY O’GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE (1959), THE MOLLY MAGUIRES (1970), MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974), A BRIDGE TOO FAR (1977), TIME BANDITS (1981), HIGHLANDER (1986), THE PRESIDIO (1988), FIRST KNIGHT (1995), DRAGONHEART (1996), ENTRAPMENT (1999), FINDING FORRESTER (2000), and THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN (2003). 

 

He maintained his status as a sex symbol well into his sixties. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2000. 

 

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Sean Connery was a name that has been attached to this Blogger’s movie-watching life from day one. It started, of course, with James Bond. Dad was a fan of the series and we spent many hours on Sunday afternoons watching Connery hop around the world with his gadgets and women…saving the world one smooch at a time. He would become a family favorite; thrilling us as Dr. Henry Jones senior and turning THE LAST CRUSADE into the perfect Father’s Day film. Dad took my brother and I out for a guys night at the movies for THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, and Dad’s taste for bad movies led to becoming a huge fan of THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. 

 

As Bond, he was stuck into a certain way of acting…and it was a type that he worked long and hard to step out of. He made it work, and was able to develop a range that was far and beyond any secret agent. He had a perfect balance of charm and toughness that worked well for his characters of professors, cops, kings, submarine captains and adventure-seekers. For this Blogger he has always been there…and always will be.