Sean Connery, the original James Bond, dies at 90
Sir Sean Connery, the first actor to play Ian Fleming's James Bond in film, has died at the age of 90, his family informed. Sir Sean Connery died in his sleep. He was in the Bahamas. The Scottish actor defined 007, starting from his first appearance in a Bond film, Dr No, in 1962, and going on to work in six more films over the course of his career.
His work on the big screen spanned several decades. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.
The winner of one Oscar, three Golden Globes and two Baftas, Sir Connery has worked in films like the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones, The Hunt for Red October, etc.
Over decades, Sir Connery has been voted as the best actor to play Ian Fleming's suave sleuth, James Bond, in numerous audience polls. From Dr No in 1962, to Never Say Never Again in 1983, Connery played Bond for two decades.
He turned 90 in August this year. Largely considered the actor who defined James Bond for generations of viewers and fans, Sir Connery played Bond on screen seven times: Dr No (1962), From Russia With Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Never Say Never Again (1983).
Connery's only Oscar was one for the Supporting Actor, for his performance as an Irish policeman in The Untouchables.
Sean Connery was born on August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Joseph Connery, a factory worker and lorry driver, and Euphemia McBain McLean, a cleaning woman.
Connery took up the job of a milkman, his first, as a teenager.
At 16, Connery joined the Royal Navy and was discharged three years later on health grounds. He returned to the cooperative society where he took up his milkman job and did several other odd jobs before starting backstage work at the King's Theatre in 1951. He landed a small part as a chorus boy a few years later. In 1957, Connery got his first film role, in No Road Back.
The breakthrough role, of course, came five years later. As the first James Bond. A role that Connery will forever be remembered for. A character that will forever remain etched in the minds of his fans.
