The iconic actor Sean Connery passed away on 31st October, leaving behind a huge legacy and a void that can never be fulfilled. The first actor to play James Bond on-screen, Connery had been unwell for some time and passed away in his sleep in Nassau in Bahamas at the age of 90.
Widely regarded as the best actor that played James Bond, Connery first played the character in Dr No in 1962 and immortalized the character of the charismatic secret agent on the big screen. He went on to appear in seven movies of the franchise that included 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).
And while many believed that Connery would not be able to escape the clutches of playing 007 and might be typecast in the role, he proved them wrong by becoming one of the most remarkable actors of his generation. He appeared in a wide range of roles in movies that included Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Man Who Would Be King (1975), The Wind and the Lion (1975), Highlander (1986), The Name of the Rose (1986), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Rising Sun (1993), Finding Forrester (2000) and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003).
Connery’s acting career spanned across seven decades in which he also won an Oscar for the best supporting actor in 1988 for his role of an Irish cop in The Untouchables.
Born on 25th August 1930 in the Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh, Connery got his big break in 1957, when he played the role of a boxer whose career is on the decline in the movie Blood Money. He worked as a milkman, coffin polisher, lorry driver, and a bodybuilder before making the choice of becoming an actor.
A true Scot at heart, Connery had ‘Scotland Forever’ tattooed on his arm. He was also voted as “The Greatest Living Scot” and “Scotland’s Greatest Living National Treasure.” One can imagine his popularity and appeal when in 1989, he was declared “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine, and in 1999, at the age of 69, he was voted “Sexiest Man of the Century”.
Tributes poured in for the legend from across the world, and his two predecessors Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig also wrote emotional messages in his honour.
On his Instagram page, Brosnan, who played James Bond from1995 to 2002 wrote, “Sir Sean Connery, you were my greatest James Bond as a boy, and as a man who became James Bond himself. You cast a long shadow of cinematic splendor that will live on forever. You led the way for us all who followed in your iconic foot steps. Each man in his turn looked to you with reverence and admiration as we forged ahead with our own interpretations of the role. You were mighty in every way, as an actor and as a man, and will remain so till the end of time. Your were loved by the world, and will be missed. God bless, rest now, be at peace.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Craig, who plays the detective currently said in a statement, “It is with such sadness that I heard of the passing of one of the true greats of cinema. Sir Sean Connery will be remembered as Bond and so much more. He defined an era and a style. The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in mega watts; he helped create the modern blockbuster. He will continue to influence actors and film-makers alike for years to come. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Wherever he is, I hope there is a golf course.”
Words fall short to pay a tribute to an actor as great in stature as Sean Connery. He has certainly left a lasting legacy that all his fans across the world will remember forever.
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