From unforgettable fame to who they are today — the full story, with rare photos.
The Face Everyone Knew
Sir Thomas Sean Connery was a Scottish actor and film producer. Connery was the first actor to portray the fictional British secret agent James Bond in motion pictures, starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983. He originated the role in Dr. No and continued starring as Bond in the Eon Productions films From Russia with Love , Goldfinger , Thunderball , You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever . His final appearance in the franchise was with Never Say Never Again , a non-Eon-produced Bond film.
Rise to Stardom
Connery is also known for his work with directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Lumet and John Huston. Their films in which Connery appeared included Marnie , The Hill , The Offence , Murder on the Orient Express and The Man Who Would Be King . He also acted in Robin and Marian , A Bridge Too Far , Time Bandits , Highlander, The Name of the Rose , Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , The Hunt for Red October , Dragonheart, The Rock and Finding Forrester . His final film roles were The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Sir Billi .
Life at the Top
Connery received numerous accolades. For his role in The Untouchables , he received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. In the same year, Connery received the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role in The Name of the Rose. As producer of Art, he won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1998. Connery also received honorary awards such as the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1987, the BAFTA Fellowship in 1998 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1999. He was made a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France and a knight by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to drama in the 2000 New Year Honours.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons (public domain / Creative Commons).