Sean Connery was an actor best known for portraying the rough, yet very suave ‘007’ in a series of seven Bond films. He died peacefully at his home in the Bahamas last week, aged 90, with his wife of 44 years, Micheline Roquebrune at his side.
Roquebrune paid tribute to her ‘gorgeous model of a man’ saying they ‘had a wonderful life together.’ Sharing that he had been diagnosed with dementia, Micheline admitted ‘It was no life for him. He was not able to express himself latterly. At least he died in his sleep and it was just so peaceful. I was with him all the time and he just slipped away.’
She went on to say ‘It is going to be very hard without him, I know that. But it could not last forever, and he went peacefully.’ (1, 2)
Connery’s Coolness Captivated
Born Thomas Sean Connery in 1930, in Fountainbridge, Scotland, young Connery had many early jobs such as milkman, lorry driver, laborer, artist’s model, coffin polisher, and bodybuilder. He joined the Royal Navy but was discharged because of medical problems. At 23, he had a choice between becoming a professional footballer or an actor. He chose acting, later saying it was one of his more intelligent moves.
This move stretched a successful career crossing generations. Connery’s mischievous eyes, charismatic appeal, and his unique brand of coolness (often delivered in silly lines and puns) kept fans captivated for over 50 years.
Sean Connery’s first acting credit came in 1957 in the British gangster film, No Road Back. His final movie role was in 2003, as Allan Quartermain, in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, where he starred and produced.
The most popular movie roles included Highlander (1986), The Untouchables (1987), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Rock (1996), and Entrapment (1999).
Sean Connery’s dedication to the arts went on to make him a suitable candidate for knighthood by the Queen in 2000.
In 2012, he then took a surprise break from retirement to voice an aging, skateboarding veterinarian on a mission to save Scotland’s last beaver. Connery did not visually appear but lent his famous voice to the character Sir Billi. He did this to please his four grandchildren, one from his first marriage to Diane Cilento, and three of Roquebrune’s. It also allowed him to support smaller filmmakers, from the comfort of his home. (3, 4, 5.)
The Success Of Sean Connery
As a staunch supporter of Scottish Independence, Connery donated nearly £5000 every month to the SNP party. He also donated a large portion of his earnings to the Scottish International Education Trust, to help students from poor backgrounds like his own.
He was touched when, in 1991, he was awarded the Freedom of Edinburgh. “Every time I come back I always get a terrific charge, coming back to Scotland.” Along with his wife, he relocated to the Bahamas in 1998 where the couple become involved in environmental protection efforts.
Some of his other cute accolades include -People Magazine award ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ in 1989, and then again ‘Sexiest Man of the Century’ in 1999.
One thing’s for sure, many of us can recognize that Connery lived a long, successful, and very happy life, and with this in mind we can all be a little shaken, but not too stirred by the sad news of his death. ( 6, 7, 8)
