When many think of the character of the British spy known as James Bond, the actor who comes to mind is Sean Connery. As a thespian, he embodied what the character like no one else, and many years after he retired from the role, he is still being hailed as the best Bond actor ever.
Sir Thomas Sean Connery was born on August 25, 1930, in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland. He is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
Not many know that this dashing star was the first to portray the character of 007 in film, appearing in seven Bond movies between 1962 and 1983.
Connery was initially hesitant to commit himself to a film series but understood that his career would greatly benefit if the movies succeeded.
He played James Bond in the first five films about the character: 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).
All seven films were commercially successful and Connery’s interpretation of the Bond character was selected as the third greatest hero in cinematic history by the American Film Institute.
Besides the Bond films, he has appeared in many other features, including The Untouchables (1987), The Man Who Would Be King (1975), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and Finding Forrester (2000).
Connery was picked by The Sunday Herald as “The Greatest Living Scot” and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the United States in 1999.
