Sean Connery (1930-2020)
GettyImagesFilm lovers the world over were left in a state of shock after learning that Sir Sean Connery passed away today, at age 90. Although his image has become forever tethered to the visage of James Bond, Sean Connery’s life of acting ventured far beyond it and produced a legacy of immeasurable greatness.
Born in Edinburgh to a humble working-class family, Connery was not necessarily destined for stardom. Following a brief stint in the Royal Navy and a brief romance with bodybuilding, he was attracted to the performing arts and ended up slowly working his way in the world of theatre, initially as an extra and later as an understudy. He eventually made a successful transition into film and even managed to snag a few leading roles in On The Fiddle (1961) and an adaptation of Macbeth (1961) for a Canadian TV station.
However, his true breakout came in 1962 when he was cast in Dr No as James Bond, a womanizing suave master of espionage. Powered by the combination of machismo written into the character and the actor’s own unique brand of on-screen charisma, Sean Connery’s rendition of James Bond was an instant cultural icon. Initially hesitant towards committing to a longer series of performances, Connery ended up reprising his role six more times: in From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, and finally in the unofficial sequel Never Say Never Again. Even though Roger Moore’s tally of seven official performances as 007 stands as the current record, Sean Connery’s look – incorporating buttoned-up seriousness and casual swagger in equal measures – is the one to have been seared irreplaceably into the fabric of popular culture as the image of James Bond.
Nevertheless, as much as the long-term commitment to the character of James Bond has come to define Sean Connery’s career outlook and catapulted him into international stardom, he successfully avoided becoming pigeonholed. Almost immediately off the heels of his unbroken string of three consecutive Bond productions, Connery found an opportunity to work with Sir Alfred Hitchcock himself, starring in Marnie opposite Tippi Hedren. Over the years, he would go on to collaborate with such outstanding filmmakers as Sidney Lumet, John Boorman, Martin Ritt, John Huston, John Milius, Fred Zinnemann, Richard Lester, Terry Gilliam, Brian De Palma and Steven Spielberg. He left behind over seventy appearances in feature films. Some, like Zardoz, The Man Who Would Be King and The Untouchables, the latter of which gave him his only Academy Award, continue to be remembered thanks to his immense talent and acting bravado.
Although he was most certainly a controversial character, it is simply undeniable that Sean Connery’s career spanning seven decades has left a marked influence on the world of cinema. Be it as the iconic incarnation of James Bond, Indiana Jones’s quirky dad or even as a foul-mouthed escapee from Alcatraz, Connery always carried himself effortlessly and breathed life into every project he was associated with. He will be sorely missed by everyone. Adieu!
