Sean Connery, the legendary actor and the first James Bond, has passed away at age 90. Known for his charisma and iconic roles, he leaves a legacy few can match.
Born Thomas Sean Connery on August 25, 1930, in Edinburgh, he grew up in a working-class family. Acting wasn’t on his radar in his early years. At 16, he joined the Royal Navy and served for three years until a stomach ulcer forced him to leave. During his time in the navy, he got his famous tattoo, “Scotland Forever.”
After his navy days, Sean took on all kinds of jobs—lifeguard, bricklayer, even a coffin polisher. He also developed a passion for bodybuilding and once competed in the Mr. Universe contest.
A job as a stagehand at the King’s Theater changed everything. Sean began landing minor roles and, by 1957, appeared in a film by Terence Young—the same director who would later bring James Bond to the world.
In 1962, his life transformed. Playing British secret agent 007 in Dr. No, Sean became a global icon. Although he briefly stepped away, he returned as Bond in Never Say Never Again in 1983. To fans, Sean was—and always will be—the true James Bond.
But Bond wasn’t his only role. Sean starred alongside Michael Caine in The Man Who Would Be King, held his own in The Rock, and captivated audiences in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and The Hunt for Red October.
In 1989, People Magazine named him the “Sexiest Man Alive,” and in 2002, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Four years later, he received the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award and retired from acting.
A beloved icon, Sean Connery’s talent and charm will be remembered for generations.
