An Appreciation: Sean Connery Defined in Two Quotes

Printer-friendly versionE-mail page to friendPDF version

CHICAGO – Sean Connery, who began a sensation when he first introduced himself as “Bond, James Bond” in his role as the spy in “Dr No” (1962) – and was able to redefine himself as a character actor after 10 years as Bond – passed away on October 31st, 2020, at his home in the Bahamas.

Born in Scotland to working class parents, Thomas Sean Connery worked his way up the show business ladder to the giddiest of heights, even winning a Best Supporting Oscar for his role in “The Untouchables” (1987). In his choice of roles, especially post-Bond, he was unpredictable and provocative, while staying humble to where he came from … Connery was a lifelong advocate for Scottish independence from England.

Sean Connery in ‘Goldfinger’
Photo credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios/Warner Bros. Home Entertainment



Connery joined the Royal Navy at age 16, and worked several odd jobs after his discharge, including as an artist’s model, along with being an athlete and a bodybuilder in the 1950s. He debuted on stage at the King’s Theatre in the early 1950s in the musical “South Pacific.” His first film role came later in the decade in the British film “No Road Back” (1957).

He began to get bigger film roles, including Walt Disney’s “Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959), but none was bigger than James Bond. From 1962 to 1971 (with a return in 1983) he portrayed the British superspy, and established a formula that has lasted until the present day. His post-Bond career was as a character actor, including the “Man Who Would Be King” (1975), “A Bridge Too Far” (1977), “The Name of the Rose” (1986), “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989, as Indy’s father), “The Rock” (1996) and his final role in “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” (2003), among many other notable and distinctive non-Bond castings.

He is survived by his second wife Micheline Roquebrune, and his son Jason Connery. Connery died after a long illness at his home in the Lyford Cay community of Nassau in the Bahamas.

The first quote is from Lana Wood, who dated Connery during the period between his first and second marriage, and is the sister of Natalie Wood. This exchange took place Ms. Wood in 2010, during an interview with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com.

HollywoodChicago.com: Can you tell us something about Sean Connery that the rest of the world doesn’t know?

Lana Wood: [Laughs] He’s not embarrassed to use the bathroom with the door open.

In a more serious mode, he son Jason also had an insight back in 2016, in another exclusive reflection in an interview with Patrick McDonald. Jason C. Is commenting on the similarities with his family roots and the subject of his film, “Tommy’s Honor.”

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor, Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com