London\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0 Legendary actor Sean Connery, best known for playing fictional spy James Bond, has died at the age of 90, prompting an outpouring of tributes for one of Britain\u2019s best-loved screen heroes. The star\u2019s son Jason Connery told the BBC that his father died peacefully in his sleep overnight\u00a0while\u00a0in the Bahamas,\u00a0\u00a0having\u00a0been \u201cunwell for some time\u201d. \u201cWe are all working at understanding this huge event as it only happened so recently,\u201d he added, calling his father\u2019s passing \u201ca sad loss for all people around the world who enjoyed the wonderful gift he had as an actor.\u201d Connery, who became Sir Sean in 2000, won numerous awards during his decades-spanning career encompassing an array of big-screen hits, including an Oscar, three Golden Globes and two Bafta awards. \u00a0 But it is his smooth, Scottish-accented portrayal of the suave spy 007 that earned him lasting worldwide fame and adoration. The first actor to utter the unforgettable \u201cBond, James Bond\u201d, Connery made six official films as novelist Ian Fleming\u2019s creation, giving what many still consider as the definitive portrayal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond,\u201d said the movie franchise\u2019s producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. \u201cHe revolutionised the world with his gritty and witty portrayal of the sexy and charismatic secret agent.\u201d \u00a0The pair added Connery was \u201cundoubtedly largely responsible for the success of the film series and we shall be forever grateful to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Scottish actor was on a number of occasions voted by fans as the best actor to have played Bond, beating out current 007 Daniel Craig and Roger Moore. A message on a Twitter account maintained for the late Moore, who died in 2017, called the news of his passing \u201cinfinitely sad\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It added: \u201cHe and Roger were friends for many decades and Roger always maintained Sean was the best ever James Bond. RIP.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hollywood star Hugh Jackman said: \u201cI grew up idolizing #SeanConnery. A legend on screen, and off. Rest In Peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pinewood Studios in Britain, where the 007 movies are filmed, said Connery was the \u201cunforgettable embodiment of superspy James Bond\u201d and that he would \u201cforever be cherished\u201d there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The release of the latest instalment of the franchise — \u201cNo Time to Die\u201d — which has been delayed several times by the coronavirus pandemic, is now due next April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from his success in the Bond films, Connery excelled in other cinema performances, claiming his sole Oscar in 1988 for best supporting actor for his role as an Irish cop in \u201cThe Untouchables\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also starred in \u201cThe Hunt for Red October\u201d, \u201cIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade\u201d and \u201cThe Rock\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Connery, born in Edinburgh in 1930, enlisted in the Royal Navy aged 16 but was discharged three years later on medical grounds after suffering a stomach ulcer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was then a bricklayer, lifeguard, and coffin polisher, among other manual jobs, before kickstarting his acting career after a bodybuilding hobby led him to enter the Mr Universe competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 There, a fellow competitor urged him to audition for acting parts and he soon started landing small roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His big break came by starring as Bond in 1962\u2019s \u201cDr. No\u201d, the franchise\u2019s first film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He went to play Bond in \u201cFrom Russia With Love\u201d (1963), \u201cGoldfinger\u201d (1964), \u201cThunderball\u201d (1965), \u201cYou Only Live Twice\u201d (1967) and \u201cDiamonds Are Forever\u201d (1971).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He made a comeback as the British spy in the unofficial 1983 film \u201cNever Say Never Again\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Later in the decade Connery won a new generation of fans with his compelling performance as the father of Harrison Ford\u2019s hero character in \u201cIndiana Jones And The Last Crusade\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was knighted by the Queen in 2000 for services to film drama, and celebrated his 90th birthday in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Off-screen, Connery was a fiercely proud Scot and a financial backer of the Scottish National Party (SNP), which advocates for independence for Scotland from the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its First Minister Nicola Sturgeon praised him as \u201ca global legend but, first and foremost, a patriotic and proud Scot\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur nation today mourns one of her best loved sons,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sturgeon\u2019s predecessor Alex Salmond called Connery \u201cthe world\u2019s greatest Scot\u201d and that his signature voice, spirit and passion had endured even though \u201chis health was failing\u201d in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0\u201cI will miss him. Scotland will miss him.\u00a0The world will miss him,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
London\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0 Legendary actor Sean Connery, best known for playing fictional spy James Bond, has died at the age of 90, prompting an outpouring of tributes for one of Britain\u2019s best-loved screen heroes. The star\u2019s son Jason Connery told the BBC that his father died […]<\/p>\n
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