The First Time I saw Sean Connery was as Michael McBride in Darby O’Gill and the Little People in 1959 done by Disney Studios. Janet Munro played Katie O’Gill, McBrides’ love interest and daughter to Darby O’Gill played by Albert Sharp the central figure of the movie and the elderly fiddle player and who matched wits with King Brian of the leprechauns played by Jimmy O’Dea. Connery played a strong masculine role but little did I think that he would become the first actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond in film, starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983.
He quickly became the quintessential OO7 in the James Bond movie franchise. Every Bond after him was justifiably compared to him as the first and possibly the best James Bond. Passing away at 90 years old in October 2020 he deserves to be remembered as an actor whose screen presence was dominated by a persona of a confident strong masculine man. A true alpha male in film.
Decked out in full Scottish regalia, Sean Connery was formally knighted at 69 by Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This was done to honor the actor for his international fame as the English spy 007. But the knighthood did not change Sir Sean’s commitment to an independent Scotland – one of his three tattoos reads “Scotland Forever.” He acquired them when he enlisted in the British Navy at the age of 16.
Connery was known for other acting efforts which included an Oscar and a Golden Globe in 1987 for The Untouchables, in which he played as veteran Chicago cop Jimmy Malone. He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award and a Golden Globe in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), in which he played Jones’ father.
I remember him in The Rock a 1996 Action – Thriller movie Directed by Michael Bay. He played with Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, Vanessa Marcil, and David Morse. Whatever he was in his personal life he was well respected as an actor. After his death, many co-stars and figures from the entertainment industry paid tribute to Connery. His longtime friend Michael Caine called him a “great star, brilliant actor and a wonderful friend”. Rest in peace Sir Sean Connery and thank you for the memories.