RIP SEAN CONNERY

1930-2020

Sir Thomas Sean Connery (August 25, 1930 – October 31, 2020) was a Scottish-born actor and producer. He is best known as the first actor to portray the character James Bond in film, starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983.
Connery retired from acting in 2006. His achievements include one Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes. He received a lifetime achievement award with a Kennedy Center Honor in 1999. Connery was knighted in 2000 for services to film drama.

Connery and Lucille Ball never acted opposite one another, but did appear together on two television award shows towards the end of her life.  

In 1988, both were in attendance for “AFI Salutes Jack Lemmon.” Host Julie Andrews introduced film clips from Lemmon’s most acclaimed films. The audience is full of celebrity friends, including including Connery and Ball, although neither takes the stage or speaks.

Connery and Ball were both presenters at what would be her final TV appearance, the “The 61st Annual Academy Awards” on March 29, 1989. Connery presented alongside Michael Caine and was photographed with Roger Moore, who also played James Bond. 

Ball presented with Bob Hope. She died three weeks later. 

In a 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show,” steaming open a sealed envelope, Lucy says she feels just like James Bond. In mid-1966, Ian Fleming’s dashing British spy was being played on screen by Sean Connery. Thunderball was released in December 1965.  

Sean married actress Diane Cilento in 1962 and they had a son, Jason Connery, born on January 11, 1963. The couple separated in February 1971 and divorced 2½ years later. In 1975 he married Micheline Roquebrune (above) and has three stepchildren through his marriage to Micheline. He is also a grandfather. His son, Jason and his ex-wife, actress Mia Sara had a son, Dashiell Connery, in 1997.

Connery died in his sleep on October 31, 2020, aged 90, at his home in Nassau in the Bahamas. His son Jason stated that he “had been unwell for some time”.