Sean Connery - Biography

Last Editor: dylanmcfn				Sean Connery Biography -   Name : Sean Connery Profession : Actor Birth Details : born 25 August 1930 Birth name : Thomas Sean Connery Height : 6' 2 Personal quotes : Salary : The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) $17,000,000 Finding Forrester (2000) $15,000,000 Entrapment (1999) $20,000,000 Playing by Heart (1998) $6 Spouse : Micheline Roquebrune (1975 - present) Diane Cilento (6 December 1962 - 6 September 1973) (divorced) 1 child

Sean Connery Trivia -

Was offered the role of Robert Elliott by Brian De Palma in Dressed to Kill (1980) and was enthusiastic about it, but declined on account of previously acquired commitments. Ranked #14 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997] In 1953, he entered the Mr. Universe contest, finishing third in the tall man's division. He was voted People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1989. Father of Jason Connery. Wears a toupee in all the James Bond movies. He started losing his hair at the age of 21. Privately and in most other movies, he wears none. He has two small tattoos on his right arm. One says "Scotland forever", the other "Mum and Dad." He got them when he enlisted in the British Navy at the age of 16. Took dancing lessons for 11 years. His teacher was the Swedish dancer Yat Malmgren. Had radiation therapy for an undisclosed throat ailment. [1993] Donated his salary from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) to charity. Formerly worked as a coffin polisher. Brother of Neil Connery. Formerly worked as a milk delivery man. Major contributor to the Scottish National Party (SNP). This was stopped for a while when the ruling Labour government said people living outside of the United Kingdom would not be allowed to donate money to British political parties. Voted 'Sexiest Man of the Century' by People Magazine. [1999] Said in an interview that during the filming of Never Say Never Again (1983), he was taking martial arts lessons and in the process angered the instructor who in turn broke his wrist. Connery stayed with the wrist broken for a number of years thinking it was only a minor pain... the instructor was Steven Seagal. Recipient of 22nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime contribution to arts and culture, presented by President Bill Clinton in Washington, D.C. on December 5, 1999. Used to live in Marbella, Spain, near a golf course where he played daily when not filming. He left following disagreements with the local press, and now resides in the Bahamas where he plays golf much less frequently. He has his own film production company (Fountainbridge Films). Fountainbridge is an area of Edinburgh where he was born. Awarded a Knighthood on New Year's Eve, 1999. Formally knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in an hour-long ceremony at Edinburgh's Holyrood Palace. His wife Micheline and brother Neil were by his side. (5 July 2000) Noted to be one of James Bond's favorite actors in the novel "Scorpius." Connery previously played James Bond in seven films. Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#7). [1995] Grandson, Dashiell Quinn, born. [1997] Gert Günther Hoffmann was his German voice for years and even though his voice was very low it fitted the charismatic and charming part of Connery perfectly. G.G. Hoffmann died in 1997. The following dubber's deep voice was incredibly equal to Connery's real one...Manfred Wagner died after dubbing two Sean Connery films, First Knight (1995) and The Rock (1996). He joined the Merchant Navy as a teenager but stomach ulcers forced him to leave. He received a disability pension for a period after this. After his service with the Merchant Navy, he worked as a nude model for Edinburgh art students. During his time as a milkman, Connery delivered to Fettes School in Edinburgh - the same school which James Bond attended in Ian Fleming's novels following his expulsion from Eton. Received the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh in 1991. Was paid a huge sum to return as James Bond for Diamonds Are Forever (1971), setting a record. It was donated to his Scottish charity. Caused an uproar in a December 1987 interview with Barbara Walters in which he said it was OK to hit a woman if they deserved it or needed it to keep them in line. He had said similar things in a November 1965 interview with Playboy magazine. He had a brief relationship with Lynsey De Paul. He is a life-long supporter of (Glasgow) Celtic Football Club, but attends the occasional Rangers game because he is a close personal friend of David Murray, the Rangers owner. He ranked first among the Male British movie actors in the Orange Film Survey of 10,000 voters. Actress Mia Sara is his daughter-in-law Received the honorary degree of DLitt from St Andrews University in 1988. Turned down the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings series (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)) because he didn't want to film down in New Zealand for 18 months, and could not understand the novels. Declared in 2003 that he would not return home until Scotland is an independent country. He believes this can still happen during his lifetime. Parodied on "Saturday Night Live" (1975) by Darrell Hammond. Said that Thunderball (1965) was his favorite Bond film. Has played four kings: 'King' Daniel Dravot in The Man Who Would Be King (1975), King Agamemnon in Time Bandits (1981), King Richard in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and King Arthur in First Knight (1995). Whilst filming Playing by Heart (1998) he loved playing and even made a friendship with three and a half year old Piper Maru Anderson; daughter of an actress Gillian Anderson who played Meredith (a daughter of Sean's character). According to a poll, conducted by British film magazine Empire, he created the worst accent in the history of cinema in the movie The Untouchables (1987). Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, originally did not like him being cast as Bond for Dr. No (1962) because he felt that he was too "unrefined". The actor whom Fleming embodied Bond in Fleming's mind was 'Cary Grant (I)' . Fleming later changed his mind and admitted he was ideally cast in the role. Turned down the role of the Architect in The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003). Won the role of James Bond after producer Albert R. Broccoli attended a screening of Sean in Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959). He was particularly impressed with the fistfight Sean has with a village bully at the climax of the film. Cubby later had his wife, writer Dana Broccoli, see the film and she confirmed his sex appeal. He was voted the 24th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly. He says that his two favorite Bond films are From Russia with Love (1963) and Thunderball (1965). He and his son, actor Jason Connery, have both played Robin Hood. Sean played an aging Robin Hood opposite Audrey Hepburn in Robin and Marian (1976). Jason played Robin Hood, AKA: Robert of Huntingten, in the television series "Robin of Sherwood" (1984). Jason also played Ian Fleming in the television movie The Secret Life of Ian Fleming (1990) (TV). Fleming was the author of the James Bond novels that made Sean famous in 1962. Connery received excellent notices for his 1961 TV portrayal of Macbeth and longed to make a film of "The Scottish Play." His plans for a film in the early 1970s were terminated by the production of the 1971 Roman Polanski-Kenneth Tynan film of the play. Had a difficult time getting work after he abandoned the James Bond role a second time after Diamonds Are Forever (1971) for which he received a record salary. Director John Boorman thus was able to hire him very cheaply for his low-budget production of Zardoz (1974). Voted Best British Actor of all time in a poll for Sky TV [Feb 2005]. Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli, the original producers of the James Bond films, cast him because they liked how he was a big, tough-looking man who nonetheless moved gracefully ("like a cat"). He was voted the 36th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Premiere Magazine. Had cataracts removed from both eyes in 2003. Played James Bond in Thunderball (1965). 18 years later, he reprised the role in the film's remake, Never Say Never Again (1983). Turned down the title role in the original The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), which he later admitted was a huge mistake on his part. In 1998, he received a Tony Award for co-producing the play "Art" by Yasmina Reza. He pulled out of a film in September 2004, sparking rumors that he was going to retire. However three months later in an interview with "The Scotsman" newspaper from his home in the Bahamas, he said he is taking a year out to write his autobiography (something he had previously vowed never to do), and hopes to make another film. Was a good friend of Sir Michael Caine and the late Richard Harris. Pulled out of a seven-figure deal for a planned autobiography for the second time, in March 2005. The actor signed a deal in 2004 with ghostwriter Hunter Davies to produce an account of his life from Edinburgh milkman to international film superstar. Six months prior to his hook-up with Davies, Connery also canceled a similar deal with Scottish writer Meg Henderson, who said later: "He isn't the man I thought he was." Panama's President Mireya Moscoso presented him with a Manuel Amador Guerrero award, named after the country's first president. She said he was given the award for his "talent and versatility." Sir Sean was on a trip to Panama to visit various humanitarian programs conducted by the government. (10 March 2003) Was the original choice to play Sybock in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989). The words in the film "Sha Ka Ree" are a play on of his name. Shares his birthday with American director Tim Burton. Terry Gilliam did not intend to cast him as King Agamemnon in Time Bandits (1981), he simply wrote in the screenplay that when Agamemnon took off his helmet he looked "exactly like Sean Connery." To Gilliam's surprise, the script found its way into Connery's hands and Connery subsequently expressed interest in doing the film. Was once stopped for speeding by an officer named Sergeant James Bond. Marnie (1964) co-star Tippi Hedren named one of her house cats after him. His accent was the model for the voice of Stratos in the 2002 remake of He-Man & The Masters of the Universe. The Edinburgh Filmhouse rejected a proposal to rename itself "The Sean Connery Filmhouse" in November 2005 following complaints over Connery's status as a tax exile. His original idol was Welsh actor Stanley Baker because he played believable tough guys in quality British movies which he produced himself. He was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the European Film Awards in Berlin, presented to him by Jean-Jacques Annaud, who directed Connery in Name der Rose, Der (1986). (3 December 2005) Was seriously considered for the role of King Philip of Macedonia in Oliver Stone's Alexander (2004).

Sean Connery Detailed Biography -

Sir Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), born Thomas Connery ("Sean" is a stage name), is an Oscar winning Scottish actor who has starred in many films and is best known as the original cinematic James Bond. Connery is known for his trademark Scottish accent and his good looks, repeatedly mentioned as one of the most attractive men alive by magazines even after he was considerably older than more conventional sex symbols. Some consider him more handsome now than when he was younger. Connery was born in Fountainbridge (Edinburgh) Scotland on 25 August 1930 to Joseph Connery and Euphamia 'Effie' MacLean. He claims he was called by his middle name Sean long before he became an actor, explaining he had an Irish friend named Seamus and those who knew them decided to call him by his middle name whenever he was with Seamus, and it stuck. He joined the Royal Navy after leaving school, and after being discharged on medical grounds went on to a succession of jobs, including truck driver, labourer and lifeguard. He competed for Scotland in the Mr. Universe competition in 1950, which led to work on the stage, TV, and eventually film. As a weight lifter, his nickname was "Big Tam". He has long advocated Scottish independence, and has supported the Scottish National Party, a political party campaigning for Scottish self-government, financially and through personal appearances. This support is illustrated by a comment from his official website: "While it is generally accepted that his support of Scotland's independence and the Scottish National Party delayed his knighthood for many years, his commitment to Scotland has never wavered. Politics in the United Kingdom often has more intrigue than a James Bond plot. While Scotland is not yet independent, she does have a new parliament. Sir Sean campaigned hard for the yes vote during the Scottish Referendum that created the new Scottish Parliament. He believes firmly that the Scottish Parliament will grow in power and that Scotland will be independent within his lifetime." Connery used part of the fees from his work as James Bond to establish a charity to support deprived children in Edinburgh as well as Scottish Film production. These charitable works may have earned him a Knighthood earlier, but it was suggested in 1997 that the award had been declined by the Labour government due to his support for the SNP. Connery received the Légion d'honneur in 1991. He received Kennedy Center Honors from the United States in 1999, presented to him by President Bill Clinton. He received a knighthood on July 5, 2000, wearing a hunting tartan kilt of the MacLean of Duart clan. Sean Connery received the Orden de Manuel Amador Guerrero from Mireya Moscoso, former president of Panama on 11 March 2003, for his talent and versatility as an actor. He was married to Australian-born actress Diane Cilento from 1962 until 1973 (he was her second husband). Since 1975, he has been married to French-Moroccan artist Micheline Roquebrune Connery. With Cilento he had a son, Jason Connery, who also became an actor, and was educated at Millfield School in Somerset, England. In September 2004, media reports indicated that Connery intended to retire after he pulled out of Josiah's Canon, which is to be released in 2005. However, in a December 2004 interview with The Scotsman newspaper from his home in the Bahamas, the then 74-year-old actor denied he was retiring and said he would like to make another movie, but that he is taking a break from acting in order to concentrate on writing his autobiography, but now the book will no longer be written. Just weeks before his 75th birthday, over the weekend of July 30th/31st 2005, it was widely reported in the broadcast media, and again in The Scotsman which credited the source as an interview in an unspecified New Zealand newspaper, that he had decided to retire from film making following disillusionment with the "idiots now in Hollywood" and the turmoil making and box office failure of the 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. As a personality he has been accused of being an overbearing bully but has also been praised as a highly professional and polite actor, courteous and supportive of those around him. He made a big impression on actors such as Harrison Ford, Kevin Costner and Christopher Lambert, who considered him a great friend during filming. Sean Connery as James Bond. Connery is well known to audiences around the world for his role as James Bond. He first appeared as agent 007 in Dr. No (1962) and subsequently played Bond in several sequels. From Russia with Love (1963) Goldfinger (1964) Thunderball (1965) You Only Live Twice (1967) Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Never Say Never Again (1983 unofficial) Connery was discovered by Harry Saltzman after numerous names as possible contenders for Bond were thrown or ruled out, including Roger Moore, David Niven, Cary Grant, and many others. Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond pays tribute to Connery in his 1963 novel, On Her Majesty's Secret Service by stating that 007's surname as well as his father, was Scottish. Ironically, Fleming reportedly did not like the casting of Connery on the grounds that the stocky, 6'2" Scotsman was too "unrefined", but with some tutelage from director Terence Young, Connery won Fleming over. Young helped to smooth over Connery's rough and tumble edges while utilizing his imposing physicality yet amazingly graceful, cat-like movements during action sequences. Connery's favorite Bond was From Russia with Love, one of the most critically acclaimed films in the series. He confirmed it in a 2002 interview with Sam Donaldson for ABCNews.com. (American Movie Classics erroneously listed Thunderball as Connery's favorite during its recent Bond retrospectives.) In 1967 Connery quit the role of Bond, having grown tired of the repetitive plots, lack of character development and the general public's demands on him and his privacy (as well as fearing typecasting), which led to Albert R. Broccoli hiring George Lazenby to continue the film franchise in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. After the film's release, however, Lazenby backed out of a seven-film contract. Broccoli again asked Connery to return to the role and paid him $1.25 million plus 12.5% of the film's profits, or about $6 million total to do so, at the time the highest salary of any actor. Connery returned one final official time in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, quitting the role shortly after release. Due to, and at the height of, an ongoing legal battle between Broccoli's EON Productions and Kevin McClory (co-writer of Thunderball), McClory was allowed to create a remake of Thunderball after a 10-year span after the release of Thunderball. In the late 1970s McClory teamed with Connery to write an original James Bond film. The project never got off the ground due to further lawsuits brought about by United Artists; however, in 1983 Connery teamed with McClory again to play the role of secret agent James Bond 007 for the seventh and final time in the unofficial film and remake Never Say Never Again. The title of the film has long believed to have derived from Connery's comments after the release of Diamonds Are Forever who, after filming it, claimed he would never play James Bond again. (For the legal battle see the controversy of Thunderball) Connery returned to the role once more in 2005, providing the voice and likeness of James Bond for the video game adaptation of From Russia with Love. Over 40 years since he first played the role, Connery is still widely regarded as the definitive cinematic incarnation of James Bond, despite credible interpretations of the character by the likes of Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, and what many believe to be a more authentic literary performance by Timothy Dalton. Connery's own feelings on Bond in interviews has run the gamut from bitter resentment to great fondness. At one point he joked he hated Bond so much that he'd have killed him, but he has also stated that he never hated Bond, he merely wanted to pursue other roles. Certainly, when the James Bond series was at its peak in the mid-1960s, his association with the 007 image was so intense that fine performances in his non-Bond films, such as Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie and Sidney Lumet's The Hill, were being virtually ignored at the time. When asked if he'd ever escape the identification, he replied "It's with me till I go in the box." At another point, he stated that he still cared about the future of the character and franchise, having been associated with the icon for too long not to care, and that all Bond films had their good points.