Sean Connery - The Quintessential James Bond

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21 December 2009

Sir Thomas Sean Connery, or Sean Connery as most know him, was born on August 25th, 1930, in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland. As one of the world's most celebrated actors, Connery has acted in numerous films over the years, including the James Bond series.

Though he is officially retired from acting now at the age of 77, Connery is often considered the best to ever don the title of 007. Connery has appeared in seven Bond films: Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, and Never Say Never Again.

This daunting actor was discovered by Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli after other aspirants to the Bond role were eliminated. Cary Grant and James Mason, each a very popular actor respectively, refused to sign on to star in a series of films due to the studio's low budget. Because of this, the producers were forced to hire an unknown.

Bond's creator, Ian Fleming, was initially appalled at the idea of casting Connery. He stated, “He's not what I envisioned of James Bond looks” and “I'm looking for Commander Bond and not an overgrown stunt-man” However, Fleming's then girlfriend changed his mind by convincing him that Connery possessed the requisite sexual charisma necessary for the role.

After the extremely successful premier of 1962's Dr. No, Fleming was so impressed that he created a half-Scottish, half-Swiss heritage for the literary James Bond character in later novels. In 1967, Connery quit the role of Bond immediately after filming You Only Live Twice.

He stated that he had grown tired of repetitive plots, a lack of character development, high public demand for him, and fear of being typecast. Connery also disapproved of the almost comic direction in which the movies were heading. Connery complained that actors like Dean Martin were making more money from movies that never performed nearly as well at the box office.

In 1970, United Artists agreed to finance Connery's production of The Offence, a movie in which Connery plays an overly aggressive police officer who snaps and kills a suspect. Connery's final official appearance as James Bond was in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever - Connery reportedly turned down 5 million to make Live and Let Die.

In 1978, Kevin McClory obtained rights to re-make Thunderball. McClory and Connery were to write an original Bond film, titled either James Bond of the Secret Service, or Warhead, but EON and United Artists blocked it in court.

The re-make was revived in the 1980s, and Connery took to the screen playing Bond for the seventh and final time in the unofficial film Never Say Never Again. Connery cites his all-time favorite Bond film as From Russia with Love. American Movie Classics mistakenly listed Thunderball as Connery's favorite.

Connery is considered the quintessential Bond, whereas the character played by Timothy Dalton is considered to be what Fleming intended when he wrote the novels. Though never appearing in another Bond film after Never Say Never Again, Connery did lend his voice to the 2005 video game From Russia with Love.

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Tags: james bond, 007, ian fleming, never say never again, thunderball, goldfinger, thomas sean connery, dr. no, from russia with love, harry saltzman, albert r broccoli, cary grant, james mason, kevin mcclory,
Posted In: Biographies, Actors and actresses,

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