Sir Thomas Sean Connery was born August 25, 1930, in the Fountainbridge region of Edinburgh, Scotland. He grew up in an impoverished environment as the son of a truck driver. Connery left school and ultimately joined the Royal Navy.

After serving for a while, Connery has to be released to do medical issues with ulcers. He held many jobs before finding his calling. He's worked as a laborer, lifeguard, a model, a lorry driver, and a coffin polisher. In 1953, Connery represented Scotland at the Mr. Universe Contest and took home 3rd place.

After his bodybuilding career, Connery landed a job in the chorus with the touring company of South Pacific, where he went on to start in various stage productions, and finally making a television debut in 1956.

Most know Connery as the quintessential James Bond, but upon his audition, Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels, described Connery as the anti-Bond, stating that Connery was nothing like the character he created. Despite Fleming's opinions, Connery was cast as the first James Bond in Dr. No in 1962.

Other actors up for the role at the time were Cary Grant, Rex Harrison, Patrick McGoohan, Trevor Howard, and future Bond, Roger Moore. The huge success of the first film seemed to change Fleming's mind and Connery was cast in 3 more Bond films in a 5 year span.

Connery abruptly quit the roll after filming You Only Live Twice, citing that he was tired of being identified as 007. While Connery was working on his own projects, George Lazenby stepped in and filled Connery's shoes for one movie before his ultimate return as Bond in Diamonds are Forever. Connery quit the role again after the film's completion to work on his own movies which were being funded by studio heads with shared interests in the Bond films. Once again, Connery returned in 1983 to play 007 in Never Say Never Again, which wasn't an official, Eon produced Bond film.

Connery has appeared multiple films after the Bond series including Highlander, The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, Finding Forrester, Entrapment, The Avengers, The Rock (which some say is the return of the “unofficial” James Bond, as Connery plays a former special agent with British Intelligence training), Dragonheart, First Knight, Just Cause, Rising Sun, Medicine Man, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Untouchables, and a few more highly successful, award winning films.

Though Connery claims to be officially retired from acting, and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, many rumors of a Connery return to the silver screen continue to float around.

Connery has been in bad health in recent years, suffering from throat problems, cataracts, and cancer scares. He's been married twice, the first to actress Diane Cilento. He's been married to his second wife, French article Micheline Roquebrune, since 1975. Keeping with the Bond tradition, his son, actor Jason Connery, played Bond creator Ian Fleming in the film Spymaker.