Sean Connery found fame and fortune as the suave, sophisticated British agent, James Bond. After six Bond films, Connery yearned to break from the Bond image, and eventually earned an Oscar as veteran Chicago cop, Jimmy Malone, in The Untouchables. A genuine movie star, his co-stars often complement his professionalism. Connery continues to be at his best when he plays no-nonsense characters.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003): $17,000,000
Finding Forrester (2000): $15,000,000
Entrapment (1999): $20,000,000
Playing by Heart (1998): $60,000
The Rock (1996): $15,000,000
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991): $250,000
Highlander II: The Quickening (1991): $3,500,000
The Hunt for Red October (1990): $4,000,000
Never Say Never Again (1983): $5,000,000 + 5% of the net US profits ($6,410,000 total)
Zardoz (1974): $200,000
Diamonds Are Forever (1971): $1,200,000 plus 12.5% of the gross
You Only Live Twice (1967): $750,000 + 25% of the net merchandising profits ($1,000,000 total)
Thunderball (1965): $750,000
Goldfinger (1964): $500,000
From Russia with Love (1963): $250,000
Dr. No (1962): $100,000
Was offered the role of Robert Elliott by Brian De Palma in Dressed to Kill 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 in 1993. In a February 1995 interview with Entertainment Weekley, Connery said the treatment had been to remove benign tumors from his vocal chords after he found himself losing his voice while filming Rising Sun. Donated his salary from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 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, 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 and The Rock. 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, 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 ex-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, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) because he didn't want to film down in New Zealand for 18 months, and could not understand the novels. Declared in March 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 by Darrell Hammond. His favorite Bond film is From Russia with Love. Has played four kings: 'King' Daniel Dravot in The Man Who Would Be King, King Agamemnon in Time Bandits, King Richard in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and King Arthur in First Knight. Whilst filming Playing by Heart 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. Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, originally did not like him being cast as Bond for Dr. No 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 and The Matrix Revolutions. Won the role of James Bond after producer Albert R. Broccoli attended a screening of Sean in The Little People. 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 and Thunderball. 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. Jason played Robin Hood, AKA: Robert of Huntingten, in the television series Robin Hood. Jason also played Ian Fleming in the television movie The Secret Life of Ian Fleming. 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 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. 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"). Premiere Magazine ranked him as #36 on a list of the Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005). Had cataracts removed from both eyes in 2003. Played James Bond in Thunderball. 18 years later, he reprised the role in the film's remake, Never Say Never Again. Turned down the title role in the original The Thomas Crown Affair, 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. The words in the film "Sha Ka Ree" are a play on his name. Shares his birthday with American director Tim Burton. Terry Gilliam did not intend to cast him as King Agamemnon in Time Bandits, 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 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 The Name of the Rose. (3 December 2005) Was seriously considered for the role of King Philip of Macedonia in Oliver Stone's Alexander. Underwent surgery at a New York hospital to remove a tumour from his kidney in January 2006. Connery's brother Neil said, "As far as I'm led to believe the tumour was benign. He seems to be quite upbeat about it." Was delighted to be honored with the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award, which he will receive on June 8 2006 in Los Angeles, as he was honored despite his reputation as a harsh critic of the movie industry. "It means a tremendous amount, especially because of some of the things I have said about Hollywood." Announced his retirement in an interview in New York City during the Tartan Week 2006 celebrations. "I have retired for good," he said. Presented with the Marrakech International Film Festival Award in Morocco by his friend and Just Cause co-star Laurence Fishburne. (8 December 2004) In 1999 he called on the Scottish parliament to ban all handguns in the country. Started smoking when he was nine years old. His performance as James Bond in the 007 films is ranked #5 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. Was the original voice of Tack the Cobbler, the hero of Richard Williams's animated cult masterpiece The Princess and the Cobbler. In the original version (from the work print and the resulting "Recobbled" fan-restoration), Tack was mute until the very end, when he spoke in Sean Connery's voice. Of his career choices in the '90s (pretty much his last decade in film), The Rock and Entrapment are the films he liked the most. On the other hand, The Avengers was a film he regretted doing at all. Turned down the role of John Hammond in Jurassic Park. Coincidentally, his Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade co-star, Harrison Ford, was offered the role of Dr. Alan Grant. Not to mention, it would've reunited both of them with director Steven Spielberg. Turned down the role of Simon Gruber in Die Hard: With a Vengeance due to the diabolical nature of the character. Director John McTiernan, who directed Connery in The Hunt for Red October, said he was the very first choice for that role. He pulled out of an interview for the Edinburgh Festival of Politics in August 2006 after George Reid, the presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, vowed to ask him why he once told a magazine that some women want a "smack". Sir Sean, the Scottish National Party's most famous supporter, said it was "unacceptable" and it would have compromised the interview. Presented with the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award by his Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade co-star Harrison Ford, who told him, "John Wayne gave us the old West. James Stewart gave us our town. You gave us the world." (8 June 2006) Is the first (and as of 2006 the only) actor that played "James Bond" to win an Oscar. He has never appeared in a "Skiing" James Bond picture. Though Goldfinger came close as it has sequences set in the lower Swiss mountains, all the ski, snow and ice Bond films belong to the other James Bond actors: George Lazenby (On Her Majesty's Secret Service); Roger Moore(The Spy Who Loved Me; For Your Eyes Only; A View to a Kill); Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights); Pierce Brosnan (The World Is Not Enough; Die Another Day. Connery and Pierce Brosnan have both played King Arthur, the only Bond actors to do so. Connery played Arthur in First Knight, Brosnan provided Arthur's voice in Quest for Camelot. Additionally, Connery is the only actor to have played both of England's most famous kings; he played Richard the Lionhearted in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. His father Joseph Connery died of throat cancer at the age of sixty-nine in August 1972. Received a lifetime achievement award at the opening night of the Festa del Cinema, Rome's inaugural film festival. Connery was presented with the Marco Aurelio award in recognition of "his numerous cinematic endeavours over the years". (13 October 2006). December 2002: Voted "The Male Celebrity With The Sexiest Voice" in a survey carried out by a mobile phone company. Kylie Minogue topped the female category!. He brought future James Bond, Roger Moore to a press screening in Paris for Diamonds Are Forever. Has named his personal favorite of his movies and performances as The Offence. The extraordinary success of Goldfinger, which was released in December 1964, and of 1965's Thunderball propelled Connery to the top of Quigley Publications' annual Top Ten Money Making Stars poll in 1965. He remains the only British male star to be the #1 box office star in America.