Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Sean Connery
Sean Connery Facts
| Sign | Virgo |
| Born |
Aug 25, 1930 Edinburgh, UK |
| Age | 96 |
| Total Facts | 105 |
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.
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").
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.
Marnie (1964) co-star Tippi Hedren named one of her house cats after him.
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. 'Gert Gunther 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).
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).
Actress Mia Sara is his ex-daughter-in-law.
After his service with the Merchant Navy, he worked as a nude model for Edinburgh art students.
Announced his retirement in an interview in New York City during the Tartan Week 2006 celebrations. "I have retired for good," he said.
Caused an uproar in a December 1987 interview with Barbara Walters in which he said it was OK to hit a woman if she deserved it or needed it to keep her in line. He had said similar things in a November 1965 interview with Playboy magazine.
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#7). [1995]
Connery and Pierce Brosnan have both played King Arthur, the only Bond actors to do so. Connery played Arthur in First Knight (1995), Brosnan provided Arthur's voice in Quest for Camelot (1998). Additionally, Connery has also played another famous king; he played Richard the Lionhearted, King of England, in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).
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.
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.
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.
Donated his salary from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) to charity.
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.
Father of Jason Connery.
Formerly worked as a coffin polisher.
Formerly worked as a milk delivery man.
Grandson, Dashiell Connery (Dashiell Quinn Connery), born. [1997]
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).
Had cataracts removed from both eyes in 2003.
Had radiation therapy for an undisclosed throat ailment in 1993. In a February 1995 interview with Entertainment Weekly, 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 (1993).
Has named his personal favorite of his movies and performances as The Offence (1972).
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).
He and Kim Basinger wanted to do another movie together, and one of the projects they considered was Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) in which she would have played his battered wife. Both became busy while doing other films and the roles went to Patrick Bergin and Julia Roberts.
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 Hood" (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.
He brought future James Bond, Roger Moore to a press screening in Paris for Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
He had a brief relationship with Lynsey De Paul.
He has his own film production company (Fountainbridge Films). Fountainbridge is an area of Edinburgh where he was born.
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 (1969)); Roger Moore(The Spy Who Loved Me (1977); For Your Eyes Only (1981); A View to a Kill (1985)); Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights (1987)); Pierce Brosnan (The World Is Not Enough (1999); Die Another Day (2002).
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 Royal Navy at the age of 16.
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.
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.
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.
He ranked first among the Male British movie actors in the Orange Film Survey of 10,000 voters.
He was awarded made a Knight Bachelor in the 2000 Queen's Millennium New Years Honours List for his services to the Film Industry.
He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 2000 Queen's Millennium Honors List for his services to Film Drama. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in an hour-long investiture ceremony at Edinburgh's Holyrood Palace in Scotland on July 5, 2000 accompanied by his wife, Micheline, and brother, Neil, were by his side.
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 (1986). (3 December 2005)
He was voted People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1989.
He was voted the 24th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
Hinted in an interview that he may return to live in Scotland for the first time in more than fifty years. He reaffirmed his belief that the country can achieve full independence within his lifetime. (February 2008).
His accent was the model for the voice of Stratos in the 2002 remake of He-Man & The Masters of the Universe.
His father Joseph Connery died of throat cancer at the age of sixty-nine in August 1972.
His favorite Bond film is From Russia with Love (1963).
His original idol was Welsh actor Stanley Baker because he played believable tough guys in quality British movies which he produced himself.
His performance as James Bond in the 007 films is ranked #5 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
If Never Say Never Again (1983) can be included as an official 007 installment, then Connery ties with Roger Moore for the most portrayals of James Bond - a total of 7 each. Otherwise Moore holds the record.
In 1953, he entered the Mr. Universe contest, finishing third in the tall man's division.