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Sean Connery death: Tributes pour in for Scottish James Bond actor

Hollywood is mourning the loss of a screen icon

Jacob Stolworthy,Emily Goddard
Saturday 31 October 2020 17:40 GMT
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Sean Connery dies aged 90

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The world of entertainment is mourning the loss of Sean Connery.

Connery, who died overnight in his sleep, aged 90, was one of Hollywood’s best-loved stars.

He was most famous for playing James Bond, a role he made his own in seven films from 1962’s Dr No up until Never Say Never Again in 1983.

Tributes are pouring in for the Scottish star, whose other credits included The Man Who Would Be King (1975), Time Bandits (1981) and Steven Spielberg’s 1989 sequel Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  

He also won an Oscar for Brian De Palma’s 1987 gangster film The Untouchables.

Follow along for tributes to Connery as they roll in.

Geoffrey Macnab remembers the distinguished actor who shattered class distinctions throughout his career.

Emily Goddard31 October 2020 16:54

Golden Globe Awards pays tribute

Connery won three Golden Globes, including the Cecil B DeMille Award and a Henrietta Award

Emily Goddard31 October 2020 16:51

The actor who gave James Bond a licence to thrill

(Bettmann Archive via Getty)

Read how a boy born to a poor, working-class family in Edinburgh became one of the most iconic stars of the 20th century. Tom Vallance has our obituary:

Emily Goddard31 October 2020 16:45

John Cleese hails ‘immense talent and a vibrant human’

British actor John Cleese remembers ‘a wonderful man’ who he worked with in Time Bandits.

Emily Goddard31 October 2020 16:30

Connery has left an indelible mark on our film community, says The Academy

The home of the Oscars tweeted: “Today, we honour a legendary actor, whose work — ranging from his Oscar-winning performance in The Untouchables to his years as James Bond — has left an indelible mark on our film community and our lives. Rest in peace, Sean Connery.”

Emily Goddard31 October 2020 16:12

Connery Oscars acceptance speech: ‘Patience truly is a virtue’

Connery received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Untouchables
Connery received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Untouchables (Reuters)

Sir Sean Connery won his first and only Oscar in 1988 for his role as a tough Irish cop in The Untouchables.

The Brian De Palma film, released in 1987, saw him mentor Kevin Costner’s Eliot Ness and he won the best supporting actor Academy Award, beating Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Albert Brooks and Vincent Gardenia.

Collecting his gong from Cher and Nicolas Cage, he addressed the crowd of “ladies and gentlemen, friends, a few enemies”.

Noting it was the 60th anniversary of the ceremony, he added: “I just realised myself the other day, my first and one and only attendance was 30 years ago.

“Patience truly is a virtue.”

He continued: “In winning this award, it creates a certain dilemma because I had decided that if I had the good fortune to win, that I would give it to my wife, who deserves it.

“But, this evening, I discovered backstage that they’re worth $15,000 and now I am not so sure.

“Micheline, I am only kidding. It’s yours.”

Sir Sean added that if the gong came with a wish, his would be for the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike to end.

The strike eventually finished on 7 August of that year.

Emily Goddard31 October 2020 16:00

John Barrowman: ‘The Best James Bond’

John Barrowman tweets his tribute.

Emily Goddard31 October 2020 15:53

Mahesh Babu: ‘He set the bar high’

Indian film star Mahesh Babu shares a tribute to a “legend on and off-screen”.

Emily Goddard31 October 2020 15:51

Connery’s 10 best performances

Ed Power counts down Connery’s 10 greatest performances. For some fans, this would surely feel like picking your favourite child. Do you agree with his choice for number one?

Emily Goddard31 October 2020 15:49

Benjamin Netanyahu ‘greatly saddened’ by passing of Connery

The prime minister of Israel tweeted a tribute message, saying he and his wife “will always remember Connery’s unassuming charisma and the warmth of his smile”.

Emily Goddard31 October 2020 15:37

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