The Scottish Bafta-winning star played the British spy in seven films from 1962 until 1983. He died in his sleep in the Bahamas. While a cause is yet to be announced, it is believed the actor had been unwell for a long period of time.
He returned to the role twice more in Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and Never Say Never Again (1983).
Bond was Connery’s breakthrough role following a decade of stage and TV roles in the 1950s.
Dana Broccoli, the wife of the film series’ producer Albert Broccoli, is said to have persuaded her husband to select Connery for the role despite initial opposition from Ian Fleming, the character’s creator.
Fleming felt Connery was too unrefined, stating: “He’s not what I envisioned of James Bond looks”.
The author was won around by Connery’s performance in Dr. No and, in his 1964 novel, You Only Live Twice, wrote Connery’s heritage into the character’s background.
Connery became disillusioned with the role towards the end of his tenure, with his friend Sir Michael Caine revealing in an interview: “If you were his friend in these early days you didn’t raise the subject of Bond. He was, and is, a much better actor than just playing James Bond, but he became synonymous with Bond. That was upsetting to him.”
Post-Bond, Connery starred alongside Caine in the adventure film The Man Who Would Be King (1975), Time Bandits (1981), and Steven Spielberg’s 1989 sequel Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
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