Its Connery, Sir Sean Connery
By Christopher Jordan Latiff
We have come upon two weeks since the passing of iconic Hollywood star Sir Sean Connery who has left behind a longstanding legacy in the film industry. Having been credited in 94 roles as an actor it is hard to ignore just how much Connery worked in his career. Many of his movies are regarded as culturally significant to their time and of those 94 I can recall some of my favorite movies like “Dr. No”, “Thunderball”, “Diamonds are Forever”, “The Untouchables”, “Indiana Jones”, the “Last Crusade” and “The Hunt for Red October”. Not skipping a beat Connery had steady work from the early ‘50s to 2012 reflecting both his work ethic and how different Hollywood was then to what we know it to be today on the basis of hours worked vs pay off. I’m not sure what is more impressive though, the amount of work that Connery did as a professional actor, or, the fact that his acting career began as a side hustle to support his dream to become a bodybuilder or even the rag to riches story that he has lived.
Connery was most well-known for his work and exclamative embodiment of the famous Ian Fleming character James Bond and his never wavering Scottish accent.
Before all the glitz and glamour of the red carpet and Aston Martin DB5s, Sean was like any other young and passionate Scotsman. Connery served In the Royal Navy at the young age of 17. He was part of an anti-aircraft team and later found himself doing just that on the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable. After picking up some sailor tats that reflected his love for his family and country, one saying ‘Mum and Dad’ and the other reading ‘Scotland Forever’.
Connery was most well-known for his work and exclamative embodiment of the famous Ian Fleming character James Bond and his never wavering Scottish accent that has been hilariously popularized from SNL skits of days past. Playing the dashing enigmatic secret agent really propelled him to superstardom and pop culture icon status. After the James Bond days, Sean went on to work in many high-profile productions. He won an Oscar for a supporting role in the 80s classic “The Untouchables” and was voted 1989’s sexiest man alive at the age of 59 and was later knighted by the queen herself achieving knights rank. It is also well known that Connery was very passionate about his country and successfully founded The Scottish International Education Trust which has the mission to “give financial help to Scots men and women who show exceptional ability and promise”.
It would seem that his track record lives up to the hype and company of famous actors/personalities like Steve McQueen, Michael Caine and fellow James Bond Roger Moore to name a few. As entertaining as some of the film characters these famous men took on it is fair to say that it may not always be in our best interests to meet our heroes. An interview with Connery done by Playboy in 1965 has resurfaced where Connery states he does not “think there is anything particularly wrong about hitting a woman--although I don't recommend doing it in the same way that you'd hit a man. An open-handed slap is justified--if all other alternatives fail and there has been plenty of warning." Later in 1987, on the Barbara Walters show, Connery was asked if his position had changed on the comment to which he said “I wouldn't change my opinion,".
It is also famously known and almost hilarious that Connery never trusted anyone on production sets when it came down to the money. In an article published by The New York Times, he was “Always afraid of being cheated, he audited the books of almost all of his movies and sued anyone he thought was taking advantage of him, from his business manager to the producers of the Bond films.”
To many Connery remains a well-respected man by many and regarded to be one of the most hardworking talents of his time. Lifetime achievements and Oscars and various other awards speak to that. We will all have to reckon with the truth that there are things about this famous person we will also never know but just have a glimpse of. It is important to remember that the sparkle of Hollywood doesn’t always reflect what is real. Connery passed peacefully in his sleep and as he may not be everyone’s hero, there will still be an empty seat at the table for those who loved/love him.
Christopher is a culture writer for La Tonique.