Biography:

Sean Connery was born Thomas Sean Connery, son of a truck driver in Fountainbridge, Scotland. He was a diamond-in-the-rough at age 9, delivering milk in his native Scotland in the Great Depression, leaving school for grander general labour by age 13, and, from15 to 18, sailing with the British Royal Navy.

Sean joined the Royal Navy, but a distaste for authority led him elsewhere. A frustrated but determined young man he attempted to drown his anger in wieght lifting.
It was Connery's penchant for body-building that opened doors in "the arts." The buff and handsome labourer/lifeguard posed for swimsuit ads and art classes, and, in 1950, at age 20, while simultaneously placing third in the London Mr. Universe competition, tried out a bit of acting encouraged by an American Robert Henderson.
After the stage musical, South Pacific, Connery studied movement, singing, and reading, and it was London repertory theatre and British TV (he made his first TV apperance in 1956)- most notably Requiem for a Heavyweight (1957) and Anna Karenina (1964) - that kept the actor busy between small parts in such small films as Let's Make Up (1955), The Escapers Club (1956), Blood Money (1957), and fifteen minutes of fame in Another Time, Another Place (1958, Connery's character was killed off a quarter hour in).
His first big role was in Disney's Darby O'Gill and the little people. After a few cameo roles in some forgettable films he eventually got a part inb The Longest Day. The camera loved the charming Scot and a further several forgettable movies later, he was cast as an unforgettable James Bond in Dr. No (1962). Connery interspersed his seven Bond flicks, including the last, Never Say Never Again (1983 - a titular play on Connery's vow that, after Diamonds Are Forever (1971), he'd never play Bond again) - with scores of films.

However, Sean would quickly grow disillusioned with the public's inability to differentiate between him and Bond. Connery periodically escaped Bondage to tackle
a wider range of roles in other features, such as Alfred Hitchcock's MARNIE (1964), A FINE MADNESS (1966) and THE MOLLY MAGUIRES (1970), but most were box-office duds.
He did some of his best work over the course of his significant collaboration with
director Sidney Lumet: THE HILL (1965), as a convict in a military prison;
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974), as part of the all-star ensemble and FAMILY BUSINESS (1989), a critical and commercial misfire.

Sean left the role of James Bond, after YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE the role was filled by newcomer George Lazenby, an Australian model. However, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, Lazenby's only film as Bond, was a financial failure by Bondian standards, and producers Broccoli and Saltzman were determined to get Sean back at all costs. This led to DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, Sean's weakest performance as Sir James, though one of the most lucrative contracts in film history.

Connery utilized this period to star in a wide range of interesting adventure films,
including John Huston's THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING (1975), John Milius's
THE WIND AND THE LION (1975), and, in a crucial supporting role, Terry Gilliam's
TIME BANDITS (1981). Bald, a little paunchy, but still handsome and charismatic,
Connery donned his toupee and returned to his most celebrated role for the aptly
titled NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983). The film was a hit. Coming in the same year
as Moore's OCTOPUSSY, there was a hyped battle of the Bonds, though this was eventually
played down as Never ran into endless delays.

Connery followed up with the popular fantasy film, HIGHLANDER (1986) and the
successful international co-production THE NAME OF THE ROSE (1986) before hitting a homerun with an Oscar-winning supporting role in Brian De Palma's adaptation of THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987). Playing Malone, a sly and crafty old Irish cop, he easily
eclipsed Kevin Costner, the film's ostensible leading man. The success of this film placed Connery firmly back on the A-list of modern Hollywood leading men albeit often in older, fatherly roles (often older than his actual age). His renewed star shone particularly brightly in Steven Spielberg's third installment of the Indiana Jones
series, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989), as the alternately aloof and irascible
father of Harrison Ford.

The actor is nothing if not a steady worker. No year went by without more than one movie made, and, although Connery himself is highly respected, he's not terribly picky about roles. His many awards are not for individual film performances, but mainly for Favourite Star and Career Achievement (1971 Golden Globe, 1990 NATO, 1993 NBR, 1996 Cecil B. DeMille, 1998 Venice Film Festival, 1998 British Academy, 1999 ShoWest, 1999 Kennedy Centre, 1999 People's Choice, and 2000 American Academy). The exceptions are the Oscar and Golden Globe he took for The Untouchables (1987), a British Academy award for The Name of the Rose (1986), and a Tony for co-producing the Broadway hit, Art.

Connery, at 70, and in a business obsessed with youth, is still on lists of Sexiest (People), Most Stylish (Playboy), and Greatest Actor Ever (fansites). He's sought for cameos - an unbilled ride through Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) brought spontaneous applause from movie audiences - and for big-budget star turns: The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Rock (1996), Finding Forrester (2000). Off screen Connery is a Scottish Independence-seeker, a supporter of Scottish National Theatre, and surprisingly (considering his anti-British stand) Sir Sean. He married actor Diane Cilento (1962-1973, one son), and artist Micheline Roquebrune (1975 ->).

One of the most sought-after actors in the industry, Connery keeps busy regardless of
whether his films hit or miss. He is a proponent of the always-keep-working school,
in part because of his financial support of the Scottish National Theater.Connery's 90's credits include THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990), MEDICINE MAN (1992), ENTRAPMENT (1999) opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones, PLAYING BY HEART (1999) and FINDING FORRESTER(2000).

Upcoming is a 20 film/5 year Hollywood-in-Britain production/performance deal, and the possibility that the first James Bond will play the part of Austin Powers' dad. So what's this superstar senior's secret? As he puts it, "Get there on time, do it, and go home." It's been working (well) for forty years.

Film Biography (Newest First)

1.Finding Forrester(1999) .... still being made

2.Playing by Heart (1999)

3.Entrapment (1999) Movie Review

4.The Avengers (1998)

5.Golf: The Greatest Game (1998) .... This is not a movie it is an educational film.

6.A Life Less Ordinary (1997) .... God

7.Dragonheart (1996) (voice) .... Draco

8.The Rock (1996) .... John Patrick Mason

9.First Knight (1995) .... King Arthur

10.Just Cause (1995) .... Paul Armstrong

11.A Good Man in Africa (1994) .... Dr. Alex Murray

12.Rising Sun (1993) .... John Connor

13.Medicine Man (1992) .... Dr. Robert Campbell

14.Highlander II: The Quickening (1991) .... Juan Ramirez

15.Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) (uncredited) .... King Richard

16.The Hunt for Red October (1990) .... Marko Ramius

17.The Russia House (1990) .... Barley

18.Family Business (1989) .... Jessie

19.Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) .... Professor Henry Jones

20.Memories of Me (1988) .... Himself

21.The Presidio (1988) .... Lt. Colonel Alan Caldwell

22.The Untouchables (1987) .... Jim Malone

23.Highlander (1986) .... Ramirez

24.The Name of the Rose (1986) .... William of Baskerville ... aka Nome della rosa, Il (1986)

25.Never Say Never Again (1983) .... James Bond ... aka Warhead (1983)(working title)

26.Five Days One Summer (1982) .... Douglas

27.Gole! (1982) (voice) .... Commentator

28.Sword of the Valiant (1982) .... The Green Knight ... aka Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Gawain and the Green Knight (1982)

29.Wrong Is Right (1982) .... Patrick Hale ... aka Man with the Deadly Lens, The (1982)

30.Outland (1981) .... O'Neil

31.Time Bandits (1980) .... King Agamemnon

32.Cuba (1979) .... Maj. Robert Drapes

33.The Great Train Robbery (1979) .... Edward Pierce ... aka First Great Train Robbery, The (1979)

34.Meteor (1979) .... Dr. Paul Bradley

35.A Bridge Too Far (1977) .... Major General Urquhart

36.The Next Man (1976) .... Khalil Abdul-Muhsen ... aka The Arab Conspiracy (1976) ... aka Double Hit (1976)

37.Robin and Marian (1976) .... Robin Hood

38.The Man Who Would Be King (1975) .... Daniel Dravot

39.The Terrorists (1975) .... Nils Tahlvik ... aka Ransom (1975)

40.The Wind and the Lion (1975) .... Mulay el-Raisuli

41.Murder on the Orient Express (1974) .... Colonel Arbuthnot

42.The Offence (1973) .... Detective Sergeant Johnson ... aka Offense, The (1973)

43.Zardoz (1973) .... Zed

44.The Anderson Tapes (1971) .... John Anderson

45.Diamonds Are Forever (1971) .... James Bond

46.The Red Tent (1971) .... Roald Amundsen ... aka Krasnaya palatka (1971) ... aka Tenda rossa, La (1971)

47.The Molly Maguires (1970) .... Jack Kehoe

48.Shalako (1968) .... Shalako

49.You Only Live Twice (1967) .... James Bond

50.A Fine Madness (1966) .... Samson Shillitoe

51.Un Monde nouveau (1966) ... aka Monde jeune, Un (1966) ... aka Mondo nuovo, Un (1966) ... aka New World, A (1966) ... aka Young World, A (1966)

52.The Hill (1965) .... Joe Roberts

53.Thunderball (1965) .... James Bond

54.Goldfinger (1964) .... James Bond

55.Marnie (1964) .... Mark Rutland

56.Woman of Straw (1964) .... Anthony Richmond

57.From Russia with Love (1963) .... James Bond

58.Dr. No (1962) .... James Bond

59.The Longest Day (1962) .... Private Flanagan

60.The Frightened City (1961) .... Paddy Damion

61.Operation Snafu (1961) .... Pedlar Pascoe ... aka On the Fiddle (1961) ... aka Operation War Head (1961)

62.Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) .... Michael McBride

63.Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959) .... O'Bannion

64.Another Time, Another Place (1958) .... Mark Trevor

65.Hell Drivers (1958) .... Tom ... aka Hard Drivers (1958)

66.Time Lock (1957)

67.Action of the Tiger (1957) .... Mike

68.No Road Back (1957) .... Spike

69.Time Lock (1957) .... 2nd welder

70.Let's Make Up (1955) .... Extra ... aka Lilacs in the Spring (1955)

Media:

A WAV file from Indianna Jones and the Last Crusade

Another WAV from The Last Crusade

A third one from The Last Crusade

A WAV from The Hunt For Red October

"Komrades Speech" from The Hunt for the Red October