Sean Connery, the actor best known for portraying British spy James Bond, has died.
Connery, 90, died peacefully in his sleep on Friday night after being “unwell for some time,” his son Jason told the BBC.
“We are all working at understanding this huge event as it only happened so recently, even though my dad has been unwell for some time,” he added. “A sad day for all who knew and loved my dad and a sad loss for all people around the world who enjoyed the wonderful gift he had as an actor.”
The Scottish actor was the first actor to portray the British MI6 spy on the begin screen. He played Bond in Dr. No, the first movie adaptation of Ian Fleming’s spy novels, in 1962, and did so six additional times. He also played Bond in From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds are Forever, and Never Say Never Again.
Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the co-producers of the upcoming Bond movie, No Time To Die, which is set to hit theaters in 2021 after being delayed amid the coronavirus pandemic, said they were devastated at Connery’s passing.
Sir Sean Connery has died at the age of 90. He was the first actor to play James Bond on the big screen in Dr. No in 1962, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever followed. pic.twitter.com/VaFPHCM5Ou
— James Bond (@007) October 31, 2020
“We are devastated by the news of the passing of Sir Sean Connery,” they said in a statement shared on social media. “He was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond whose indelible entrance into cinema history began when he announced those unforgettable words — ‘The name’s Bond … James Bond’ — he revolutionised the world with his gritty and witty portrayal of the sexy and charismatic secret agent. He is undoubtedly largely responsible for the success of the film series and we shall be forever grateful to him.”
His acting career spanned decades. He starred in The Hunt for Red October, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and The Untouchables, which won him an Oscar in 1988.
