Born Thomas Connery in Fountainbridge, Scotland on August 25, 1930, he grew up impoverished. The son of a truck-driver, he comes from a background very different from that of his screen alter-ego. After leaving school, he joined the Royal Navy, but was released due to ulcers. He had many jobs, including laborer, lifeguard and model for art classes. But it was his career as a bodybuilder that led to his representing Scotland in the 1953 Mr. Universe contest, in which he placed third. This in turn led to a job in the chorus with the touring company of South Pacific. He appeared in several stage productions, and made his television debut in 1956. He signed a movie contract with MGM in the late 1950's, which led to a string of film roles.
He was cast as Bond in Dr no in 1962, over Cary Grant, Rex Harrison, Trevor Howard, Patrick McGoohan and Roger Moore, even though ian flemming was quoted as saying, "He [Connery] is not exactly what I envisioned" as the fictional British agent . However, the film was a success, which led to 3 more Bond films in the next 5 years. Tired of being identified only as 007, Connery quit the role after you only live twice, in order to devote more time to his family and to golf. The next Bond film starred George lazenby, but Connery was persuaded to return as Bond in Diamonds are forever. With that role, he said he was finished as Bond, but he returned for a final appearance in in Never Say Never Again.
This film did not help his relations with Bond producer Cubby Broccoli, with whom Connery was feuding Connery has played many varied roles in films over the years, working with directors such as Hitchcock, Huston and De Palma. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1987, for his role as the Irish cop Malone in The Untouchables. He was also named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1989. He continues to work steadily, despite suffering from various throat ailments, and despite the widespread rumors of his death that circulated in 1993. He is an avid golfer and last year won the Lexus Challenge golf tournament with pro Hale Irwin. Connery was honored in 1997 by the Film Society at Lincoln Center in New York. Connery has been married twice. His first wife was actress Diane Cilento. In an ironic twist, their son, actor Jason connery, portrayed James Bond creator Ian Flemming in the TNT-cable TV film SPYMAKER. Sean has been married to French artist Micheline Roquebrune since 1975.
