Sean Connery got his big break with the James Bond series of films. Sean played the lead character of the British secret agent James Bond. He was James Bond in seven of the Bond films. All seven films had great commercial success.

1962 Dr No

1963 From Russia with Love

1964 Goldfinger

1965 Thunderball

1967 You Only Live Twice

1971 Diamonds Are Forever

1983 Never Say Never Again

Sean Connery was chosen for the role of James Bond by Ian Fleming’s girlfriend, who told him that Sean had the sexual charisma needed for the role. Connery was a muscular man, standing at six foot two inches and was Scottish. This was exactly what Ian Fleming did not want, feeling that Connery was unrefined and looked like an “overgrown stunt man”. Fleming changed his mind after the overwhelming success of Dr No. Fleming created a half Scottish and half Swiss heritage for the literary James Bond in his later novels.

The character of James Bond and Connery’s portrayal of Bond was polished by the director Terence Young. Young taught Connery how to use his grace and presence on screen. Young taught Connery how to walk and talk, how to eat, perhaps even taught him how to be classy. Terence Young and Sean Connery made the character James Bond the international success that it became.

While making the Bond films Sean starred in other critically acclaimed films. In 1964 he starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s film Marine. He was in the Murder on the Orient Express in 1974 and had two movies released during 1975, Who Would Be King and The Wind and the Lion. Sean is one of the great motion picture stars of our time and has had many movies and many box office successes. In 1983 Never Say Never Again was released. After his experience with the movie and the court case that followed Connery turned his back on the major studios and did not make any films for two years. He again found success with The Name of the Rose in 1986, he won a BAFTA for this role and then with The Untouchables in 1987 he won an Academy Award for the Best Supporting Actor. His successes continued with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in 1989 and the Hunt for Red October in 1990.