Tragic Details Found In Sean Connery's Death Certificate
As if 2020 hadn't been distressing enough, the world lost one of its most beloved cinematic icons on October 31 of last year. Sean Connery, famed Scottish actor and the OG James Bond, died at the age of 90 due to heart failure and pneumonia brought on by old age. His wife, Micheline Roquebrune, who was by his side at their home in the Bahamas, reported that the actor was fast asleep at the time of his passing (via The Economic Times). Independent quoted her as saying that Connery had also suffered from dementia.
Despite the details that suggested a peaceful departure, fans were devastated by the loss of the legendary actor. For decades, Connery's presence on screen stood as a monument to great cinema. Among others in the trade, fellow actor and most recent star of the ever-perpetuating Bond role Daniel Craig paid homage to his predecessor: "Sir Sean Connery will be remembered as Bond and so much more. He defined an era and a style. He will continue to influence actors and film-makers alike for years to come. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones" (per IndieWire).
A life of achievement
Sean Connery's acting debut took place in 1956 in the BBC production of "Requiem for a Heavyweight (via The Economic Times). He would go on to star in seven James Bond films between 1962 and 1983 — "Dr. No," "From Russia with Love," "Goldfinger," "Thunderball," "You Only Live Twice," "Diamonds are Forever," and "Never Say Never Again," as TMZ reported. The website clarified that according to his death certificate, Connery had suffered specifically from atrial fibrillation — basically, an irregular heart rate that can increase the risk of other heart-related health problems.
Life after Bond brought the actor to new projects that fans would come to cherish. In 1988, he took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his stoic portrayal of a Chicago police officer trying to bring Al Capone to justice in "The Untouchables." The year prior, he was granted the British Film Academy award after appearing in "The Name of the Rose" alongside Christian Slater and Valentina Vargas (via Biography).
Among other notable honors and merits, Connery was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000 and granted the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 (per Biography).
Early Life
Born Thomas Connery (he would later go by "Sean") on August 25, 1930 in Fountainbridge, Scotland, he was the first son of Joe and Euphemia Connery. His father was a truck driver and his mother was a laundress. The neighborhood in which he was raised was nicknamed "The Town of A Thousand Smells" because of the putrid odors arising from the local rubber mill and breweries. The family lived under very poor circumstances. When he was a baby, Connery slept in a bureau drawer because his parents were unable to afford a crib for him. Despite the family's low income (a few shillings a week) and his father's disposition to drink and gamble it away, they managed to make ends meet. "We were very poor, but I didn't know how poor because that's how everyone was there," the actor once told inquirers (via Biography).
At the age of 16, Connery joined the Royal Navy. Three years into a seven-year hitch, he was discharged due to stomach ulcers. It wasn't until 1953 that he took his first stab at acting. After coming in third at a London bodybuilding competition, a local casting director offered him a part in a stage rendition of "South Pacific" (per Biography).
Public image
Known for his iconic voice and propensity for masculine energy, Connery led a life of exuberance both on and off screen that was controversial at times. Throughout his 20s, the actor had a reputation for getting into bar fights and brawls with local Scottish street gangs (via Roger Ebert).
In 1957, while on the set of "Another Time, Another Place," the boyfriend of Connery's costar, Lana Turner, flew to London where the film was being shot after hearing rumors of an affair taking place between the two stars. Johnny Stampanato (Turner's suitor) was reputably mob-affiliated and arrived with the intention of violence. On set, he drew a gun and pointed it at Connery, who swiftly disarmed him with a single blow to the face. Local authorities apprehended Stampanato shortly thereafter and production of the film resumed (per Express). It was through such instances that Connery developed the image of a rugged ladies man, which translated well into characters like James Bond and Juan Sanchez in 1986's "Highlander (via Biography)."
However, despite his rustic and edgy public image, he died cherished by those who loved him and remember him tenderly today. His wife, Micheline Roquebrune, stood by him until the end and shared her heartfelt words with the world after his passing: "He was gorgeous and we had a wonderful life together. He was a model of a man. It is going to be very hard without him, I know that. But it could not last for ever and he went peacefully" (per Independent).