Sean Connery: A trailblazer, a true legend and a gentleman

Academy Award winning actor and producer Sir Thomas Sean Connery is best known for his portrayal of everyone's favourite fictional spy James Bond not one, but seven times on the big screen. The Scottish actor has also been honoured with two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes. 

The actor passed away in his sleep in his residence in the Bahamas today. He was 90 years of age. According to his son, the actor had not been feeling well for a while.

Connery started his journey with theatre as a backstage aid at the King's Theatre in 1951. He went on to appear in the theatrical production of Epitaph in 1956, and played a minor role as a hoodlum in the "Ladies of the Manor" episode of the BBC Television police series "Dixon of Dock Green". This helped him gain ground in the industry and he ended up bagging minor roles in "Sailor of Fortune" and "The Jack Benny Programme".

In 1959, Connery's first made it in a lead role with Robert Stevenson's Walt Disney Productions film Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) alongside Albert Sharpe, Janet Munro, and Jimmy O'Dea. He received positive remarks for his role and this helped him make a place in the eyes of the audience.

Sean Connery first played the role of British spy agent in Dr No (1962). He went on to appear in 6 other 007 movies "Dr No" (1962), "From Russia with Love" (1963), "Goldfinger" (1964), "Thunderball" (1965), and "You Only Live Twice" (1967) , with his last one being "Never Say Never Again" (1983).

In his career spanning over 5 decades, the actor has worked for numerous evergreen releases including "The Hunt for Red October", "Highlander", "Indiana Jones" and the "Last Crusade" and "The Rock", including many others. He has also won an Oscar in 1988 for his role in "The Untouchables".

Actors from all over the world mourned the demise of this legendary hero. "Every day on set with Sean Connery was an object lesson in how to act on screen. However, all that charisma and power- that was unique to Sean. RIP that great man, that great actor," wrote Sam Neill, who shared the screen with Connery in "The Hunt for Red October", posted on his Instagram.

Star Trek actor George Takai also offered his condolences via Instagram. His post reads "Sean Connery was a movie legend, even far into his golden years. Our strongest Bonds were formed by him, and he was Untouchable. He passed today at age 90, a suave hero to the end."

Robert Carlyle went on to remember his achievements and addressed him as "... a trailblazer, a true legend and a gentleman," in his Instagram post.

The actor was knighted by the Queen at Holyrood Palace in 2000. After a long and prosperous career, the actor decided to retire in 2006.