Profile of the Day: Sean Connery

Posted August 25, 2020 by Amanda | No Comment

Happy birthday to Sean Connery! Today the actor turns 90.

Image: Sean Connery / Nationaal Archief

Connery was born Thomas Sean Connery on August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was named after his paternal grandfather and was called “Tommy” for much of his youth. He grew up in a working class family and at the age of 13, quit school to work full time at a local dairy. Then at the age of 16, he joined the Royal Navy and served for three years until he was discharged due to stomach ulcers.

After working a series of odd jobs, from coffin polisher to brick layer, Connery landed a small role in the stage production of South Pacific at the King’s Theater. The role marked a turning point in Connery’s life and led him to pursue a career in acting.

In 1962, Connery landed the role of James Bond in the big screen adaption of Ian Fleming’s novel Dr. No. The movie would launch Connery to international stardom and become one of the most iconic roles of his entire career. He would go on to portray the iconic British secret agent in a total of seven films. After Bond, Connery continued to achieve critical acclaim and box office success. In 1988, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Untouchables.

What’s your favorite Sean Connery film?

Explore his family tree on Geni and share your connection to the star.