The cinematic world was dealt a shock over the weekend when it was announced that Sean Connery had passed away at the age of 90. Over the course of his long career, Connery appeared in movies such as MARINE, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, HIGHLANDER, THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, DRAGONHEART, and THE ROCK, not to mention playing James Bond in six installments of the official franchise.
Upon Sean Connery's death, tributes to the actor came pouring in, and Harrison Ford was one of many to pay tribute to the actor while speaking with Variety.
He was my father…not in life…but in 'Indy 3.' You don’t know pleasure until someone pays you to take Sean Connery for a ride in the side car of a Russian motorcycle bouncing along a bumpy, twisty mountain trail and getting to watch him squirm. God, we had fun — if he’s in heaven, I hope they have golf courses. Rest in peace, dear friend.
As Ford mentioned, Connery starred alongside Ford in INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE as Indiana's father, Henry Jones Sr. He was only 12 years older than his on-screen son, but the touching father-son relationship was easily a highlight of the film. George Lucas, creator of the INDIANA JONES franchise, also paid tribute to Connery. "Sir Sean Connery, through his talent and drive, left an indelible mark in cinematic history," Lucas wrote. "His audiences spanned generations, each with favorite roles he played. He will always hold a special place in my heart as Indy’s dad. With an air of intelligent authority and sly sense of comedic mischief, only someone like Sean Connery could render Indiana Jones immediately into boyish regret or relief through a stern fatherly chiding or rejoiceful hug. I’m thankful for having had the good fortune to have known and worked with him. My thoughts are with his family."