There are no words folks, but BBC is reporting that Sean Connery, one of the most iconic actors of all time, has passed away, aged 90. Connery's health had been fragile in recent years, and he hadn't made a big-screen appearance since THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN back in 2003. Of course, Connery is one of the most iconic actors of all time, being the first and – in the minds of many – the best James Bond. From his now-legendary "Bond, James Bond" introduction in DR. NO to his triumphant return to the role in 1983's renegade Bond production, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN after more than a decade away, he's always been strongly identified with the role, but there was more to him than that.
While initially, he struggled to break free of the typecasting associated with the part, Connery was always smart about choosing the best collaborators, including Sidney Lumet, for whom he appeared in THE HILL, THE ANDERSON TAPES (opposite a young Christopher Walken), THE OFFENSE and FAMILY BUSINESS, John Boorman (with whom he made the now-infamous ZARDOZ) and more. Connery wasn't afraid to take risks. His career truly rebounded in the mid-seventies when he starred opposite his long time pal Michael Caine in John Huston's THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, but kicked into high gear in the mid-eighties. First, there was HIGHLANDER, then THE NAME OF THE ROSE, and finally his Oscar win for THE UNTOUCHABLES, where he notably warned an assassin, you don't bring a knife to a gunfight.
From there, he was back on the A-list, taking on some of his most iconic non-Bond roles, including Henry Jones Sr. in INDIANA JONES & THE LAST CRUSADE, Marko Ramius in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, and a very Bond-like former MI6 agent in Michael Bay's classic, THE ROCK, where he mentored Nicolas Cage in the art of being an action hero.
Truly, he leaves behind a rich legacy and will be missed. More on this developing story to come.