Moving last photo of the James Bond actor with his son as tributes arrive to the star who died at 90



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A last poignant photo of James Bond actor Sir Sean Connery showed him posing with his son on his 89th birthday.

The Scottish star passed away in his sleep after being indisposed “for some time,” the BBC reports.

Sean's heartwarming last photo with his son Jason and his partner

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Sean’s heartwarming last photo with his son Jason and his partner
The Scottish actor landed his first role as 007 in 'Dr.  No ', which propelled him to international stardom

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The Scottish actor landed his first role as 007 in ‘Dr. No ‘, which propelled him to international stardomCredit: Rex Features

The heartfelt image showed the acting legend smiling and raising his finger in the air as he sat between his son Jason and his partner Fiona Upton in August of last year.

A statement from Sir Sean’s publicist said: “His wife Micheline and their two children, Jason and Stephane, have confirmed that he died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family.

“There will be a private ceremony followed by a memorial yet to be planned once the virus is over.”

Sir Sean, who played Bond from 1962-71, won a number of acting awards, including an Oscar, two Bafta Awards, and three Golden Globes.

He was also knighted by the Queen at the Palace of Holyrood in 2000.

Jason Connery, Sir Sean’s son, told the BBC that his father “had many members of his family who could be in the Bahamas around him” when he passed away overnight.

He said, “We are all working to understand this great event as it only happened very recently, even though my father has not been feeling well for some time.

“A sad day for everyone who knew and loved my dad and a sad loss for all the people around the world who enjoyed the wonderful gift he had as an actor.”

His family added: “There will be a private ceremony followed by a memorial that has not yet been planned once the virus is over.”

Sir Sean is seen alongside his wife Micheline Roquebrune at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2010.

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Sir Sean is seen alongside his wife Micheline Roquebrune at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2010.Credit: Rex Features
Sir Sean Connery poses for photographs after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in May 2012

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Sir Sean Connery poses for photographs after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in May 2012Credit: Getty – Contributor
Sir Sean is seen alongside his wife Micheline and his brother Neil after being knighted during a ceremony at Holyrood Palace.

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Sir Sean is seen alongside his wife Micheline and his brother Neil after being knighted during a ceremony at Holyrood Palace.Credit: PA: Press Association

Sir Sean’s other films include The Hunt for Red October and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

His last film was The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen in 2003.

The Scottish actor landed his first role as 007 in ‘Dr. No, ‘which propelled him to international stardom.

His later Bond films, including ‘From Russia With Love’ and ‘Goldfinger’, are still considered some of the best in the series.

A Radio Times poll of more than 14,000 fans found that 56 percent of people believed that Connery was the greatest Bond actor of all time.

Connery is seen alongside actor Michael Caine at Edinburgh's Caledonian Hotel in 1997.

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Connery is seen alongside actor Michael Caine at Edinburgh’s Caledonian Hotel in 1997.Credit: Reuters
Princess Diana shaking hands with Sean Connery at a reception

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Princess Diana shaking hands with Sean Connery at a receptionCredit: Mirrorpix

Since then, tributes have come to remember the acting legend.

Bond actor Daniel Craig wrote: “It was with such sadness that I learned of the passing of one of the real greats of cinema.

“Sir Sean Connery will be remembered as Bond and much more. He defined an era and a style.

“The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in megawatts; he helped create the modern blockbuster.”

The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in megawatts.

Daniel Craig

The British Film Institute said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of iconic 90-year-old actor Sir Sean Connery.”

James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said: “We are devastated by the news of Sir Sean Connery’s passing.

“He was and will always be remembered as the original James Bond, whose indelible entry into film history began when he announced those unforgettable words: ‘The name is Bond … James Bond.’

Sean Connery is seen alongside Ursula Andress in the iconic film

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Sean Connery is seen alongside Ursula Andress in the iconic filmCredit: Alamy

BAFTA also paid tribute to the heroic actor.

They said: “We are very sorry to hear about the death of legendary British actor Sir Sean Connery.

“He was a BAFTA member, received a BAFTA Special Award, and won a BAFTA for Lead Actor in 1988 for The Name of the Rose.”

Piers Morgan wrote: “RIP Sir Sean Connery, 90. The first James Bond. The best James Bond. What bad news.”

The Odeon Cinema said: “We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of Sean Connery, the legendary actor who defined James Bond for many. RIP.”

Former Prime Minister Alex Salmond today described Sir Sean as “the greatest Scotsman in the world, the last of Hollywood’s true stars, the ultimate bond.”

Hello, Successor Nicola Sturgeon said: “It broke my heart to learn this morning of the passing of Sir Sean Connery. Today our nation has one of its dearest sons.

“Sean was born into a working-class family in Edinburgh and, thanks to his talent and hard work, he became an international film icon and one of the most prominent actors in the world.

“Sean will be best remembered as James Bond, the classic 007, but his roles were many and varied.

“He was a global legend but above all a proud and patriotic Scotsman – his commanding presence at the opening of the Scottish Parliament and in 1999 demonstrated his love for the country of his birth.”

This is believed to be the last photograph of Connery taken in the Bahamas in August.

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This is believed to be the last photograph of Connery taken in the Bahamas in August. Credit: Coleman-Rayner
Born in 1930, Sean was the son of Joe, a trucker.

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Born in 1930, Sean was the son of Joe, a trucker.Credit: Kobal Collection – Rex Features

The acting legend’s tragic death comes just months after his 90th birthday in August.

Sir Sean was photographed earlier this year relaxing on the sun-kissed island of New Province.

The last time the star was seen outside of the Bahamas was in New York in 2017 when he saw that he needed a cane.

In the past three years, Connery became a virtual recluse and rarely left his gated community on the island, where he lived with his second wife Micheline Roquebrune.

In September 2019, Sean revealed that he was “lucky” to survive after his mansion in the Bahamas escaped the worst of Hurricane Dorian.

Connery is seen with his wife Diane Cilento meeting Queen Elizabeth at the premiere of 'You Only Live Twice' in 1967

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Connery is seen with his wife Diane Cilento meeting Queen Elizabeth at the premiere of ‘You Only Live Twice’ in 1967Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

At major tributes in his beloved Scotland, Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “It broke my heart to learn this morning of Sir Sean Connery’s passing.

“Our nation today is in mourning for one of its dearest children.

“Sean was born into a working-class family in Edinburgh and, thanks to his talent and hard work, he became a film icon and one of the most accomplished actors in the world.

“He will be better remembered as James Bond, for many, the classic 007, but his roles were many and varied.”

Sir Sean Connery receives his knighthood from the Queen in the house of Holyrood Palace

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Sir Sean Connery receives his knighthood from the Queen in the house of Holyrood PalaceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
He is widely regarded as the best Bond of all time.

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He is widely regarded as the best Bond of all time.Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Sean was born in 1930 to the son of Joe, a truck driver, and Euphamia, a laundress.

Living on the top floor of a tenement house in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, his family had no hot water or a bathroom and shared a bathroom with a dozen families.

She started out working in the Navy and then had a variety of jobs and spent time as a truck driver and babysitter.

Sean, worth an estimated £ 266 million, donated a significant portion of his proceeds to the Scottish International Education Trust to help students from poor backgrounds like his own.

Connery appears in Cannes, France, on May 24, 1965.

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Connery appears in Cannes, France, on May 24, 1965.Credit: Getty Images – Getty
The Scottish star landed his first role as 007 on 'Dr.  No'

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The Scottish star landed his first role as 007 on ‘Dr. No’Credit: Alamy

The Scottish superstar retired from acting in 2006 and from public life entirely in 2011.

Paying tribute, Paddy McGuinness wrote: “Icon, legend, phenomenon, megastar. 2020 is relentless! RIP Sean Connery. # 007”.

Movie star Hugh Jackman said: “I grew up idolizing #SeanConnery. A legend on and off the screen. Rest in peace.”

Sir Sean is seen as James Bond in 'You Only Live Twice'

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Sir Sean is seen as James Bond in ‘You Only Live Twice’Credit: Alamy
Sean Connery and Ursula Andress looking into each other's eyes in a scene from the movie 'James Bond: Dr. No'

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Sean Connery and Ursula Andress looking into each other’s eyes in a scene from the movie ‘James Bond: Dr. No’Credit: Getty Images – Getty



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