James Bond actor Sean Connery, whose acting career spanned over several decades, died on Saturday. The 90-year-old was the first to portray the character of James Bond on the silver screen with a discreet charm, which later became associated with the character of the 007 agent. The Oscar winner started his career as a theatre artist playing a role in Eugene O’ Neill’s production ‘Anna Christie’ and Agatha Christie’s ‘Witness for the Prosecution’. Connery’s first role in a movie was in 1957 with Montegomery Tully’s ‘No Road Back.’

He landed a leading role in 1959 with Walt Disney Production of Darby O’Gill and also made headlines through his television roles in BBC’s Anna Karenina, and Rudolph Cartier’s Adventure Story.

Connery’s claim to fame, however, was when he landed the role of British secret agent James Bond. Initially reluctant to commit to the role, Connery went on to feature in the lead role for seven Bond movies, all of which were major commercial hits. ‘Goldfinger’, ‘From Russia with Love’ and ‘You Only Live Twice’ being the prominent roles that won him critical acclaim.

Connery also starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Marnie’ and ‘Hill’, Sidney Lumet’s Murder on the Orient Express.

In a year marred by the pandemic and of devastating losses, one can turn back the clock to relieve some evergreen performances of the sublimely gifted actor. 

‘The Untouchables’ Connery won the Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in the 1987 crime classic. Directed by Brian De Palma, and working alongside Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia, Connery played the role of Jim Malone. Cracking down hard on Chicago gangster Al Capone played by De Niro, Eliot Ness and Jim Malone played Kevin Coster and Sean Connery exposes rampant corruption in this movie.

‘Goldfinger’- Portraying the role of British spy James Bond, Connery investigates a gold smuggling, and uncovers a nefarious plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve. One of his earlier roles, the movie earned him critical acclaim.

‘The Hunt for Red October’- Starring in submarine spy-thriller directed by John McTiernan, Connery plays the role of Marko Ramius, the commanding officer of the Red October. Ramius Sovient Union’s best submarine captain violate superior orders to detonate Red October.

‘From Russia with Love’-Connery in his role as Bond willingly falls into an assassination plot involving a naïve Russian beauty. He manages to retrieve a Soviet encryption device during his mission that was stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Starring Daniela Bianchi, Pedro Armendariz and directed by Terence Young, the movie is one of the finest rendition of 007 secret agent.

‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” Playing the role of Professor Henry Jones, Connery along with Director Steven Spielberg and lead actor Harrison Ford delivered a delectable performance in a side role.

Murder on the Orient Express- Based on a Agatha Christie novel of the same name, the Sidney Lumet directed evergreen Hollywood classics, is a fan favourite.

Playing the role of Colonel Arbuthnot, in a Hercule Poirot, Albert Finney starrer, Connery delivers a mesmerizing performance alongside Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam, Anthony Perkins and others.