Connery, Sean Connery

The phrase “Bond, James Bond” introduced 1960s moviegoers to the sophisticated, worldly Ian Fleming character played by Sean Connery. But the actor did not start out with those traits. He grew up in a hardscrabble Scottish neighborhood, left school, and joined the Royal Navy. Later, without much money or education, he turned to bodybuilding and placed third in a Mr. Universe contest. He was even a nude model for artists until he made his mark in 1962’s Dr. No. Pilato (Retro Active Television) describes Connery as having a love/hate relationship with the Bond character. Though handsome and virile, Connery was an untrained actor. Without Bond, however, it’s unlikely that he would have reached the star status he enjoyed. Pilato asserts that Connery grew to resent the role and his overwhelming association with it. Incorporating archival material and never-before-published observations from Connery’s lifelong friends and colleagues, this biography explores that duality and the impact both Connery and Bond had on popular culture. Pilato also shares new details of Connery’s personal life (including his loyalty to his Scottish roots and his chauvinistic stances) and of his films, before and after Bond.