Celebrating Sean Connery's Film Career

Today marks the 86th birthday of actor Sean Connery, who is best known for playing James Bond. First portraying the British spy in 1962’s Dr. No, Connery went on to reprise the role in a string of highly successful follow-ups, including From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, and Diamonds Are Forever.

After turning in his Walther PPK and Aston Martin DB4, Connery went on to star in a number of blockbuster action films, including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), and The Rock (1996).

To celebrate his big day, RealClearLife has put together a photo gallery of some of Connery’s greatest onscreen roles. (Don’t worry; there’s lots of Bond.) At the very bottom, watch a video of Connery’s 50 greatest James Bond quotes.

Sean Connery as James Bond with Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder in a scene from ‘Dr. No,’ 1962 (Everett Collection, Inc.)

Sean Connery as James Bond and Daniel Bianchi as Tatiana Romanova in ‘From Russia with Love,’ 1963 (Everett Collection, Inc.)

Sean Connery as James Bond with Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore in ‘Goldfinger,’ 1964 (Everett Collection, Inc.)

Sean Connery as James Bond lifts off in his Q-branch-built jetpack in ‘Thunderball,’ 1965 (Everett Collection, Inc.)

Sean Connery as James Bond surrounded by Japanese beauties in ‘You Only Live Twice,’ 1967 (Everett Collection, Inc.)

Sean Connery as James Bond taking a bath with bubbly nearby in ‘Diamonds Are Forever,’ 1971 (Everett Collection, Inc.)

Sean Connery reprising his role as James Bond in the 1983 ‘Thunderball’ remake, ‘Never Say Never Again’ (Everett Collection, Inc.)

Sean Connery (Professor Henry Jones) opposite Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones) in the motorcycle’s side-car in ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,’ 1989 (Everett Collection, Inc.)

(left to right) Sean Connery (Marko Ramius), Alec Baldwin (Jack Ryan), and Scott Glenn (Bart Mancuso) in ‘The Hunt for Red October,’ 1990 (Everett Collection, Inc.)