When Sean Connery played the first James Bond, he cemented his place in history forever. However, despite having had a fruitful life, both professionally and personally, he chose to spend his last days in seclusion, and he passed away a hermit.
On the 25th of August, 1930 found Sean Connery in the neighborhood of Fountainbridge, in the city of Edinburgh. Both of his parents worked outside the home; his mother was a housekeeper and his father was a truck driver. As soon as he reached the age when he could legally hold a job, he started a string of low-paying professions such as being a milkman, a truck driver, and a coffin polisher.
At the age of 23, he was forced to decide whether he wanted to pursue a career as an actor or a football player. Despite the fact that he had a lot of promise as an athlete, he decided to pursue a career in acting. And we should be thankful for that since it led to his being cast as the first James Bond in the immensely popular film series.
He went on to achieve enduring renown by acting in more successful films such as “The Untouchables,” and in 1989, People magazine named him the “Sexiest Man Alive.” In addition, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. However, his accomplishments could not be attributed only to his professional life. It eventually made its way into his private life, as he was married for one of the longest periods of time in the business.
Connery was married to the actress Diane Cilento for the first time from 1962 to 1973, and the couple had a kid together during that time. Still, theirs was one of the many Hollywood relationships that seemed to be crumbling on a daily basis, and the couple spent most of each day splitting up and making unsuccessful attempts to get back together.
During one of these moments, when Connery was feeling irritated with his wife and career, he brought some friends with him to Casablanca so that they could participate in a golf tournament and blow off some steam while they were there.
During his time there, he struck up a conversation with Micheline Roquebrune, a young French Moroccan artist. Despite the fact that she was already married and had three young children, Connery continued to pursue her romantically.
However, the fact that she did not speak any English and that Connery did not know a single word of French was the least of Connery’s concerns at the time. Connery knew that his opportunity would either present itself right then or never again since her husband had left the house.
Connery contacted her three months after they had first met to tell her he loved her and declare his intentions to marry her. Ironically, he was still married to Cilento when he began seeing Roquebrune, and he had to quit his relationship with her in order to be with Roquebrune. Similarly, he had to end his relationship with a previous girlfriend in order to date Cilento.
Roquebrune reminisces about the first time she saw Connery and how she said that she believed he had a great body. “On the other hand, I had no idea who he was or anything else about him on that very first day. After that, I had a dream in which I saw this guy. I was enfolded in his arms. And at that moment, I thought, “At long last, tranquility.”” She was generous.
Their attraction to one another was instantaneous, and not long after that, they started having an affair. In addition to composing plays, Roquebrune showed a strong interest in the game of golf, which he often discussed and played with Connery as their friendship developed.
The connection between the two was so strong that at one point, the actor from “Diamonds Are Forever” even recognized Roquebrune just by looking at her feet. He related how, at the beginning of their relationship, they did not get to spend much time together since Roquebrune was still living in North Africa at the time.
One day, they were in separate lineups coming from different planes when he noticed familiar feet below the barrier dividing the lines and instantly identified them as Roquebrune’s. At the time, they were waiting for their respective flights. In order to reach the other side of the mob and wait for her there, he had to fight his way through it.
They ultimately tied the knot in 1975, and despite Connery’s love affair with Lynsey de Paul, they stayed married throughout their whole relationship. And in addition to becoming a father to Jason, the kid that he and Cilento had together, he also took on the role of stepfather to Roquebrune’s three children.
Connery and Roquebrune seem to have had a great understanding of whatever it is that makes for a long-lasting and happy marriage. Their love was as strong as a mountain, and Connery would often speak highly of his wife, saying things like:
“Micheline is a remarkable and wonderful lady. My whole world revolves around her.”
Even though their ages were increasing, the pair never stopped dating and making their marriage more exciting. They were once seen on camera standing in front of a lingerie store, with Roquebrune appreciating some racy items while Connery seemed to be uncomfortable and glanced in the other direction.
But when they weren’t out on dates or trying on lingerie, the pair connected over their shared enthusiasm for the sport of golf. Even as they were competing against each other on the course, they never stopped thinking about one other. Connery would often ask out loud where his wife was and what she was up to.
Connery’s wife would sometimes bring up the fact that they were getting older, but he seemed unconcerned about it. He started his day with a swim in the pool and then went for a bike ride around the neighborhood. His workout routine was that of a guy who was just half his age. Sometimes he will say:
“Micheline will remark to me from time to time, ‘the time is speeding quickly,’ but I don’t care about growing older,” I said.
Connery had an honest and upright life. During his prime, the moment he walked into a room full of A-list celebrities, the atmosphere would immediately get tense, and everyone would crowd around him. And despite the fact that he had reached the pinnacle of popularity as James Bond, he would subsequently despise the character.
After some time, he and his wife moved to the Bahamas in order to live a peaceful life there. After that, he gave instructions to his agency to decline all of his work, and despite the fact that producers offered him wheelbarrows full of money to appear in a cameo, he showed no interest in participating. He devoted most of his senior years to playing golf at the five-star private club that was located behind his house.
Connery’s loved ones devoted their time to being at his side during his dying moments, despite the fact that dementia that plagued him in his final months of life was defined by those months. He passed away in the most tranquil manner according to his wishes. When he was in his latter days, his wife would say:
“It was a miserable existence for him. In later years, he lost the ability to communicate effectively. At least he passed away in his sleep, and it seemed to be a very peaceful passing.”
At the age of ninety, he took his last breath at his house on Lyford Cay, Bahamas, on October 31, 2020. His son said that he had been ill for some time and that the family was taking their time to comprehend the circumstances surrounding his condition. In addition, Roquebrune would say:
“He suffered from dementia, which ultimately led to his downfall. He was able to fulfill his last aim of leaving quietly and unnoticed.”
According to the information on his loss certificate, Connery passed away from respiratory failure brought on by pneumonia, advanced age, and fibrillation. Still, their love can be seen in the last picture they took together, which was shot on the occasion of their 45th wedding anniversary. In the photo, Connery peered into the camera as his wife looked lovingly at him.
Roquebrune, who referred to Connery as “a model of a man,” discussed how hard it would be to live without him while also expressing his gratitude that he was able to pass away in a calm and collected manner.
