
Happy birthday to Sean Connery, who turns 78 today. The Scottish actor was the first to play James Bond in the movies, and — even though he has worked strenuously to prove that he can portray characters very different from the superspy — to many, he remains the consummate Bond. Connery was a high school dropout who worked as a milkman, coffin polisher and male model (he placed third in the tall man's division of 1953's Mr. Universe competition) before he auditioned for, and won, his first stage role, as a chorus member in South Pacific. The positive experience sparked his interest in pursuing a career in acting. In 1987, Connery received an Academy Award for his role as patrolman Jimmy Malone in The Untouchables.
Citation: "There is nothing like a challenge to bring out the best in man." — Sean Connery
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