Sean Connery turns 80 this week. There’s a lot that could be said — and is said everyday on James Bond fan message boards — about how the Scottish actor created the film 007. Four years ago, when the American Film Institute gave Sir Sean its lifetime achievement award, film professionals summed it all up pretty well.
Director Steven Spielberg provided an overview specifically about Connery’s impact as Bond:
Mike Myers provided the perspective of those who’ve made a pretty good living doing parodies of Sir Sean:
While Pierce Brosnan could speak from the standpoint of a 007 successor:
Filed under: James Bond Films | Tagged: AFI's lifetime achievement award for Sean Connery, American Film Institute, James Bond Films, Mike Myers, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery, Sean Connery's 80th birthday, Steven Spielberg |
The Spy Command 
I think that Connery’s impact upon the franchise was amazing . . . b>in the 1960s.
But he was not responsible for the franchise lasting another 40 years after his departure. I think that Bond fans forget this.