Poignant last photo of a 007 icon: James Bond star Sir Sean Connery poses with son Jason in the summer as tributes pour in for actor who died in his sleep aged 90

 

The photo (main) showed the Oscar-winning actor giving a half-smile and raising his finger in the air as he sat between his son and his son's partner Fiona Upton on his 89th birthday last year. Tributes have been pouring in for the Oscar-winning actor who passed away in the Bahamas and leaves behind his wife Micheline and sons Jason and Stefan.

 A statement from Sir Sean's publicist said: 'His wife Micheline and his two sons, Jason and Stephane, have confirmed that he died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family. 'There will be a private ceremony followed by a memorial yet to be planned once the virus has ended.' Jason told the BBC: 'We are all working at understanding this huge event as it only happened so recently, even though my dad has been unwell for some time. A sad day for all who knew and loved my dad and a sad loss for all people around the world who enjoyed the wonderful gift he had as an actor.' Pictured right: Pictured: Connery as Bond in Dr No.

Born Thomas Sean Connery in Edinburgh's Fountainbridge area on August 25 1930, the actor left school at an early age and took his first job as a milkman.

At 16 he enlisted in the Royal Navy but was discharged three years later on medical grounds after suffering a stomach ulcer.

His first major step into acting came in 1957 when he secured a role in the British gangster film No Road Back. 

Elizabeth Hurley took to her social media to share a snap of Connery during his Bond heyday, as he read a book on a yacht while dressed in a pair of shorts, and she gushed: 'RIP the glorious Sean Connery.' 

Hugh Jackman tweeted: I grew up idolizing Connery. A legend on screen, and off. Rest In Peace.' 

Star Trek actor George Takei said of the Oscar-winning actor: 'Sean Connery was a movie legend, even far into his golden years. Our strongest Bonds were formed by him, and he was Untouchable. He passed today at age 90, a suave hero to the end.'

While Sam Neill, who starred with Connery in The Hunt For Red October, reminisced of their time together: 'Every day on set with #SeanConnery was an object lesson in how to act on screen. But all that charisma and power- that was utterly unique to Sean. RIP that great man, that great actor.'

Elton John shared a picture of him and his husband David Furnish posing with Connery and his wife Micheline Roquebrune, and wrote: 'A true screen legend.'

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, posted a tribute on Instagram. She wrote: 'To Micheline and family, in deepest sympathy for your loss. Sean was a great gentleman, friend and an inspiration to us all. A total legend and he will be truly missed.'

Sir Sean also played for Scottish Lowland Football League club Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, based in Midlothian, in the early 1950s.

On Saturday, the club tweeted a picture of a rainbow over their New Dundas Park ground and paid tribute to 'probably our most famous footballer'.

The tweet said: 'A rainbow falls on to NDP following the sad announcement of probably our most famous footballer & one of the most iconic Scots of all time.

Via - Dailymail