Posted on 06/09/2006 11:46:39 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Hollywood's elite gathered Thursday night to pay tribute to Sean Connery, who received The American Film Institute's annual lifetime achievement award.
Directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, and actors Harrison Ford, Andy Garcia and Mike Myers were among the stars who cheered on the legendary actor at the ceremony held at the Kodak Theatre.
Myers wore a tuxedo jacket and a kilt to honor the Scottish actor.
"Men want to be him, women want him, and in my case I both want to be him and want him," Myers joked.
"He's extremely professional, very talented and has an amazingly strong presence on the screen," Lucas said from the red carpet.
Connery thanked the audience for "one hell of an evening."
"I got my big break when I was five years old, and it's taken more than 70 years to realize it," he said. "At five I learned to read, and I would not be standing here without the books, plays and scripts."
Connery was launched to stardom in the 1960s and 1970s, playing agent 007, or "Bond, James Bond," as he introduced himself to foes.
He also starred in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," "The Hunt for Red October," and "The Untouchables," which earned him an Oscar for best supporting actor.
He is the 34th recipient of the award, the Institute's highest honor for a career in film.
Past recipients include Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Nicholson, Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, Robert DeNiro, Meryl Streep and George Lucas.
The only James Bond that matters.
"I've got your number, Trebek!"
"Trebek!"
GMTA
Yes, he's a great actor, but not a great person. I never will forget back in the '70's during a tv interview that he didn't see anything wrong with hitting a woman.
"That's 'Therapists' Mr. Connery."
His work on Jeapordy was unforgettable.
Yeah, he's really proud of that episode. lol
You're the man now dog!
I loved him in "The Hunt for Red October." One of my favorite movies. Yes, even Alec Baldwin was good in it.
Other than Bond, I think's Sean's best were THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING and THE WIND AND THE LION.
It was shocking to see how high a Scot had managed to rise in the hierarchy of the Soviet Navy.
"I'll 'Swords' for $500, Trebek!"
"That's 'S' Words."
Yadda, yadda, yadda...it was a good movie and you know it.
Yup, both good roles and movies.
He was quite the hunk in his early days, the athletic type.
A good all around actor.
Yeah, and his exec was a Kiwi (Sam Neill)!
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