Sean Connery receives lifetime achievement award - American Film Institute

AP on Yahoo ^ | 6/9/06 | AP

[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.

[wideawake]

It was a great movie.

[Rummyfan]

Didn't he win a Mr Universe contest before going inot acting?

[Rummyfan]

Didn't he win a Mr Universe contest before going into acting?

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I loved both those movies!

[NCC-1701]

"One ping, please".

[Rummyfan]

He was very Connery-ish in both of them!

[andysandmikesmom]

My husband totally agrees...he will watch only the James Bond movies with Sean Connery...Me, I prefer Sean Connery, after he left the James Bond roles, and started doing other roles...I will agree with the others, I just loved him in The Hunt for Red October...he was just great...

[trisham]

The only James Bond that matters.

*************

Absolutely.

[NormsRevenge]

He was 3rd in 1050.

http://www.seanconnery.com/biography/

At sixteen, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. Like many young men in the Navy, he opted for a tattoo. However, unlike many tattoos, his were not frivolous - his tattoos reflect two of his lifelong commitments: his family and Scotland. After six decades, his tattoos still reflect those two ideas: One tattoo is a tribute to his parents and reads "Mum and Dad," and the other is self explanatory, "Scotland Forever."

After three years of Naval service, a long bout with a stomach ulcer shortened his "naval career". He returned to Edinburgh and seemed to settle into a life of hard work: bricklayer, lifeguard, and coffin polisher. Sean spent much of his free time bodybuilding, a pastime that eventually started his acting career. His hobby of bodybuilding culminated in a bid for the 1950 Mr. Universe title where he placed third.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Shoot...I even like Zardoz...diehard Connery fan...but then I was born on his birthday. He made a great Green Knight in Sword of the Valiant, even if the rest of the movie wasn't all that hot.

[IamHD]

He has got the sexiest voice. :) I cried when he died in The Untouchables.

[NormsRevenge]

Oops..

He was 3rd in 1950, not 1050. :)

[Armedanddangerous]

One Ping Vasilly

We must give this American a wide berth.

[Armedanddangerous]

Just like a wop to bring a knife to a gunfight.

[Mr. Blonde]

"I'll take Penis Mightiers for 800."
"No, no that is the pen is mightier."
"Gussy it up however you like Trebek. The question is does it work?"

[IamHD]

:) I've seen that movie so many times. I can watch it over and over again. My husband hates it. LOL

[Kenny Bunkport]

It's hysterical that here's an actor with a distinguished career, and the mention of his name only brings references to a SNL skit.

[Kenny Bunkport]

"League of Forgettable Gentlemen" wasn't extraordinary.

[NCC-1701]

Something in here don't take kindly to bullets.

Yeah, like me!

[NCC-1701]

Oops.

Something = Somethings.