Date of Birth: August 25, 1930

Can you say legend? Can you say sexy legend?

Very few actors have maintained the staying power (in Hollywood terms, anyway) of Sean Connery. His rugged, yet debonair, manner has graced the screen for over 40 years, and just seems to get better with each passing year. In fact, People Magazine named Sean "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1989 -- not bad for a bald guy then pushing 60!

A high-school dropout from Edinburgh, Scotland, Connery first worked as a milkman before his masculine good looks earned him a living as a model, chorus boy and Mr. Universe contestant -- all the requisites he needed to get into the movies in 1955. He was a journeyman actor in British-made films until hired for the lead in a low-budget film based on Ian Fleming's James Bond. Connery's cool portrayal of the sexy superspy made him a superstar in the '60s. He made seven appearances as Bond, interspersing 007 work with roles in A Fine Madness and Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie.

Finally dropping out of the series in 1971 with Diamonds Are Forever, he needn't have worried about being typecast as Bond. He's worked non-stop throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s in such blockbusters as The Man Who Would Be King, Time Bandits, Highlander, The Name of the Rose, and The Rock. And even though he once said , "I have always hated that damn James Bond. I'd like to kill him," Connery was convinced to come back and play 007 one more time in 1983's Never Say Never Again.

Connery approached middle-age with vigor, playing Harrison Ford's strongheaded Dad in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for The Untouchables. In 1999, he received a Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth. He has a son, actor Jason Connery from his first marriage, and has been married to his present wife, Micheline, since 1975.

Now in his 70s, there are still some who consider Sean Connery the sexiest man alive. At the very least -- as his role in The Avengers will testify -- he still looks pretty darn good in a kilt.

Filmography

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Finding Forrester (2000)
Entrapment (1999)
Playing By Heart (1998)
The Avengers (1998)
Dragonheart (Voice) (1996)
The Rock (1996)
First Knight (1995)
Just Cause (1995)
Rising Sun (1993)
Medicine Man (1992)
Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)
Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves (1991)
The Hunt For Red October (1990)
The Russia House (1990)
Family Business (1989)
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
Memories Of Me (1988)
The Presidio (1987)
The Untouchables (1987)
Highlander (1986)
The Name Of The Rose (1986)
Sword Of The Valiant (1984)
Never Say Never Again (1983)
Five Days Of Summer (1982)
Gole! (1982)
Wrong Is Right (1982)
Outland (1981)
Time Bandits (1981)
Cuba (1979)
Meteor (1979)
The Great Train Robbery (1979)
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
Robin And Marian (1976)
The Next Man (1976)
The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
The Terrorists (1975)
The Wind And The Lion (1975)
Murder On The Orient Express (1974)
Zardoz (1974)
The Offense (1973)
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
The Anderson Tapes (1971)
The Red Tent (1971)
The Molly Maguires (1969)
Shalako (1968)
You Only Live Twice (1967)
A Fine Madness (1966)
The Hill (1965)
Thunderball (1965)
From Russia With Love (1964)
Goldfinger (1964)
Marnie (1964)
Woman Of Straw (1964)
Dr. No (1962)
The Longest Day (1962)
Operation Snafu (1961)
The Frightened City (1961)
Darby O'Gill And The Little People (1959)
Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959)
A Night To Remember (1958)
Another Time, Another Place (1958)
Hell Drivers (1958)
Action Of The Tiger (1957)
No Road Back (1956)
Lilacs In The Spring/Let's Make Up (1955)