Sir Sean Connery’s widow Micheline pays tribute to ‘gorgeous’ star and was there when he ‘slipped away without a fuss’

SIR Sean Connery's widow Micheline has paid tribute to her "gorgeous" late husband saying she was there when he "slipped away without a fuss."

The acting legend passed away at the age of 90, after suffering from dementia during his final months.

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His wife Micheline, who was married to the James Bond actor for 45 years, told the : "It was no life for him.

"He was not able to express himself latterly. At least he died in his sleep and it was just so peaceful.

"I was with him all the time and he just slipped away. It was what he wanted.

"He had dementia and it took its toll on him. He got his final wish to slip away without any fuss."

The couple met in 1970 at a golf tournament and she became Connery's second wife.

Speaking about his death, she added: "He was gorgeous and we had a wonderful life together. He was a model of a man.

'MODEL OF A MAN'

"It is going to be very hard without him, I know that.

"But it could not last for ever and he went peacefully."

Sir Sean, who played Bond between 1962-71, won a string of acting awards including an Oscar, two Bafta awards and three Golden Globes. 

He was also knighted by the Queen in Holyrood Palace in 2000.

The Scottish actor landed his first role as 007 in 1962's 'Dr. No', which propelled him to international stardom.

His subsequent Bond films - including 'From Russia With Love' and 'Goldfinger' - are still regarded as some of the finest in the series.

Before stardom, Sir Sean worked as a milkman in Edinburgh after leaving school at 14.

He worked in the Navy and went on to have a range of jobs and spent time as a lorry driver and babysitter.

He became interested in bodybuilding and his acting career kickstarted after he visited London in 1953 to enter the Mr Universe contest. 

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Tributes have since flooded in to remember the acting legend.

Bond actor Daniel Craig wrote: "It is with such sadness that I heard of the passing of one of the true greats of cinema.

"Sir Sean Connery will be remembered as Bond and so much more. He defined an era and a style.

"The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in mega watts; he helped create the modern blockbuster."

The British Film Institute said: "We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of iconic actor Sir Sean Connery, aged 90."

James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said: “We are devastated by the news of the passing of Sir Sean Connery.

"He was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond whose indelible entrance into cinema history began when he announced those unforgettable words — 'The name’s Bond... James Bond.'"

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Sean - worth an estimated £266million - donated a significant cut of his earnings to the Scottish International Education Trust to help students from poor backgrounds like his own.

The Scottish superstar retired from acting in 2006, and from public life entirely in 2011.

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