Sean Connery’s brother, Neil, dies just seven months after Bond star

It’s not often that tragedy strikes one family twice in one year, yet Sean Connery’s family is grieving all over again following the death of the Bond star’s younger brother, Neil Connery, just seven months the legendary Scottish actor passed.

Neil died aged 83 on May 11, after a long illness.

News of his death was shared on social media by one of his close friend’s, Steve Begg, who wrote, “My good friend and Edinburgh drinking buddy Neil Connery passed away early this morning I’m sad to report,” he wrote. “He considered me a lackluster [sic] challenge when it came to the drinking stakes but I considered [sic] him with respect.

“He looked and sounded like his big bro so going out with him was always interesting to say the leasht [sic] . Mish you Neil.”

Neil was also an actor and appeared in spoof films based on James Bond, including Operation Kid Brother (1967) in which he played 007’s sibling. He was also known for the 1969 movie The Body Stealers and featured in an episode of Taggert in 1989.

According to The Daily Mail, Neil leaves behind his wife Eleanor, plus two daughters Martine and Leone. The Daily Mail reports that Eleanor had recently revealed the extent of Neil’s grief after Sean’s passing. She said his sense of loss was compounded by the pandemic as he was unable to travel to be at his brother’s side when he died. “He’s just very upset at losing his only brother,” she said. “He would’ve gone but, of course, given the times we’re in, nobody can travel anywhere for any reason so that’s upsetting too.”