HE rose from being a milkman to become the original James Bond and one of Hollywood’s greatest stars.

Tributes have poured in after the death of Sir Sean Connery at the age of 90 was announced by his family.

The veteran actor was the first to play 007 on the big screen in Dr No and appeared in seven of the spy thrillers between 1962 and 1983.

His five-decade career saw him win an Oscar, two Baftas and three Golden Globes, with other notable films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Highlander and The Hunt For Red October.

But Sir Sean will also be remembered as one of the independence movement’s most high-profile supporters – describing it as “the most important day of my life” when he attended the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

Yesterday his son Jason said his father died peacefully in his sleep overnight while in Nassau in the Bahamas, having been “unwell for some time”.

He said his father “had many of his family who could be in the Bahamas around him” when he died.

He added: “We are all working at understanding this huge event as it only happened so recently, even though my dad has been unwell for some time.

“A sad day for all who knew and loved my dad and a sad loss for all people around the world who enjoyed the wonderful gift he had as an actor.”

Sir Sean’s publicist said there will be a private funeral ceremony and a memorial service would be planned once the coronavirus crisis has ended. He leaves behind wife Micheline and sons Jason and Stephane.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon paid tribute to the legendary actor on Twitter, saying she was “heartbroken” to learn of his death.

She wrote: “Our nation today mourns one of her best loved sons.

“Sean was born into a working class Edinburgh family and through talent and sheer hard work, became an international film icon and one of the world’s most accomplished actors.

“Sean will be remembered best as James Bond – the classic 007 – but his roles were many and varied. He was a global legend but, first and foremost, a patriotic and proud Scot – his towering presence at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 showed his love for the country of his birth.”

Born Thomas Sean Connery in Edinburgh’s Fountainbridge area on August 25, 1930, the actor took his first job as a milkman and spent three years in the Royal Navy before being discharged on medical grounds.

James Bond author Ian Fleming was initially resistant to the idea of Sir Sean playing his lead character, believing he was an “overgrown stuntman” who was not refined enough for the role.

He was later so impressed with his performance that he created a Scottish ancestry for the character in his subsequent books.

Sir Sean won a new generation of fans with his compelling performance as the father of Harrison Ford’s hero in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He was knighted in 2000.

His life was not without controversy, however, with criticism over remarks he reportedly made about his attitude to women, which he maintained were quoted out of context.

Fellow Bond actor Daniel Craig referenced one of Sir Sean’s other great loves in life as he paid tribute yesterday.

“He defined an era and a style,” he said. “Wherever he is, I hope there is a golf course.”