Over the weekend, iconic film star Sir Sean Connery died at the age of 90. According to the late actor’s widow, Micheline Roquebrune, Connery died peacefully in his sleep in the Bahamas.
“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,” said Roquebrune.
She went on to remember the “wonderful life” she had with her “gorgeous model of a man”, to whom she was married for 45 years.
However, she also reflected on the difficult last years of their life together as the screen legend lived with dementia.
“It was no life for him. He was not able to express himself latterly,” she said.
“He had dementia and it took its toll on him. He got his final wish to slip away without any fuss.”
The couple, who met at a golf tournament in 1970, courted for five years despite not speaking the same language. Marrying in 1975, the couple have been inseparable since, surviving an affair scandal in the 1980s, and living out their days together in the Bahamas.
“He was gorgeous and we had a wonderful life together. He was a model of a man. It is going to be very hard without him, I know that. But it could not last forever and he went peacefully.”
Jason Connery, son of the late actor, spoke to the BBC, saying that they were able to have “many of his family who could be in the Bahamas around him” when he died.
“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,” he said.
Sir Sean’s family added, “There will be a private ceremony followed by a memorial yet to be planned once the virus has ended.”
Image via Saskia Connery Instagram @saskiaconnery
