Remembering Sir Sean Connery: What Finding Forester Co-star Rob Brown Shared about Hollywood Legend in 2008 CYInterview
The world is mourning the loss of Sir Sean Connery. It was reported that the Hollywood legend died yesterday at the age of 90. The actor is perhaps best known for playing James Bond in seven films across three decades. Focusing specifically on Las Vegas history and its ties to the 007 movie series, the 1971 film Diamonds are Forever has scenes that were shot in Las Vegas. Three of the resorts the film was shot at are still here today. They include the Tropicana Hotel and Casino, Circus Circus, and the Las Vegas Hilton, which is now the Westgate Resort and Casino.
One of Sir Sean Connery’s last roles was in the 2000 film Finding Forester. In it, he played William Forester, a famous writer who isolates himself from the world, in his apartment in the Bronx in New York City. In the movie, Forester befriends a teenager by the name of Jamal Wallace, played by actor Rob Brown. Jamal is a superior student with a talent for writing. The two characters develop a strong and inspiring bond.
In 2008, we CYInterviewed Rob Brown during his promotion for The Express: The Ernie Davis Story. You can see his photo above. You can read and listen to our CYInterview by clicking here. Mr. Brown told us about the experience of working with Sean Connery and what he learned from the legend:
“He sat me down and he made it a point to say, ‘No one told me this when I was coming up so I am going to tell you.’ One of those things that he told me was to finish my education and get my degree because that’s something he never did. That’s another reason I didn’t just up and leave and go to L.A. and try to just make it because Sean Connery told me not to. He told me the movies will come. Get your education and I feel as though that’s why we had so much chemistry because, you know, it was largely on him. I was just a kid. I figured I could do no wrong. They’ll just tell me if I am doing wrong, which is what happened. I just did whatever I wanted till they said no. And you know, I had all the confidence in the world because Sean basically had to approve me. Upon getting his approval, his overwhelming approval, then, you know, how could we not then have any chemistry? Then we just show up to work and have fun.”
Sean Connery won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in the 1987 film The Untouchables, playing in a cast including Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, and Andy Garcia. The legend will be missed by many and long remembered. We send our condolences to his family and friends.