'James Bond' Star Sean Connery's Dementia Battle 'Was Hard To Watch,' New Book Reveals

A new book has revealed more details about the life and last days of "James Bond" star Sean Connery, who died in 2020 at age 90. The book features new and emotional commentary from the actor's close friend, Brendan Lynch, who visited him several times before his death.

According to the new memoir, Connery kept the news of his dementia and declining health private and got his wish: to die peacefully. Until his death, the iconic actor and his wife, Micheline Roquebrune, stayed devoted to each other and spent his final years in the Bahamas.

A new book on Connery's life and career, titled "Connery, Sean Connery," has revealed that the iconic "James Bond" actor had dementia. Connery, the original James Bond, died at age 90 on October 31st, 2020. The new book dives into Connery's lengthy Hollywood career and the various obstacles and achievements that defined his life.

Author Herbie J Pilato had conversations with sources close to Connery and several of his co-stars to thoroughly understand the late actor. The book features new commentary from one of his friends, Brendan Lynch, who was close to Connery in his final days.

Pilato told Fox News, "[Connery] died… at some beautiful ripe age, but had some measure of dementia. Dementia is not just a mental issue. You're affected physically in other ways… It affects everything. So it's not just the mind. And to see someone who was so strong battling this disease — it was difficult. If anybody looked like a movie star, it was Sean Connery. But towards the end, when he was frail, it was hard to watch. It was hard to see that."

According to the memoir, Connery's wife, Micheline Roquebrune, personally asked Lynch to spend a lot of time, "as much as possible," with the actor in his final days. Lynch and the Connery's stay close to each other in their Bahamas neighborhood.

In the book, Lynch said, "Because he wasn't well at all, Micheline did ask me to try and see a bit more of him in the end. He didn't want to have people that he didn't know hanging around, so I would stop in to visit. I was crying at times to see this mountain of a man — this monumental human achievement in such a terrible state — frail (mentally and physically) unable to carry on a conversation or finish off a sentence."

Lynch told Pilato that it was difficult and "very sad" for him to see Connery become "weak and flawed" as his dementia progressed. He added, "We tried to have a conversation. I tried to tell him what was going on in the sporting world, despite knowing that he wasn't actually taking it all in."

Lynch explained to Pilato that Connery kept his failing health and dementia private "for some time." The "Goldfinger" actor instead chose to spend his time in peace and surrounded by "sprawling golf courses, near wide-open silky sands and… clear blue Bahamian waters."

After Connery's death, his son Jason finally revealed to the BBC that his father was "unwell for some time," and then Roquebrune confirmed that he'd battled with dementia. She told the Daily Mail, "It was no life for him. It took its toll on him. He was not able to express himself latterly."

Roquebrune shared with the publication that Connery had only one wish regarding his death: "to slip away without any fuss." She added, "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."

In his book, Pilato noted that Roquebrune and Connery remained devoted to each other and their marriage from 1975 until his death.

He wrote extensively about their marriage and strong connection, saying that Connery had her full support and love until the end.

It read, "I think that relationship worked because she was not an actress. She was dedicated to him. And their relationship was great for years, decades. She was there for him right to the end. They went to the Bahamas, and they ended up spending the rest of his life there. I think it was hard for his wife, his son and fans who loved him. It's hard to see anybody get sick and become frail."