ACADEMY award winner Sean Connery is celebrating his 88th birthday this week.

The James Bond actor and Scottish icon has appeared in more than 50 films, starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983.

The star is best known for his role as 007 in the franchise. He was the first actor to take on the part and remains among the most popular.

Connery was born on August 25, 1930, in Edinburgh. His film career includes The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Murder on the Orient Express.

He was knighted in Edinburgh on July 5, 2000, after previously being nominated in 1997 and 1998.

The Northern Echo dug out these pictures of Connery’s career in its archives for our new weekly entertainment feature.