Alvin Rakoff, Director Who Launched Careers of Sean Connery and Alan Rickman, Dies at 97

Mar. 15, 2025

Alvin Rakoff.Photo:Evelyn Klebanoff

Evelyn Klebanoff

Alvin Rakoff, Canadian filmmaker who helped launch the careers of actorsSean ConneryandAlan Rickman, has died. He was 97.

Rakoff got his start as a writer at the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) before moving to the UK in 1952 where he became the the youngest producer/director in the BBC drama department at age 26.

By 1967, Rakoff received his first Emmy Award forCall Me Daddyand earned his second in 1982 forA Voyage Round My Father.

Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty

Most notably, the late director was known for launching the careers of many well known actors like Connery, Rickman and more. In 1957, Rakoff took a chance on an unknown extra and gave Connery his first leading role inRequiem for a Heavyweight.

According to his obituary shared with PEOPLE, a few years later, Rakoff received a call from producers who were casting for the part ofJames Bond. With Patrick McGoohan, Roger Moore and Connery all up for the coveted role, Rakoff told producers, “The best actor was McGoohan, the most affable was Moore, but the one he felt they should cast was Connery.”

Years later in 1978, he would also give Rickman his first major role as Tybalt inRomeo & Juliet.

Upon the news of his passing, those who loved and worked with Rakoff shared touching tributes about their time with the legendary director in his obituary.

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Michael Crawford said, “Alvin was a beautifully sensitive director. I feel very fortunate to have worked with him. He so rightly, had a wonderful career.”

source: people.com