Diane Cilento (Sean Connery Ex-wife) Biography: Wiki, Spouse, Cause of Death and More

Diane Cilento, born in Queensland was an Australian actress who had acted in films such as ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy’ and Tom Jones’. She wanted to be a starlet from a very early age. After studying, she started her acting career with important roles in films like ‘Passage Home’. Further, she was also nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the category of ‘Best Supporting Actress’. Other films she appeared in include ‘Rattle of a Simple Man’ where she played the role of a prostitute. The last movies in her life were ‘The Boy Who Had Everything’ and ‘For the Term of His Natural Life’ Overall, she was a great actress who passed away in 2011 from liver cancer. Furthermore, read Diane Cilento Images and Diane Cilento Bio here to know more. 

Diane Cilento Bio 

• Full Name: Diane Cilento
• Born: 2 April 1932
• Birth Place: Mooloolaba, Australia
• Died: 6 October 2011, Cairns, Australia
• Profession: Australian actress
• Spouse: Anthony Shaffer (m. 1985–2001), Sean Connery (m. 1962–1973), Andrea Volpe (m. 1956–1960)
• Children: Jason Connery, Giovanna Margaret Volpe
• Siblings: David Cilento, Phyllis Margaret Cilento, Ruth A Yolanda Cilento, Raphael C F Cilento, Carl Lindsay Cilento

Diane Cilento Biography

Cilento was born in Mooloolaba, Queensland in Australia. Her parents, Sir Raphael Cilento and mother Phyllis Cilento were distinguished medical practitioners in Queensland. Her paternal great-grandfather was Italian. Her maternal grandfather was a merchant and exporter Charles Thomas McGlew. At an early age, Diane Cilento determined to follow a profession as an actress after being suspended from school in Australia. She later acquired a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and moved to England in the early 1950s. Equally, Diane Cilento was the fifth of six children, four of whom became medical practitioners; the other, Margaret, was an artist.

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Miss Cilento’s career life

Diane was able to find work almost immediately after her graduation. Her first lead performance was in the 1955 British movie ‘Passage Home’. In the succeeding years, she appeared in films, such as ‘The Woman for Joe’ (1955), ‘Jet Storm’ (1959), ‘The Full Treatment’ (1960), and ‘I Thank A Fool’ (1962). In 1963, she was chosen for an Oscar in the category of ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for her character in the British comedy film ‘Tom Jones’.

Cilento was next noticed in the British drama movie ‘The Third Secret’ in 1964. It was directed by Charles Crichton. Besides, she appeared in many other important films in the 1960s including ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy’ (1965) and ‘Hombre’ (1967).

Her later filmography includes movies, such as ‘Hitler: The Last Ten Days’ (1973), ‘Big Toys’ (1980), ‘Duet For Four’ (1982), and ‘The Boy Who Had Everything’ (1985). In 2001, she was given the Australian Centenary Medal for her ‘exceptional service to the arts.

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Diane Cilento marriage life

When speaking of Diane Cilento Spouse – Her first marriage was with Andrea Volpe from 1956 to 1960. They had one daughter named Giovanna Volpe. From 1962 to 1973, she was wedded to Sean Connery.

The two met while appearing together in Eugene O’Neill’s play Anna Christi. Like Diane, Sean Connery was an award-winning Scottish actor, popular for playing 007 in the early ‘James Bond’ spy movies. Diane Cilento Sean Connery had one son named Jason Connery. Jason obeyed the footsteps of his parents as an actor and director.

Cilento has also written an autobiography named ‘My Nine Lives’, in 2006, where she said that her second husband had abused her. Later, Cilento was married to Anthony Shaffer from 1985 till his death in 2001. Her third spouse had two daughters from a previous marriage.

Diane Cilento last breath 

Diane Cilento cause of death was cancer. She at Cairns Base Hospital on 6 October 2011, the day after her 78th birthday. After Diane Cilento’s death a huge array of items from her estate was bequeathed to the Queensland University of Technology and is housed in the library.