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Few actors truly personify the term “legendary” quite like Sean Connery, whose illustrious film career cements his status as a cinematic icon. Known for unforgettable roles in blockbuster franchises such as “James Bond,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Highlander,” Connery’s legacy is unparalleled. One might assume that fellow actors would tread carefully around him out of respect and admiration. However, F. Murray Abraham stands out as a co-star who managed to ruffle Connery’s feathers.
20th Century Studios
In 1986, Connery and Abraham shared the screen in “The Name of the Rose,” a mystery drama adapted from Umberto Eco’s bestselling novel. Connery portrayed Friar William of Baskerville, tasked with investigating unsettling happenings at an abbey, while Abraham took on the role of his antagonist, Bernardo Gui, an inquisitor. The film also starred Christian Slater, Valentina Vargas, Michael Lonsdale, and Ron Perlman, adding depth to its ensemble cast.
At the 2023 Lumière Film Festival, director Jean-Jacques Annaud shed light on the off-screen friction between Connery and Abraham, which extended beyond their on-screen rivalry. According to Annaud, the tension escalated to such a degree that Connery reportedly considered having Abraham expelled from the Screen Actors Guild. “Abraham was difficult, not particularly with me, but certainly with Sean,” Annaud recounted. “He’d boast, ‘I’ve got the Oscar, and he’s just an old fool.’ Their mutual disdain meant both would arrive late to set, unwilling to wait for the other, reminiscent of schoolyard antics.”
F. Murray Abraham, recognizable to Marvel fans as Khonshu in “Moon Knight,” has long been known for his challenging demeanor on set. Reflecting on his career, Abraham attributed his past behavior to succumbing to his own acclaim. “It was pure hubris,” he confessed to the Independent in 2021. “I began to believe my own press, convinced I had it all figured out.”
However, Abraham insists that he has turned over a new leaf, describing himself as “absolutely wonderful now.” He further shared that he has extended apologies and reconciliations to those he may have wronged during his earlier years in the industry.
F. Murray Abraham claimed to have changed his ways
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It wasn’t only Sean Connery who clashed with F. Murray Abraham, whom MCU fans might know as Khonshu from “Moon Knight.” As a matter of fact, the award-winning actor developed a reputation of being difficult to work with over the years. According to Abraham, this was all a result of him buying into his own hype when he started to achieve success as an actor. “It was just hubris,” he told the Independent in 2021. “That’s all. I started to really believe some of the reviews I was getting. I really thought I knew what I was doing.”
Abraham added that he was a changed man and “absolutely wonderful now.” He also claimed that he had reached out to the people from his past whom he might have offended and extended olive branches.
However, controversy followed him again in 2023 after he was fired from Apple TV’s highly underrated feel-good show “Mythic Quest” for reported misconduct. Abraham issued an apology (via Deadline), stating that he “told jokes, nothing more.”