Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, Michael Caine and Nicolas Cage lead tributes to Sean Connery

'You cast a long shadow of cinematic splendor that will live on forever', fellow 007 Brosnan wrote

Sean Connery in Cannes, France on May 24, 1965. Getty Images

Sean Connery and Dirk Bogarde in A Bridge Too Far, 1977. Reuters

Actor Sean Connery and his son Jason on the set of the latter's play, April 16th 1988. Getty Images

Actor Sean Connery accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 53rd Annual Golden Globes Awards. Getty Images

Sean Connery in his most famous role as 007, in Goldfinger, 1964. Getty Images

Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice, 1967. Reuters

Sean Connery in Woman of Straw, 1964. United Artists/Reuters

Sean Connery played Indiana Jones's (Harrison Ford) father in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Getty Images

Sean Connery and Claudine Auger in Thunderball, 1965. Reuters

Sean Connery arriving with his wife Micheline at New York's famed Avery Fisher Hall for the Film Society of Lincoln Centre's gala tribute to Connery and his film career. Reuters

Sean Connery and Christian Slater in The Name of the Rose, 1986 Reuters

Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery in Marnie, 1964. Reuters

French actress Brigitte Bardot and Sean Connery pose for a publicity shot during their first meeting in France before filming Shalako, 1968. Getty Images

Sean Connery during the filming of Goldfinger, 1964. Reuters

Sean Connery holds up his Oscar after winning the Best Supporting Actor at the 60th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, April 11, 1988. Reuters

Sean Connery and actress Lana Turner, who appear together in the film Another Time Another Place, arrive at London King's Cross Station. Reuters

Sean Connery arriving with his then-wife, actress Diane Cilento, for the premiere of You Only Live Twice at the Odeon, Leicester Square, 1967. Reuters

Sean Connery and Michael Caine at an awards night, circa 1985. Reuters

The Princess of Wales greeting Sean Connery at the premiere of The Hunt for Red October at the Empire Theatre in Leicester Square, 1990. Reuters

Sean Connery signs autographs for fans at the premiere of Playing By Heart in Los Angeles, 1998. Reuters

Sean Connery and Swiss actress Ursula Andress pose together in a promotional still for the film Dr. No directed by Terence Young, 1962. Getty Images

Sean Connery and Princess Paola of Belgium arrive for the premiere of the film Sahlako on October 31, 1968 in Belgium. AFP

Actor Sean Connery accepts his award during the 34th AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Sir Sean Connery held at the Kodak Theatre on June 8, 2006 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images

Actor Sean Connery and wife Micheline Connery attend the 76th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre on February 29, 2004 in Hollywood, California. AFP

Michael Caine as Peachy Carnehan and Sean Connery as Daniel Dravot in the film The Man Who Would Be King, 1975. Getty Images

Sean Connery talks with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the State Department in Washington, DC in December 1999 following a dinner for the Kennedy Centre Honorees. AFP

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sean Connery pose for photographers during the photocall of American movie directed by Jon Amiel Entrapment on May 14, 1999 in Cannes. AFP

Kennedy Centre Honoree Sean Connery applauds US President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton upon their arrival at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC, 1999. AFP

Sir Sean Connery poses during a photo call at the 4th Marrakesh International Film Festival, on December 8, 2004. AFP

Audrey Hepburn, Sean Connery and Jeanne Moreau at Le Fouquet's à Paris restaurants, for the Cesars on March 7, 1987. AFP

Actors Sean Connery and Kyle MacLachlan attend the "Dressed To Kilt" fashion show celebrating Tartan Week and benefiting The Friends of Scotland, at Sotheby's April 5, 2004, in New York City. Getty Images

Sean Connery is seen backstage at the 75th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on March 23, 2003. AFP

Actor Sean Connery and his then-wife American actress Diane Cilento are presented to Princess Margaret on February, 15, 1965, during the Royal Film Performance of Lord Jim. AFP

Sean Connery celebrates his special Bafta Award for a Lifetime's Contribution to the British Cinema with fellow Scot Billy Connolly at the Bafta Awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on April 19, 1998. AFP

Actor Sean Connery and model Jerry Hall at a restaurant, April 21st 1987. Getty Images

Hollywood has paid tribute to late James Bond star Sean Connery, who died on Saturday at the age of 90.

Connery’s co-stars and peers have led thousands of online tributes to the original 007, after news of his death was confirmed by his son.

Leading the way were Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, who said they were “devastated” by the news and that Connery's “gritty and witty portrayal of the charismatic secret agent” was largely responsible for the success of the series.

“He was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond whose indelible entrance into cinema history began when he announced those unforgettable words — ‘The name’s Bond ... James Bond,’” they said in a statement on Saturday.

Daniel Craig, the current Bond, said Connery “defined an era and a style” and that the “wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in megawatts".

“Wherever he is, I hope there is a golf course,” Craig said.

Fellow 007 Pierce Brosnan said Connery was his “greatest James Bond as a boy, and as a man who became James Bond himself”.

“You cast a long shadow of cinematic splendour that will live on forever,” Brosnan wrote on his Instagram alongside a picture of the late star. “You led the way for us all who followed in your iconic foot steps. Each man in his turn looked to you with reverence and admiration as we forged ahead with our own interpretations of the role.”

He added: “You were mighty in every way, as an actor and as a man, and will remain so 'til the end of time. You were loved by the world, and will be missed. God bless, rest now, be at peace.”

Sam Neill, who co-starred with Connery in 1990's The Hunt for Red October, said: "Every day on set with Sean Connery was an object lesson in how to act on screen. But all that charisma and power – that was utterly unique to Sean."

Actor Nicolas Cage said he “admired Sean so much”.

“I was happiest when I was working with him – his wisdom, humbleness and extreme honesty has guided me ever since I met him,” he said. “He was my friend and greatest teacher in cinema. The first movie star to lead the way in combining drama, action adventure and comedy. He did it all effortlessly and with dignity. Maestro, you will be missed."

Michael Caine said Connery was a “rare combination of a great star and a brilliant actor”. “We had a great time together. I haven’t seen him for quite a long time and I’ve missed him, but today, I really miss him. I am grateful for the time we spent together. A wonderful man," he said.

Connery's The Untouchables co-star Kevin Costner told The Hollywood Reporter: "I, like the rest of the world, was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sean Connery this morning. Sean was a crafted actor who was enormously proud of his body of work, particularly his work on stage. And although he was a very no-nonsense person, he was incredibly inclusive with me professionally and personally. He was the biggest star that I ever worked with and I will be forever grateful to be linked with him on film. Sean Connery was a man's man who had an amazing career."

Fellow The Untouchables star Robert De Niro also shared a tribute with the publication. "He seemed much younger than 90; I expected – and hoped – he'd be with us much longer," he said. "See you up there, Sean."

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the country was mourning “one of her best loved sons.”

“Sean was a global legend but, first and foremost, he was a patriotic and proud Scot," she said.

“He was a lifelong advocate of an independent Scotland and those of us who share that belief owe him a great debt of gratitude,” she added.