Nicolas Cage Regrets Never Playing Golf with Sean Connery

Actor Nicolas Cage has revealed one deep regret tied to his friendship with the late Sir Sean Connery. During a panel at New York Comic Con last weekend, Cage said he never made time to play golf with Connery, even though the James Bond legend often invited him. “I always wanted to be on the boat and fishing. Sean kept pushing me toward the golf course, but I never had the time,” he said.

Connery, who died in 2020 at the age of 90, was known as a warm and unassuming figure. Cage called him “very fatherly” and considered him a close friend. “I used to visit his house often. We were truly friends. But I never learned golf, and to this day I feel I should have taken him up on his offer,” Cage added.

The two became friends after starring together in the action film The Rock (1996). For Cage, working with Connery was a dream come true. “He was one of my heroes. As a kid I watched his films and thought, ‘That is what a real man looks like.’ Getting to work with him was extraordinary,” he recalled in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

After Connery passed away, Cage released a touching statement. “I admired Sean tremendously. I was happiest when working with him—his wisdom, humility, and honesty guided me from the first time we met. He was my greatest friend and teacher in the film world. Maestro, you will be missed,” he wrote at the time.

“He was the first movie star to blend drama, action-adventure, and comedy with ease and dignity.” — Nicolas Cage on Sean Connery.

More than just a colleague, Connery apparently had a major influence on Cage’s decision to become an actor. In a 2016 interview, Cage revealed that watching Connery as James Bond in Dr. No with his father at a drive-in theater made him determined to pursue acting. “I knew I wanted to be like that,” he said.

Cage’s story of regret touches the human side of a Hollywood star known for being eccentric. Behind the glittering career, he reminds us that time with loved ones is often more valuable than busyness. For fans in Indonesia, moments like this become a reflection on the importance of cherishing personal relationships, especially with a mentor or friend who has brought color to one’s life.

Going forward, Sean Connery’s legacy lives on through his works, while Nicolas Cage continues to work in the film industry. Could a small regret like this serve as a universal reminder that chances to be with those closest to us do not always come twice?