He was the first to bring the role to the big screen, appearing in seven of the spy thrillers.
Sir Sean died peacefully in his sleep in the Bahamas, having been "unwell for some time", his son said.
His acting career spanned five decades and he won an Oscar in 1988 for his role in The Untouchables.
Sir Sean's other films included The Hunt for Red October, Highlander, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and The Rock.
