Most people do a double take when they first see Dennis Keogh. That's precisely the reaction the Scottsdale man is looking for.
Keogh impersonates movie star Sean Connery, the first movie actor to play James Bond, the fictional British agent 007.
Complete with white hair, beard, put-on Scottish accent and Arizona license plate 007DBLE on his Lexus, Keogh has enjoyed his "talent" for a decade.
Now, he hopes to find an agent and make a career of it.
Keogh notes that his and Connery's fathers were both named Joseph, their ancestors came from the same county in Scotland and both enjoy sports and beer.
"His movie line is, 'vodka martini, shaken not stirred,' but he really likes beer," said Keogh, who has thoroughly researched the famed actor. Not realizing the pun, Keogh added that he "feels a bond" with Connery, 76.
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"I'd always been told I look like him, with or without the beard," said Keogh, 57. "I spent 35 years with the telephone company meeting people, and they'd say I looked like him. I never did anything with it until I left the phone company in 2002.
"Then I thought maybe it was time to have some fun. People said, 'Why waste the talent?' After 10 years of playing with it, I decided to go professional."
As a former greeter and head valet at Scottsdale Fashion Square, Keogh said some celebrities, including Phoenix-area resident David Spade, kidded him about the resemblance.
"They'd drive up and say, 'Where's Sean Connery?' " Keogh said. "I'd meet them (and mimic) his voice. They loved it."
These days, Keogh is a doorman at Wyndham Phoenix Hotel. "One man who said he knew Connery saw me in character and said, 'Sean would like you,' " Keogh said. "I'd like to meet him."
Keogh is scheduled to impersonate Connery at the FBR Open golf tournament next month in Scottsdale. He gets $500 per hour for a local appearance and $1,000 per hour plus travel expenses elsewhere.
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