Bernard Lee

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For other people named Bernard Lee, see Bernard Lee (disambiguation).
Bernard Lee

Lee as M in The Man with the Golden Gun.
Born John Bernard Lee
10 January 1908(1908-01-10)
Either: Brentford, Middlesex, England, or Cork, Republic of Ireland
Died 16 January 1981(1981-01-16) (aged 73)
London, England, UK
Other names John Bernard Lee
Occupation Actor
Years active 1934–1979
Spouse

Gladys Emily Merredew (1934 – 1973; 1 child – Ann Gladys Lee)

Ursula McHale (? – 1981, his death)

John Bernard Lee (10 January 1908 – 16 January 1981), better known as Bernard Lee, was an English actor, best known for his role as M in the first eleven James Bond films. Lee's career spanned 1934 to 1979, beginning on stage at the age of six. He was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Although best remembered for the Bond series, he appeared in over one hundred films, as well as on stage and television dramatisations. Lee was known for his roles as authority figures, often playing military characters or policemen and highlights in his career included The Third Man, The Blue Lamp, The Battle of the River Plate and Whistle Down the Wind.

He died on 17 January 1981, at age 73 after suffering from stomach cancer.

Contents

[edit] Life and career

Lee was born on 10 January 1908, the son of Nellie (née Smith) and Edmund James Lee.[1] He was born in either Cork, Republic of Ireland[2] or Brentford, London.[1] Lee's father was also an actor and Lee first appeared on stage in 1914 at the age of six with his father at the Oxford Music Hall in London.[3][4] Lee attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, working as a fruit porter to pay his fees.[3] During the 1930s, after graduating from RADA, he initially worked in repertory theatre in Rusholme and Cardiff before beginning work on the West End stage in thrillers, such as Blind Man's Bluff[4] and Ten Minute Alibi, where he played in a comedic role with Arthur Askey.[3]

After wartime service in the army between 1940 and 1946[5] Lee returned to the stage whilst also developing a successful film career. During the 1950s he appeared in a long run on stage as Able Seaman Turner in Seagulls Over Sorrento,[4] a role he later reprised in the film of the same name with Gene Kelly (released in the US as Crest of the Wave).[6] In total Lee appeared in over one hundred films[7] and often played "solid, dependable characters such as policemen, serving officers or officials.[3] These films include The Third Man (1949), The Blue Lamp (1950), Beat the Devil (1953), The Battle of the River Plate (1956), The Spanish Gardener (1956), Dunkirk (1958), Web of Evidence (1959), Whistle Down the Wind (1961) and The L-Shaped Room (1962).

In 1962 Lee was cast in the role for which The Illustrated who's who of the cinema considered he will probably best be remembered,[8][9] playing the character of M, the head of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)—and the superior of James Bond—in the first Eon Productions film, Dr. No. A number of Bond scholars have noted the Lee's interpretation of the character was in line with the original literary representation; Cork and Stutz observed that Lee was "very close to Fleming's version of the character",[10] whilst Rubin commented on the serious, efficient, no-nonsense authority figure.[11] Smith and Lavington, meanwhile, remarked that Lee was "the very incarnation of Fleming's crusty admiral."[12]

Lee married twice: his first wife, Gladys Merredew, died in a fire at their Kent home in 1973;[3] he re-married again and was survived by his wife Ursula (née McHale).[7][2] He is the grandfather of British actor Jonny Lee Miller.[13]

[edit] Death

On 16 January 1981, Lee died at the Royal Free Hospital in London after a battle with stomach cancer, just six days after his 73rd birthday, having been admitted to hospital in November 1980.[14]

Lee died after filming had started on For Your Eyes Only, but before he could film his scenes as M, as he had done in the previous eleven films of the James Bond series.[15] Out of respect for Lee, no replacement was found, and the script was re-written so that the character was said to be on leave.[16]

[edit] Selected stage credits

Production Role Dates Theatre
The Happy Ending — June 1928— Rusholme Theatre[17]
Tudor Wench Sir John Harlington October 1933— Embassy Theatre[18]
Take Heed! Roman 28 January 1934— Piccadilly Theatre[19]
Murder in Motley — April 1934— Royalty Theatre[20]
Root of all Evil — July 1934— St Martin's Theatre[21]
The Philanthropist — September 1935— Arts Theatre[22]
Distinguished Gathering — October 1935— Embassy Theatre[23]
Murder Gang — November 1935— Embassy Theatre[24]
Red Night — March 1936— Queen's Theatre[25]
The Future That Was — April 1936— Ambassadors Theatre[26]
Young Madam Conti — November 1936— Savoy Theatre[27]
Tavern in the Town — February 1937— Embassy Theatre[28]
And the Music Stopped — May 1937— New Theatre[29]
The Gusher — August 1937— Prince's Theatre[30]
Night Sky Ray Dawson January 1937— Savoy Theatre[31]
People of Our Class — April 1938— Manchester Opera House[32]
Blind Man's Buff — October 1938— Arts Theatre[33]
Number Six Franklyn Dyall December 1938— Aldwych Theatre[34]
The Long Mirror — February 1940— Haymarket Theatre[35]
Peace in Our Time Publican July 1947— Lyric Theatre[36]
Seagulls Over Sorrento Seaman "Lofty" Turner June 1950— Apollo Theatre[37]
Act of Violence — October 1962— St Martin's Theatre[38]
Norman Charlie April 1963— Royal Court Theatre[39]
The Farm — September 1973— Royal Court Theatre[40]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] James Bond films

From 1962 to 1979 Bernard Lee featured in eleven James Bond films as the character, M, Bond's superior.[41]

Year Film
1962 Dr. No
1963 From Russia with Love
1964 Goldfinger
1965 Thunderball
1967 You Only Live Twice
1969 On Her Majesty's Secret Service
1971 Diamonds Are Forever
1973 Live and Let Die
1974 The Man with the Golden Gun
1977 The Spy Who Loved Me
1979 Moonraker

[edit] Other films

Year Title[42][43][44] Role Notes
1935 The River House Mystery Wade Belloc
1936 Rhodes of Africa Cartwright
1937 The Black Tulip William of Orange
1938 The Terror Ferdy Fane
1938 Love From a Stranger Cast Member Uncredited
1939 Murder in Soho Roy Barnes
1939 The Frozen Limits Bill McGrew
1940 Let George Do It! Oscar US title To Hell with Hitler[45]
1940 Spare a Copper Jake
1941 Once a Crook The Duke
1943 The New Lot Interviewing Officer Uncredited
1946 This Man Is Mine James Nicholls
1946 The Courtneys of Curzon Street Colonel Gascoyne US title Kathy's Love Affair[46]
1947 Dusty Bates Captain Ford US title The Adventures of Dusty Bates[47]
1948 Quartet Ned Preston, Prison Visitor
1948 The Fallen Idol Detective Hart
1949 Elizabeth of Ladymead John Beresford in 1903
1949 The Third Man Sgt. Paine
1950 The Blue Lamp Inspector Cherry
1950 Morning Departure Cmdr. Gates US title Operation Disaster[48]
1950 Last Holiday Inspector Wilton
1950 Odette Jack
1950 Cage of Gold Inspector Grey
1951 The Adventurers O'Connell US title Fortune in Diamonds[49]
1951 White Corridors Burgess
1951 Calling Bulldog Drummond Col. Webson
1951 Appointment with Venus Brigadier US title Island Rescue[49]
1952 Mr. Denning Drives North Inspector Dodds
1952 Gift Horse A.S. 'Stripey' Wood US title Glory at Sea[50]
1953 The Yellow Balloon Constable Chapman
1953 Single-Handed Petty Officer 'Stokes' Wheatley US title C.S. Forester's Sailor of the King[51]
1953 Beat the Devil Insp. Jack Clayton
1954 The Rainbow Jacket Racketeer
1954 Father Brown Inspector Valentine US title The Detective[52]
1954 Seagulls Over Sorrento Seaman 'Lofty' Turner US title Crest of the Wave[53]
1954 The Purple Plain Dr. Harris
1955 Out of the Clouds Customs Officer
1955 The Ship That Died of Shame Sam Brewster US title PT Raiders[54]
1955 Television Playhouse: The Golden Fleece William Lotless Television production of a J. B. Priestley play.[44]
1956 The Battle of the River Plate Captain Dove—M.S. Africa Shell US title Pursuit of the Graf Spee[55]
1956 The Spanish Gardener Leighton Bailey
1956 Playdate: All Correct, Sir Cast Member Television production of a play by Barbara S. Harper.[44]
1956 Theatre Royal: The Stolen Pearl Candleblow Smith Television production of a play by John Kruse.[44]
1956 Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents: A Borderline Case Rudi Lankert Television production.[44]
1957 Fire Down Below Dr. Sam Blake
1957 Across the Bridge Chief Inspector Hadden
1957 High Flight Flight Sergeant Harris
1958 Dunkirk Charles Foreman
1958 The Key Cmdr. Wadlow
1958 The Man Upstairs Inspector Thompson
1958 Television Playhouse: Cornelius Cornelius Television production of a J. B. Priestley play.[44]
1958 Nowhere to Go Victor Sloane, alias Lee Henderson
1959 Danger Within Lt. Col. Huxley US title Breakout[56]
1959 Sunday-Night Theatre: Crime Passionnel Hoederer BBC television production of a work by Jean-Paul Sartre.[44]
1959 Play of the Week: Family On Trial Det.-Insp. Lunt ITV television production; part of the Play of the Week series.[44]
1959 Armchair Theatre: Ernie Barger is 50 Cast Member ITV television production; part of the Armchair Theatre series.[44]
1959 Beyond This Place Patrick Mathry US title Web of Evidence[57]
1960 Kidnapped Captain Hoseason
1960 Armchair Theatre: Nest of Four Cast Member ITV television production; part of the Armchair Theatre series.[44]
1960 Armchair Theatre: Cold Fury Cast Member ITV television production; part of the Armchair Theatre series.[44]
1960 The Angry Silence Bert Connolly
1960 The Clue of the Twisted Candle Superintendant Meredith
1960 Cone of Silence Capt. George Gort US title Trouble in the Sky[58]
1961 Fury at Smugglers' Bay Black John
1961 The Secret Partner Superintendent Frank Hanbury
1961 Partners in Crime Inspector Mann
1961 Whistle Down the Wind Mr. Bostock
1961 The Interrogator Superintendent Farron BBC television production[44]
1961 The Clue of the Silver Key Superintendent Meredith
1962 The Share Out Superintendent Meredith
1962 The Brain Dr. Frank Shears
1962 The L-Shaped Room Charlie
1963 Two Left Feet Mr. Crabbe
1963 A Place to Go Matt Flint
1964 Ring of Spies Henry Houghton US Title Ring of Treason[59]
1964 Espionage: Snow on Mount Kama John Neary ITV television production; part of the Espionage series.[44]
1964 Who Was Maddox? Supt. Meredith ITV television production, based on an Edgar Wallace thriller.[44]
1964 Saturday Night Out George Hudson
1965 Dr. Terror's House of Horrors Hopkins
1965 The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders Landlord Uncredited
1965 The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Patmore
1965 The Legend of Young Dick Turpin Jeremiah
1965 Thursday Theatre: Flowering Cherry Jim Cherry BBC television production[44]
1965 Danger Man: Whatever Happened To George Foster? Lord Ammanford ITV television production; part of the Danger Man series.[44]
1965 The Human Jungle: Ring of Hate Jim Garner ITV television production; part of the The Human Jungle series.[44]
1965 Thirty Minute Theatre: The Passenger The Man BBC television production; part of the Thirty Minute Theatre series.[44]
1966 Danger Man: The Man with the Foot Derringham ITV television production; part of the Danger Man series.[44]
1966 Armchair Theatre: The Night Before the Morning After Daniel Whittaker ITV television production; part of the Armchair Theatre series.[44]
1966 King of the River Joss King BBC television series[44]
1966 The Baron: Masquerade Morgan Travis ITV television production; part of The Baron series.[44]
1966 The Baron: The Killing Morgan Travis ITV television production; part of The Baron series.[44]
1967 OK Connery Commander Cunningham (Bond Parody) US title Operation Kid Brother[60]
1967 Half-Hour Story: Friends Frank Television production[44]
1967 Man in a Suitcase: Girl Who Never Was Kershaw ITV television production; part of the Man in a Suitcase series.[44]
1967 The Gamblers: The Man Beneath Bob Townsend ITV television production; part of the Man in a Suitcase series.[44]
1968 Journey to Midnight Ben Loker
1968 The Jazz Age: Post Mortem Sir James BBC television production; based on the Noël Coward play Post Mortem [44]
1968 The System: Them Down There Baxter ITV television production; part of the Man in a Suitcase series.[44]
1968 The Wednesday Play: Nothing Will Be The Same Again Frank Lanton BBC television production for The Wednesday Play[44]
1969 Crossplot Chilmore
1969 The Expert: Post-Mortem On Harry Kirby Harry Kirby BBC television production[44]
1969 Journey to the Unknown: Poor Butterfly Loker Television production for the American ABC network; also broadcast on BBC Two[44]
1971 Danger Point Captain
1971 The Raging Moon Uncle Bob US title Long Ago, Tomorrow[61]
1971 Dulcima Mr. Gaskain
1971 The Persuaders!: Someone Like Me Sam Milford Television production; part of The Persuaders! series.[44]
1972 The Pathfinders: Codename Gomorrah Air Vice-Marshal ITV television production; part of the Pathfinders series.[44]
1973 Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell Tarmut
1973 The Man Who Died Twice Cast Member Television production[44]
1973 Once Upon a Time: Silver James Cable ITV television production[44]
1973 Crime of Passion: Emile Marcel Amiot ITV television production[44]
1973 Vienna 1900 Games With Love And Death: Story 1 Mother And Son Herr Welponer BBC television production [44]
1974 Percy's Progress Barraclough US title It's Not the Size That Counts[62]
1975 From Hong Kong with Love Commander Cunningham (Bond Parody) Original title (France) Bons baisers de Hong Kong
1974 Play of the Month: The Skin Game Hornblower BBC television production of a John Galsworthy play.[44]
1974 Father Brown: The Quick One John Raggley ITV television production, based on the Father Brown stories.[44]
1975 Play of the Month: The School for Scandal Cast Member BBC television production, part of the Play of the Month series.[44]
1975 Affairs of the Heart: Kate Mr Drury Television production[44]
1975 Against The Crowd: Murrain Beeley ITV television production[44]
1975 What A Turn Up Cast Member ITV television production[44]
1976 Warship: Knight Errant Yachtsman Part of the BBC series Warship.[44]
1976 Killers: The Chalkpit Murder Thomas Ley Television production[44]
1976 Hallmark Hall Of Fame: Beauty And The Beast Beaumont US television production[44]
1977 The Foundation: Business Not Quite As Usual Cast Member Nine part television production.[44]
1977 A Christmas Carol Being a Ghost Story of Christmas Ghost of Christmas Present BBC television production[44]
1980 Star Games: Star Games On-screen Participant Television production[44]
1981 Dangerous Davies The Last Detective Cast Member Television production from the ITV series Dangerous Davies.[44]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Parker 1981, p. 413.
  2. ^ a b "LEE, Bernard". BFI Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/4601. Retrieved 19 January 2012. 
  3. ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Mr Bernard Lee". The Times: p. 12. 19 January 1981. 
  4. ^ a b c Billington, Michael (19 January 1981). "Bond's loss". The Guardian: p. 9. 
  5. ^ McFarlane 2005, p. 407.
  6. ^ "Crest of the Wave (1954)". Turner Classic Movies. Turner Entertainment . http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2773/Crest-of-the-Wave/. Retrieved 4 January 2012. 
  7. ^ a b "Bernard Lee is Dead; British Actor Had Roles in James Bond Movies". The New York Times: p. 28. 18 January 1981. 
  8. ^ Lloyd, Fuller & Desser 1983, p. 260.
  9. ^ "Actor Lee In Bond Films Dead". Associated Press (London). 17 January 1981. 
  10. ^ Cork & Stutz 2007, p. 154.
  11. ^ Rubin 2003, p. 227-228.
  12. ^ Smith & Lavington 2002, p. 15.
  13. ^ McFarlane, Brian. "Lee, Bernard (1908-1981)". Screenonline. British Film Institute. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/546015/. Retrieved 4 January 2012. 
  14. ^ "Spy Chief M Dies". United Press International. 17 January 1981. 
  15. ^ Barnes & Hearn 2001, p. 138.
  16. ^ Pfeiffer & Worrall 1998, p. 98.
  17. ^ ""The Happy Ending": Rusholme Theatre". The Manchester Guardian: p. 13. 26 June 1928. 
  18. ^ "Embassy Theatre". The Times: p. 12. 24 October 1933. 
  19. ^ Reade, Leslie (29 January 1934). "The Progressive Players". The Times: p. 14. 
  20. ^ ""Murder in Motley": A mystery in which the audience are involved". The Manchester Guardian: p. 9. 17 April 1934. 
  21. ^ "R.A.D.A. Players". The Times: p. 14. 2 July 1934. 
  22. ^ "Dramatis Personae". The Observer: p. 15. 15 September 1935. 
  23. ^ Parish, James (13 October 1935). ""Distinguished Gathering"". The Observer: p. 17. 
  24. ^ "The Week's Theatres: "The Three Sisters"". The Observer: p. 17. 17 November 1935. 
  25. ^ Hodson, James Lansdale (8 March 1936). ""Red Night"". The Observer: p. 17. 
  26. ^ Deverli, Francis and Hilda (26 April 1936). "The Week's Theatres: "The Future That Was"". The Observer: p. 19. 
  27. ^ Brown, Ivor (22 November 1936). ""Young Madam Conti"". The Observer: p. 17. 
  28. ^ Macrae, Arthur (21 February 1937). ""Tavern in the Town"". The Observer: p. 15. 
  29. ^ ""And the Music Stopped": A Doctor's Play". The Manchester Guardian: p. 14. 14 May 1937. 
  30. ^ ""The Gusher": Mr. Ian Hay's New Play". The Manchester Guardian: p. 13. 2 August 1937. 
  31. ^ Brown, Ivor (10 January 1937). "The Week's Theatres: "Hamlet"". The Observer: p. 15. 
  32. ^ "Manchester Stage and Screen: A New St.John Ervine Comedy at the Opera House". The Manchester Guardian: p. 13. 26 April 1938. 
  33. ^ Toller, Ernst; Johnston, Denis (2 October 1938). ""Blind Man's Buff"". The Observer: p. 13. 
  34. ^ "The Week's Theatres: "Babes in the Wood"". The Observer: p. 7. 25 December 1938. 
  35. ^ "Theatre News: The Haymarket Again Mr. Priestley's Three Plays". The Observer: p. 11. 25 February 1940. 
  36. ^ "Mr. Noel Coward's New Play". The Manchester Guardian: p. 3. 24 July 1947. 
  37. ^ Trewin, J. C. (18 June 1950). "Globe Trotting: By J. C. Trewin". The Observer: p. 6. 
  38. ^ "synopsis". The Manchester Guardian: p. 11. 21 September 1962. 
  39. ^ Greenfield, Edward (23 April 1963). "Review: at the London Galleries". The Guardian: p. 7. 
  40. ^ Davies, Russell (30 September 1973). "Life on Dad's farm". The Observer: p. 27. 
  41. ^ Rubin 1981, p. 227.
  42. ^ Pettigrew 1982, p. 120.
  43. ^ Gifford 1986.
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax "Filmography: LEE, Bernard". BFI Film & TV Database. British Film Institute . http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/4601?view=credit. Retrieved 19 January 2012. 
  45. ^ Aldgate & Richards 2007, p. 82.
  46. ^ Katz 1979, p. 849.
  47. ^ Halliwell 1987, p. 282.
  48. ^ Slide 1998, p. 169.
  49. ^ a b Slide 1998, p. 151.
  50. ^ Slide 1998, p. 190.
  51. ^ Quinlan 1987, p. 398.
  52. ^ Quinlan 1987, p. 248.
  53. ^ Slide 1998, p. 176.
  54. ^ Quinlan 1987, p. 325.
  55. ^ Quinlan 1987, p. 168.
  56. ^ Quinlan 1987, p. 179.
  57. ^ Slide 1998, p. 152.
  58. ^ Slide 1998, p. 156.
  59. ^ Halliwell 1987, p. 822.
  60. ^ Smith & Lavington 2002, p. 62.
  61. ^ Quinlan 1987, p. 173.
  62. ^ Quinlan 1987, p. 16.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links

Preceded by
None		 M (James Bond) actor
1962–1979		 Succeeded by
Robert Brown
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