Bernard Lee

Bernard Lee Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: January 10, 1908

Death Date: January 16, 1981

Birth Place: Brentford, London, England, UK

An English actor whose screen career spanned more than 100 roles on film and television over nearly five decades, Bernard Lee was best remembered for his recurring appearances as 'M," the no-nonsense head of the British Secret Service in the first 11 James Bond films. The son of a music hall performer, Lee trained with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art prior to launching a prolific stage career in London's West End. Early film roles usually saw him cast as either a policeman or military officer in such features as "The Third Man" (1949) and "Seagulls over Sorrento" (1954), but it was with a relatively minor appearance as Bond's superior in "Dr. No" (1962) that indelibly linked him to Ian Fleming's legacy. For most of the two decades that followed, Lee steadily took on roles in projects like "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" (1965), but increasingly it appeared as though audiences and producers alike only saw him as the authoritarian MI6 chief. Two years after appearing as M for the final time in "Moonraker" (1979), Lee succumbed to cancer. Although he was eventually replaced in the role, for the majority of die hard Bond fans, Bernard Lee would always be considered the one true personification of the man known as M.

John Bernard Lee was born on Jan. 10, 1908 in Brentford, Middlesex, England to Nellie Smith and Edmund James Lee, a stage actor. Pulled into the family business as the age of six, Lee first appeared onstage alongside his father in the sketch "The Double Event" at London's Oxford Music Hall in 1914. Later, the young Lee worked as a fruit vendor to pay his fees while attending the revered Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1926. After graduating from RADA, he joined repertory companies in Cardiff and Rushholme prior to landing roles on the stages of London's famous West End throughout the 1930s. Popular thrillers and mysteries, with lurid titles like "Root of All Evil" and "Murder Gang" made up the majority of Lee's theatrical endeavors at the time. Lee made his film debut with a supporting turn as a working class character in "The Double Event" (1935). The young actor continued to accrue both stage and screen credits, appearing in minor film efforts like the period drama "The Black Tulip" (1937), based on the Alexandre Dumas tale, and "The Terror" (1938), adapted from a novel by popular British author Edgar Wallace. With the outbreak of World War II, Lee served with distinction in the Royal Sussex Regiment until he was discharged in 1946.

After the war, Lee returned to his acting pursuits, working steadily on stage and in a growing number of films. Most notable among these early screen appearances was his turn as stalwart police officer Sgt. Paine in "The Third Man" (1949), the revered thriller starring Orson Welles, based on the novel by Graham Greene and directed by Carol Reed. Roles as policemen soon became a staple of Lee's acting career, with supporting turns as inspectors or police superintendants in crime dramas like "The Blue Lamp" (1949), co-starring a young Dirk Bogarde. Keeping one foot firmly planted on the stage, he also took part in a well-regarded production of the naval-drama "Seagulls Over Sorrento" at the West End Apollo Theatre in 1950. Lee played yet another inspector in "Calling Bulldog Drummond" (1951), a crime-thriller based on the novels of Herman Cyril McNeile, whose titular character would greatly influence an aspiring writer named Ian Fleming in the creation of his own fictional man-of-action at around the same time as the film's release.

Lee played another police inspector, this time opposite Humphrey Bogart in the John Huston production of "Beat the Devil" (1953), a satirical noir co-starring Peter Lorre, Robert Morley and Gina Lollobrigida. The following year he reprised his role from the popular stage production for the film adaptation of "Seagulls Over Sorrento" (1954), starring Gene Kelly and returned to similar waters in the naval docudrama "The Battle of the River Plate" (1956). By the turn of the decade, Lee's work was gaining notice and the size of his roles increased. He earned high marks for his performance as a bullying factory shop steward in the Richard Attenborough drama "The Angry Silence" (1960) and landed the role of the unscrupulous Captain Hoseason in the big-budget Walt Disney production of Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure classic "Kidnapped" (1960) that same year. A rare leading role came Lee's way as an airline pilot wrongly accused of incompetence in the drama "Trouble in the Sky" (1960), co-starring Hammer horror film regular Peter Cushing. With his career on the ascendance, he played Haley Mills' troubled father in "Whistle Down the Wind" (1961), a Christian allegory directed by acclaimed British helmer Bryan Forbes, who he reteamed with for the societal drama "The L-Shaped Room" (1962), starring Leslie Caron.

It was this same year that Lee would first appear in the role that, while both a blessing and a curse, would without a doubt become the character with which he would forever be most associated. The first film adaptation of novelist Ian Fleming's popular spy series took the form of "Dr. No" (1962), a highly-stylized, violent and sexually-charged action-adventure that formally introduced the world to James Bond, Agent 007 (Sean Connery). Early in the film, Lee made his debut as 'M,' the straight-backed and stern head of the British Secret Intelligence Service and, most importantly, Bond's boss. Produced on a relatively modest budget, "Dr. No" proved a smash hit for producers Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, setting the stage for a sequel and, he hoped, more work for Lee. In that regard, Lee need not have worried, as he was soon called back to duty for "From Russia with Love" (1963), in which he sent Bond off to retrieve a Russian cryptograph device from a beautiful defector (Daniel Bianchi). While the work was less than challenging, Lee - along with fellow recurring actors Lois Maxwell and Desmond Llewellyn, who played Miss Moneypenny and 'Q,' respectively - appreciated the added exposure the Bond films provided, hoping they would lead to an increase in the size of his roles on other projects.

And for a time it appeared as if Lee would indeed parlay the role of M into more prominent work. Throughout the first half of the 1960s, the actor appeared with regularity as the dogged Superintendant Meredith on the popular British crime movie series "The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre" (ITV, 1960-64). Increasingly, however, it was his role as M that audiences most identified Lee with, in such as blockbusters as "Goldfinger" (1964), the third entry in the Bond franchise. While minor parts all, other appearances of the time included the Amicus-produced portmanteau horror anthology "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors" (1965) and the adaptation of a popular non-Bond espionage novel, John le Carré's "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" (1965), starring Richard Burton. Still, the release of "Thunderball" (1965) marked the zenith of the James Bond mania that swept the world, and for the remainder of the decade audiences would be hard pressed to recall Lee turning up in any films other than the 007 adventures "You Only Live Twice" (1967), "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969) and "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971).

As frustrating as the typecasting must have been at the time, a pair of personal tragedies threatened to derail Lee's life and career over the course of the next year. Lee was devastated after a house fire in 1972 took the life of his first wife, Gladys. Only adding to his misery, a brutal mugging by a pair of street toughs the following year left the 64-year-old actor shaken to his core. Lee began to drown his despair and anxiety in alcohol and before long he was finding it hard to attain work. Soon, the bills began to mount. Things looked increasingly dour until a chance meeting with former co-star Richard Burton - himself known for his prodigious alcohol consumption - resulted in Burton lending Lee enough money to square his debts and get back on his feet. Burton's display of kindness and generosity proved a turning point for Lee, who soon regained his confidence and, eventually, his reputation within the film industry.

The odd job still came Lee's way during this period. He shared screen time with Peter Cushing once more for a brief appearance in the Hammer horror film "Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell" (1973) and a few other minor endeavors. But it was his continued cameos as M - now kept busy reprimanding the latest incarnation of 007 played by Roger Moore - in the Bond entries "Live and Let Die" (1973), "The Man with the Golden Gun" (1974) and "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977) that placed him in front of broader audiences. In a rare return to the classics, Lee chewed the scenery with gusto as the Ghost of Christmas Present in a British television production of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" (BBC, 1977) and lent his patrician air of authority to a recurring role on the glitzy primetime soap "The Foundation" (ITV, 1977-78). As M once more, Lee sent Bond into space for the special effects-heavy "Moonraker" (1979) prior to making his final screen appearance in the made-for-TV mystery "Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective" (ITV, 1981). After having battled the painful disease for much of the previous year, Lee died from stomach cancer on Jan. 16, 1981 at the age of 73. Sadly, he passed away before filming his scenes for "For Your Eyes Only" (1981). Out of respect for the revered actor, Lee's lines were given to another character for the film, with veteran British actor Robert Brown taking over the role of M for the next installment, "Octopussy" (1983).

By Bryce Coleman

Credits

Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective

Actor
Sergeant Ben
Movie
1981

MoonrakerStream

Actor
M
Movie
1979
59%

A Christmas Carol

Actor
Ghost of Christmas Present
Movie
1977

The Spy Who Loved MeStream

Actor
M
Movie
1977
82%

A Christmas Carol

Actor
Movie
1977

La Bella y la Bestia

Actor
Movie
1976

Beauty and the Beast

Actor
Edward Beaumont
Movie
1976

Frankenstein y el Monstruo del Infierno

Actor
Movie
1974

Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell

Actor
Tarmut
Movie
1974

The Man with the Golden GunStream

Actor
M
Movie
1974
42%

The Man Who Died Twice

Actor
Francis Cumberland
Movie
1973

Live and Let DieStream

Actor
M
Movie
1973
66%

Dulcima

Actor
Mr Gaskain
Movie
1971

Long Ago Tomorrow

Actor
Uncle Bob
Movie
1971

Diamonds Are ForeverStream

Actor
M
Movie
1971
64%

Crossplot

Actor
Chilmore
Movie
1969

On Her Majesty's Secret ServiceStream

Actor
M
Movie
1969
81%

The ChampionsStream

Guest Star
Series
1968

The Clue of the Twisted Candle

Actor
Supt. Meredith
Movie
1968

Man in a Suitcase

Guest Star
Series
1967

You Only Live TwiceStream

Actor
M
Movie
1967
74%

Operation Kid Brother

Actor
Commander Cunningham
Movie
1967

The Legend of Young Dick Turpin

Actor
Jeremiah
Movie
1966

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

Actor
Patmore
Movie
1965

ThunderballStream

Actor
M
Movie
1965
85%

The Man in a Looking Glass

Actor
Morgan Travis
Movie
1965

GoldfingerStream

Actor
M
Movie
1964
99%

A Place to Go

Actor
Matt Flint
Movie
1964

Ring of Spies

Actor
Henry Houghton
Movie
1964

Saturday Night Out

Actor
George Hudson
Movie
1964

Who Was Maddox?

Actor
Superintendent Meredith
Movie
1964

The Human Jungle

Actor
Show
1963

La Bahía del Contrabando

Actor
Movie
1963

Fury at Smugglers Bay

Actor
Black John
Movie
1963

The L-Shaped Room

Actor
Charlie
Movie
1963

From Russia with LoveStream

Actor
M
Movie
1963
97%

The Brain

Actor
Dr. Frank Shears
Movie
1962

Whistle Down the Wind

Actor
Bostock
Movie
1962

Partners in Crime

Actor
Inspector Mann
Movie
1962

Dr. NoStream

Actor
M
Movie
1962
95%

The Share Out

Actor
Supt. Meredith
Movie
1962

The Secret Partner

Actor
Det. Supt. Frank Hanbury
Movie
1961

Trouble in the Sky

Actor
Capt. George Gort
Movie
1961

Cone of Silence

Actor
Capt. George Gort
Movie
1961

The Clue of the Silver Key

Actor
Supt. Meredith
Movie
1961

El Socio Secreto

Actor
Movie
1961

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre

Actor
Show
1960

The Angry Silence

Actor
Connolly
Movie
1960

Kidnapped

Actor
Captain Hoseason
Movie
1960

Web of Evidence

Actor
Patrick Mathry
Movie
1959

Breakout

Actor
Lt. Col. Huxley
Movie
1959

Beyond This Place

Actor
Patrick Mathry
Movie
1959

The Man Upstairs

Actor
Inspector Thompson
Movie
1959

The Key

Actor
Cmdr. Wadlow
Movie
1958

Dunkirk

Actor
Charles
Movie
1958

Nowhere to Go

Actor
Victor Sloane/Lee Henderson
Movie
1958

Fire Down Below

Actor
Dr Sam
Movie
1957

The Spanish Gardener

Actor
Leighton Bailey
Movie
1957

Across the Bridge

Actor
Chief Inspector Hadden
Movie
1957

Out of the Clouds

Actor
Customs Officer
Movie
1957

Pursuit of the Graf Spee

Actor
Captain Dove
Movie
1956

The Ship That Died of Shame

Actor
The Customs Officer
Movie
1955

Padre Brown, Detective

Actor
Movie
1954

Crest of the Wave

Actor
Seaman `'Lofty'` Turner
Movie
1954

The Detective

Actor
Inspector Valentine
Movie
1954

The Purple Plain

Actor
Dr. Harris
Movie
1954

Rheingold Theatre

Actor
Rudi Lankert
Show
1953

The Yellow Balloon

Actor
Constable Chapman
Movie
1953

The Gift Horse

Actor
A.S. "Stripey" Wood
Movie
1952

Calling Bulldog Drummond

Actor
Col. Webson
Movie
1951

Island Rescue

Actor
Brigadier
Movie
1951

Odette

Actor
Jack
Movie
1950

Cage of Gold

Actor
Inspector Grey
Movie
1950

The Blue Lamp

Actor
Inspector Cherry
Movie
1950

Last Holiday

Actor
Inspector Wilton
Movie
1950

The Third ManStream

Actor
Sergeant Paine
Movie
1949
99%

The Fallen Idol

Actor
Detective Hart
Movie
1948

Elizabeth of Ladymead

Actor
John Beresford in 1903
Movie
1948

Quartet

Actor
Prison Visitor
Movie
1948

The Courtneys of Curzon Street

Actor
Colonel Gascoyne
Movie
1947

The Terror

Actor
Ferdy Fane
Movie
1941

Spare a Copper

Actor
Jake
Movie
1940

Murder in the Night

Actor
Roy Barnes
Movie
1939

The Frozen Limits

Actor
Bill McGrew
Movie
1939

Let George Do It

Actor
Oscar
Movie
1939

Rhodes of Africa

Actor
Cartwright
Movie
1936