Search

Bernard Lee on stage and screen

Bernard Lee (1908–1981) was an English actor who performed in many light entertainment media, including film, television and theatre. His career spanned from 1934 to 1981, although he made his first appearance on the stage at the age of six.[1] He is perhaps best known for playing M in the first eleven Eon-produced James Bond films.[2][3]

Lee trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art,[4] before making his professional stage debut in 1924.[5][6] He appeared on film for the first time in 1934 in the Leslie Howard Gordon-directed comedy The Double Event, where he played the part of Dennison.[5] Although he was in wartime service with the Royal Sussex Regiment between 1940 and 1946,[7][8] he had already been in several films, which were released between 1939 and 1943.[9] He returned to acting after the war and was offered a role in the play Stage Door while awaiting his demob.[8]

Lee appeared on stage and television dramatisations, as well as in more than 100 films.[10] He was known for his roles as authority figures, often playing military characters, policemen or officials.[4][10] Highlights in his career included The Third Man, The Blue Lamp, The Battle of the River Plate, Whistle Down the Wind and the James Bond series. Suffering from stomach cancer, Lee died in 1981;[4] in his obituary The Guardian noted that Lee was a "solid and reliable character actor" who displayed "a rugged dependency".[1]

Stage

Known stage credits of Bernard Lee[1]
ProductionDateRoleTheatreRef.
White Cargo1926LongfordUK tour[11]
The Ringer20 February 1928 –John LenleyHull Grand Theatre[12]
The RingerMay 1928 –John LenleyGrand Theatre, Derby[13]
The Happy EndingJune 1928 –—Rusholme Theatre, Manchester[14]
East Lynne25 May 1929 – 31 May 1929Archibald CarlyleRegent Theatre[15]
The Squeaker9 November 1929 –Captain LeslieRegent Theatre[16]
Journey's End1930Captain StanhopeUK tour[11]
A Pair of Silk Stockings14 March 1930 –—Alexandra Theatre, Harwich[17]
The Whole Town's Talking4 February 1931 –—Alexandra Hall, Dovercourt[18]
On the Spot12 December 1931 –Captain PerrelliRegent Theatre[19]
The Case of the Frightened LadyApril 1932 –Lord LebanonRegent Theatre[20]
AppearancesDecember 1932 –Fred KellardFortune Theatre[11]
HeritageMay 1933 –Peter and Geoffrey Trail Fortune Theatre[11]
Love for SaleMay 1933 –PipFortune Theatre[11]
Tudor WenchOctober 1933 –Sir John HarlingtonEmbassy Theatre[21]
The TerrorNovember 1933 –Ferdinand FaneLyceum Theatre[11]
Take Heed!28 January 1934 –RomanPiccadilly Theatre[22]
The Queen Who Kept Her HeadFebruary 1934 –Sir Thomas SeymourKingsway Theatre[11]
Without WitnessMarch 1934 –SaundersDuke of York's Theatre[11]
Murder in MotleyApril 1934 –—Royalty Theatre[23]
Ten Minute AlibiMay 1934 –Colin DerwentPhoenix Theatre[11]
Root of all EvilJuly 1934 –—St Martin's Theatre[24]
Murder in MotleyJanuary 1935 –Jimmy O'BryanKingsway Theatre[11]
The Shadow ManApril 1935 –Johnny ClaytonPiccadilly Theatre[11]
The PhilanthropistSeptember 1935 –Antoine DuvalArts Theatre[11][25]
Distinguished GatheringOctober 1935 –Felix MontagueEmbassy Theatre[11][26]
Murder GangNovember 1935 –Walter GraingerEmbassy Theatre[11][27]
Red NightMarch 1936 –Private WhitmanQueen's Theatre, London[11][28]
The Future That WasApril 1936 –Anthony Pittman and Ben ManasseyAmbassadors Theatre[11][29]
The Provoked WifeOctober 1936 –HeartfreeEmbassy Theatre[11]
Young Madam ContiNovember 1936 –Stephen HorkaSavoy Theatre[11][30]
And the Music Stopped1937 –—Streatham Hill Theatre[31]
Night SkyJanuary 1937 –Ray DawsonSavoy Theatre[32]
Tavern in the TownFebruary 1937 –—Embassy Theatre[33]
Young Madam Conti31 March 1937 –—Music Box Theatre, New York[34]
And the Music StoppedMay 1937 –Detective-Inspector KinneirNew Theatre[35][36]
The GusherJuly 1937 –Clarence, the DodgerPrince's Theatre[36][37]
If I Were You24 January 1938 – 1 February 1938Arthur BluntMansfield Theatre, New York[36][38]
People of Our ClassApril 1938 –Henry HayesManchester Opera House[36][39]
People of Our ClassMay 1938 –Henry HayesNew Theatre[36]
Blind Man's Buff23 September 1938 –Dr. ChavesseArts Theatre[36][40][41]
Number SixDecember 1938 –Franklyn DyallAldwych Theatre[42]
Without Motive?June 1939 –Hayland MarlowRichmond Theatre[36]
The Long MirrorFebruary 1940 –—Haymarket Theatre[43]
The Long MirrorMarch 1940 –Michael CamberOxford Playhouse[43][44][45]
Penny WiseJune 1940 –GordonRichmond Theatre[36]
Stage DoorFebruary 1946 –David KingsleySaville Theatre[36]
Fools Rush InJune 1946 –PaulUK tour[36]
Fools Rush InSeptember 1946 –PaulFortune Theatre[36]
Peace in Our TimeJuly 1947 –Fred ShattockLyric Theatre[36][46]
Seagulls Over SorrentoJune 1950 –Seaman "Lofty" TurnerApollo Theatre[47]
The Desperate HoursApril 1955 –Dan HilliardHippodrome Theatre[48]
Act of ViolenceOctober 1962 –—St Martin's Theatre, and subsequent UK tour[36][49]
NormanApril 1963 –CharlieRoyal Court Theatre, Liverpool[50]
Norman20 May 1963 –CharlieDuchess Theatre[50][51]
The Farm26 September 1973 – 27 October 1973Mr SlatteryRoyal Court Theatre[52][53]
The Farm1 November 1973 – 8 December 1973Mr SlatteryMayfair Theatre[53]
JingoAugust 1975 –BernardAldwych Theatre[36]
  • ^1 There is no evidence available to help with end dates for the productions.

Filmography

Filmography of Bernard Lee[1]
Film[6][54][55]YearRoleNotes
The Double Event1934Dennison
The River House Mystery1935Wade Belloc
Rhodes of Africa1936Cartwright
Love from a Stranger1937Cast MemberUncredited
The Black Tulip1937William of Orange
The Terror1938Ferdy Fane
Murder in Soho1939Roy Barnes
The Frozen Limits1939Bill McGrew
Let George Do It!1940OscarUS title To Hell with Hitler[9]
Spare a Copper1940Jake
Once a Crook1941The Duke
The New Lot 1943Interviewing OfficerUncredited
This Man Is Mine1946James Nicholls
The Courtneys of Curzon Street 1947Colonel GascoyneUS title Kathy's Love Affair[56]
Dusty Bates1947Captain FordUS title The Adventures of Dusty Bates[57]
The Fallen Idol1948Detective Hart
Quartet1948Ned Preston, Prison Visitor(segment "The Kite")
Elizabeth of Ladymead1948John Beresford in 1903
The Third Man1949Sergeant Paine
The Blue Lamp1950Inspector Cherry
Morning Departure1950Commander GatesUS title Operation Disaster[58]
Last Holiday1950Inspector Wilton
Odette1950Jack
Cage of Gold1950Inspector Grey
The Adventurers1951Jack O'ConnellUS title Fortune in Diamonds[59]
White Corridors1951Burgess
Calling Bulldog Drummond1951Colonel Webson
Appointment with Venus1951BrigadierUS title Island Rescue[59]
Mr. Denning Drives North1951Inspector Dodds
Gift Horse1952Able Seaman 'Stripey' WoodUS title Glory at Sea[60]
The Yellow Balloon1953Constable Chapman
Single-Handed1953Petty Officer 'Stokes' WheatleyUS title C.S. Forester's Sailor of the King[61]
Beat the Devil1953Inspector Jack Clayton
The Rainbow Jacket1954RacketeerUncredited
Father Brown1954Inspector ValentineUS title The Detective[62]
Seagulls Over Sorrento1954Seaman 'Lofty' TurnerUS title Crest of the Wave[63]
The Purple Plain1954Doctor Harris
Out of the Clouds1955Customs Officer
The Ship That Died of Shame1955Sam BrewsterUS title PT Raiders[64]
The Battle of the River Plate1956Captain Dove—M.S. Africa ShellUS title Pursuit of the Graf Spee[65]
The Spanish Gardener1956Leighton Bailey
Fire Down Below1957Doctor Sam Blake
Across the Bridge1957Chief Inspector Hadden
High Flight1957Flight Sergeant Harris
Dunkirk1958Charles Foreman
The Key1958Commander Wadlow
The Man Upstairs1958Inspector Thompson
Nowhere to Go1958Victor Sloane, alias Lee Henderson
Kidnapped1959Captain Hoseason
Danger Within1959Lieutenant-Colonel HuxleyUS title Breakout[66]
Beyond This Place1959Patrick MathryUS title Web of Evidence[67]
Clue of the Twisted Candle1960Superintendent Meredith
Sink the Bismarck!1960Firing OfficerUncredited
The Angry Silence1960Bert Connolly
Cone of Silence1960Captain George GortUS title Trouble in the Sky[68]
Partners in Crime1961Inspector Mann
Clue of the Silver Key1961Superintendent Meredith
Fury at Smugglers' Bay1961Black John
The Secret Partner1961Superintendent Frank Hanbury
Whistle Down the Wind1961Mr Bostock
The Share Out1962Superintendent Meredith
Dr. No1962M
The Brain1962Doctor Frank Shears
The L-Shaped Room1962Charlie
From Russia with Love1963M
Ring of Spies1964Henry HoughtonUS Title Ring of Treason[69]
Saturday Night Out1964George Hudson
A Place to Go1964Matt Flint
Goldfinger1964M
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors1965Hopkins(segment "Creeping Vine")
Two Left Feet1965Mr Crabbe
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold1965Patmore
The Legend of Young Dick Turpin1965Jeremiah
The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders1965LandlordUncredited
Thunderball1965M
O.K. Connery1967Commander Cunningham(Bond Parody) US title Operation Kid Brother[70]
You Only Live Twice1967M
Journey to Midnight1968Ben Loker(episode 'Poor Butterfly')
Crossplot1969Chilmore
On Her Majesty's Secret Service1969M
The Raging Moon1971Uncle BobUS title Long Ago, Tomorrow[71]
Dulcima1971Mr Gaskain
Diamonds Are Forever1971M
Danger Point1971Captain
Live and Let Die1973M
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell1974Tarmut
Percy's Progress1974BarracloughUS title It's Not the Size That Counts[72]
The Man with the Golden Gun1974M
Bons Baisers de Hong Kong1975David Marton(Bond Parody) Also known as From Hong Kong with Love
The Spy Who Loved Me1977M
Moonraker1979M
  • ^1 The 1958 British Film and Television Yearbook also lists Lee as appearing in an undated film The Outsider, although it does not say whether this uncredited role was in the 1931 or 1939 film of that name.[73] The 1942 International Motion Picture Almanac claims Lee appeared in The Tunnel (for Gaumont-British), Secret Agent (for Gaumont-British) and The Terror (for Alliance); this last is almost certainly the 1940 U.S. release of the 1938 British film listed above.[74]

Television

Bernard Lee's television appearances
ProgrammeDateRoleChannelNotesRef.
Television Playhouse, "The Golden Fleece"31 December 1955William LotlessITVTelevision production of a J. B. Priestley play[75]
Theatre Royal, "The Stolen Pearl"8 January 1956Candleblow SmithITV[76]
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents, "A Borderline Case"30 October 1956Rudi LankertITV[77]
Playdate, "All Correct, Sir"13 December 1956Cast MemberITV[78]
Television Playhouse: Cornelius18 July 1958CorneliusITVTelevision production of a J. B. Priestley play[79]
Armchair Theatre, "Ernie Barger is 50"8 February 1959Ernie BargerITV[80]
Play of the Week, "Family on Trial"21 April 1959Detective Inspector LuntITV[81]
Sunday Night Theatre, "Crime Passionnel"20 September 1959HoedererBBC TelevisionTelevision production of a Jean-Paul Sartre play[82]
Armchair Theatre, "Cold Fury"31 January 1960AaronsonITV[83]
Armchair Theatre, "Nest of Four"15 May 1960TomITV[84]
The Interrogator22 December 1961Superintendent FarronBBC Television[85]
The Third Man, "Portrait of Harry"18 May 1963Angus MeyrickBBC Television[86]
Who Was Maddox?1964Superintendent MeredithITVTelevision production of an Edgar Wallace thriller[87]
Espionage, "Snow on Mount Kama"15 February 1964John NearyITV[88]
Thursday Theatre, "Flowering Cherry"7 January 1965Jim CherryBBC Two[89]
Danger Man, "Whatever Happened To George Foster?"30 January 1965Lord AmmanfordITV[90]
The Human Jungle, "Ring of Hate"18 March 1965Jim GarnerITV[91]
Thirty-Minute Theatre, "The Passenger"30 December 1965The ManBBC Two[92]
Danger Man, "The Man with the Foot"3 March 1966DerringhamITV[93]
Armchair Theatre, "The Night Before the Morning After"2 April 1966Daniel WhittakerITV[94]
King of the River6 July 1966Joss KingBBC One[95]
The Baron, "Masquerade"15 October 1966Morgan TravisITVPart 1 of a 2-part story: part 2 is called "The Killing"[96]
Talking to a StrangerOctober 1966—BBC TwoFour-part series[36]
The Baron, "The Killing"22 October 1966Morgan TravisITVPart 2 of a 2-part story: part 1 is called "Masquerade"[97]
Half-Hour Story, "Friends"6 September 1967FrankITV[98]
Man in a Suitcase, "Girl Who Never Was"25 November 1967KershawITV[99]
The Gamblers: The Man Beneath7 December 1967Bob Townsend–[100]
The Jazz Age: Post Mortem17 September 1968Sir JamesBBC TwoTelevision production of the Noël Coward play Post-Mortem[101]
The System: Them Down There24 September 1968BaxterITV[102]
The Wednesday Play, "Nothing Will Be The Same Again"6 November 1968Frank LantonBBC One[103]
Journey to the Unknown: Poor Butterfly1969LokerABCAlso broadcast on ITV 19 May 1969[104]
The Expert, "Post-Mortem on Harry Kirby"13 July 1969Harry KirbyBBC Two[105]
The Persuaders!, "Someone Like Me"29 October 1971Sam MilfordITV[106]
Pathfinders, "Codename Gomorrah"13 December 1972Air Vice-MarshalITV[107]
The Man Who Died Twice13 April 1973Cast Member–First broadcast in the USA[108]
Once Upon a Time: Silver12 August 1973James CableITVBased on the Robert Louis Stevenson story Treasure Island[109]
Crime of Passion: Emile10 September 1973Marcel AmiotITV[110]
Vienna 1900 Games With Love And Death: Story 1 Mother And Son8 December 1973Herr WelponerBBC Two[111]
Play of the Month, "The Skin Game"19 May 1974HornblowerBBC OneTelevision production of a John Galsworthy play[112]
Father Brown: The Quick One21 November 1974John RaggleyITVBased on G. K. Chesterton's Father Brown stories[113]
Play of the Month, "The School for Scandal"2 February 1975Cast MemberBBC OneBased on The School for Scandal, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan[114]
Affairs of the Heart: Kate9 March 1975Mr DruryITV[115]
Against The Crowd: Murrain27 July 1975BeeleyITV[116]
What A Turn Up7 August 1975Cast MemberITV[117]
Warship, "Knight Errant"20 January 1976YachtsmanBBC One[118]
Killers: The Chalkpit Murder25 August 1976Thomas LeyITV[119]
Hallmark Hall of Fame, "Beauty and the Beast"3 December 1976BeaumontNBCUS television production[120]
The Foundation: Business Not Quite As Usual1977Cast MemberITVNine-part television series[121]
A Christmas Carol Being a Ghost Story of Christmas24 December 1977Ghost of Christmas PresentBBC Two[122]
Saint Joan30 December 1979Monseigneur de la Trémouille, Lord ChamberlainBBC OneTelevision production of a George Bernard Shaw play[123][124]
Star Games4 November 1980On-screen ParticipantITV[125]
Dangerous Davies – The Last Detective4 January 1981Sergeant BenITVPart of the Dangerous Davies series[126][127]

References

Bibliography

External links

Retrieved from "https:https://www.search.com.vn/wiki/index.php?lang=en&q=Bernard_Lee_on_stage_and_screen&oldid=1198626651"
🔥 Top keywords: Main PageSpecial:SearchIndian Premier LeagueWikipedia:Featured picturesPornhubUEFA Champions League2024 Indian Premier LeagueFallout (American TV series)Jontay PorterXXXTentacionAmar Singh ChamkilaFallout (series)Cloud seedingReal Madrid CFCleopatraRama NavamiRichard GaddDeaths in 2024Civil War (film)Shōgun (2024 miniseries)2024 Indian general electionJennifer PanO. J. SimpsonElla PurnellBaby ReindeerCaitlin ClarkLaverne CoxXXX (film series)Facebook2023–24 UEFA Champions LeagueYouTubeCandidates Tournament 2024InstagramList of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finalsJude BellinghamMichael Porter Jr.Andriy LuninCarlo AncelottiBade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024 film)