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. He is perhaps best known for playing M in the first eleven Eon-produced James Bond films.

Lee trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, before making his professional stage debut in 1924. 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. Although he was in wartime service with the Royal Sussex Regiment between 1940 and 1946, he had already been in several films, which were released between 1939 and 1943. He returned to acting after the war and was offered a role in the play Stage Door while awaiting his demob.

Lee appeared on stage and television dramatisations, as well as in more than 100 films. He was known for his roles as authority figures, often playing military characters, policemen or officials. 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; in his obituary The Guardian noted that Lee was a "solid and reliable character actor" who displayed "a rugged dependency".

Stage

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (January 2013)

Known stage credits of Bernard Lee

Production	Date	Role	Theatre	Ref.
White Cargo	1926	Longford	UK tour
The Ringer	20 February 1928 –	John Lenley	Hull Grand Theatre
The Ringer	May 1928 –	John Lenley	Grand Theatre, Derby
The Happy Ending	June 1928 –	—	Rusholme Theatre, Manchester
East Lynne	25 May 1929 – 31 May 1929	Archibald Carlyle	Regent Theatre
The Squeaker	9 November 1929 –	Captain Leslie	Regent Theatre
Journey's End	1930	Captain Stanhope	UK tour
A Pair of Silk Stockings	14 March 1930 –	—	Alexandra Theatre, Harwich
The Whole Town's Talking	4 February 1931 –	—	Alexandra Hall, Dovercourt
On the Spot	12 December 1931 –	Captain Perrelli	Regent Theatre
The Case of the Frightened Lady	April 1932 –	Lord Lebanon	Regent Theatre
Appearances	December 1932 –	Fred Kellard	Fortune Theatre
Heritage	May 1933 –	Peter and Geoffrey Trail	Fortune Theatre
Love for Sale	May 1933 –	Pip	Fortune Theatre
Tudor Wench	October 1933 –	Sir John Harlington	Embassy Theatre
The Terror	November 1933 –	Ferdinand Fane	Lyceum Theatre
Take Heed!	28 January 1934 –	Roman	Piccadilly Theatre
The Queen Who Kept Her Head	February 1934 –	Sir Thomas Seymour	Kingsway Theatre
Without Witness	March 1934 –	Saunders	Duke of York's Theatre
Murder in Motley	April 1934 –	—	Royalty Theatre
Ten Minute Alibi	May 1934 –	Colin Derwent	Phoenix Theatre
Root of all Evil	July 1934 –	—	St Martin's Theatre
Murder in Motley	January 1935 –	Jimmy O'Bryan	Kingsway Theatre
The Shadow Man	April 1935 –	Johnny Clayton	Piccadilly Theatre
The Philanthropist	September 1935 –	Antoine Duval	Arts Theatre
Distinguished Gathering	October 1935 –	Felix Montague	Embassy Theatre
Murder Gang	November 1935 –	Walter Grainger	Embassy Theatre
Red Night	March 1936 –	Private Whitman	Queen's Theatre, London
The Future That Was	April 1936 –	Anthony Pittman and Ben Manassey	Ambassadors Theatre
The Provoked Wife	October 1936 –	Heartfree	Embassy Theatre
Young Madam Conti	November 1936 –	Stephen Horka	Savoy Theatre
And the Music Stopped	1937 –	—	Streatham Hill Theatre
Night Sky	January 1937 –	Ray Dawson	Savoy Theatre
Tavern in the Town	February 1937 –	—	Embassy Theatre
Young Madam Conti	31 March 1937 –	—	Music Box Theatre, New York
And the Music Stopped	May 1937 –	Detective-Inspector Kinneir	New Theatre
The Gusher	July 1937 –	Clarence, the Dodger	Prince's Theatre
If I Were You	24 January 1938 – 1 February 1938	Arthur Blunt	Mansfield Theatre, New York
People of Our Class	April 1938 –	Henry Hayes	Manchester Opera House
People of Our Class	May 1938 –	Henry Hayes	New Theatre
Blind Man's Buff	23 September 1938 –	Dr. Chavesse	Arts Theatre
Number Six	December 1938 –	Franklyn Dyall	Aldwych Theatre
Without Motive?	June 1939 –	Hayland Marlow	Richmond Theatre
The Long Mirror	February 1940 –	—	Haymarket Theatre
The Long Mirror	March 1940 –	Michael Camber	Oxford Playhouse
Penny Wise	June 1940 –	Gordon	Richmond Theatre
Stage Door	February 1946 –	David Kingsley	Saville Theatre
Fools Rush In	June 1946 –	Paul	UK tour
Fools Rush In	September 1946 –	Paul	Fortune Theatre
Peace in Our Time	July 1947 –	Fred Shattock	Lyric Theatre
Seagulls Over Sorrento	June 1950 –	Seaman "Lofty" Turner	Apollo Theatre
The Desperate Hours	April 1955 –	Dan Hilliard	Hippodrome Theatre
Act of Violence	October 1962 –	—	St Martin's Theatre, and subsequent UK tour
Norman	April 1963 –	Charlie	Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
Norman	20 May 1963 –	Charlie	Duchess Theatre
The Farm	26 September 1973 – 27 October 1973	Mr Slattery	Royal Court Theatre
The Farm	1 November 1973 – 8 December 1973	Mr Slattery	Mayfair Theatre
Jingo	August 1975 –	Bernard	Aldwych Theatre

• ^1 There is no evidence available to help with end dates for the productions.

Filmography

Filmography of Bernard Lee

Film	Year	Role	Notes
The Double Event	1934	Dennison
The River House Mystery	1935	Wade Belloc
Rhodes of Africa	1936	Cartwright
Love from a Stranger	1937	Cast Member	Uncredited
The Black Tulip	1937	William of Orange
The Terror	1938	Ferdy Fane
Murder in Soho	1939	Roy Barnes
The Frozen Limits	1939	Bill McGrew
Let George Do It!	1940	Oscar	US title To Hell with Hitler
Spare a Copper	1940	Jake
Once a Crook	1941	The Duke
The New Lot	1943	Interviewing Officer	Uncredited
This Man Is Mine	1946	James Nicholls
The Courtneys of Curzon Street	1947	Colonel Gascoyne	US title Kathy's Love Affair
Dusty Bates	1947	Captain Ford	US title The Adventures of Dusty Bates
The Fallen Idol	1948	Detective Hart
Quartet	1948	Ned Preston, Prison Visitor	(segment "The Kite")
Elizabeth of Ladymead	1948	John Beresford in 1903
The Third Man	1949	Sergeant Paine
The Blue Lamp	1950	Inspector Cherry
Morning Departure	1950	Commander Gates	US title Operation Disaster
Last Holiday	1950	Inspector Wilton
Odette	1950	Jack
Cage of Gold	1950	Inspector Grey
The Adventurers	1951	Jack O'Connell	US title Fortune in Diamonds
White Corridors	1951	Burgess
Calling Bulldog Drummond	1951	Colonel Webson
Appointment with Venus	1951	Brigadier	US title Island Rescue
Mr. Denning Drives North	1951	Inspector Dodds
Gift Horse	1952	Able Seaman 'Stripey' Wood	US title Glory at Sea
The Yellow Balloon	1953	Constable Chapman
Single-Handed	1953	Petty Officer 'Stokes' Wheatley	US title C.S. Forester's Sailor of the King
Beat the Devil	1953	Inspector Jack Clayton
The Rainbow Jacket	1954	Racketeer	Uncredited
Father Brown	1954	Inspector Valentine	US title The Detective
Seagulls Over Sorrento	1954	Seaman 'Lofty' Turner	US title Crest of the Wave
The Purple Plain	1954	Doctor Harris
Out of the Clouds	1955	Customs Officer
The Ship That Died of Shame	1955	Sam Brewster	US title PT Raiders
The Battle of the River Plate	1956	Captain Dove—M.S. Africa Shell	US title Pursuit of the Graf Spee
The Spanish Gardener	1956	Leighton Bailey
Fire Down Below	1957	Doctor Sam Blake
Across the Bridge	1957	Chief Inspector Hadden
High Flight	1957	Flight Sergeant Harris
Dunkirk	1958	Charles Foreman
The Key	1958	Commander Wadlow
The Man Upstairs	1958	Inspector Thompson
Nowhere to Go	1958	Victor Sloane, alias Lee Henderson
Kidnapped	1959	Captain Hoseason
Danger Within	1959	Lieutenant-Colonel Huxley	US title Breakout
Beyond This Place	1959	Patrick Mathry	US title Web of Evidence
Clue of the Twisted Candle	1960	Superintendent Meredith
Sink the Bismarck!	1960	Firing Officer	Uncredited
The Angry Silence	1960	Bert Connolly
Cone of Silence	1960	Captain George Gort	US title Trouble in the Sky
Partners in Crime	1961	Inspector Mann
Clue of the Silver Key	1961	Superintendent Meredith
Fury at Smugglers' Bay	1961	Black John
The Secret Partner	1961	Superintendent Frank Hanbury
Whistle Down the Wind	1961	Mr Bostock
The Share Out	1962	Superintendent Meredith
Dr. No	1962	M
The Brain	1962	Doctor Frank Shears
The L-Shaped Room	1962	Charlie
From Russia with Love	1963	M
Ring of Spies	1964	Henry Houghton	US Title Ring of Treason
Saturday Night Out	1964	George Hudson
A Place to Go	1964	Matt Flint
Goldfinger	1964	M
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors	1965	Hopkins	(segment "Creeping Vine")
Two Left Feet	1965	Mr Crabbe
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold	1965	Patmore
The Legend of Young Dick Turpin	1965	Jeremiah
The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders	1965	Landlord	Uncredited
Thunderball	1965	M
O.K. Connery	1967	Commander Cunningham	(Bond Parody) US title Operation Kid Brother
You Only Live Twice	1967	M
Journey to Midnight	1968	Ben Loker	(episode 'Poor Butterfly')
Crossplot	1969	Chilmore
On Her Majesty's Secret Service	1969	M
The Raging Moon	1971	Uncle Bob	US title Long Ago, Tomorrow
Dulcima	1971	Mr Gaskain
Diamonds Are Forever	1971	M
Danger Point	1971	Captain
Live and Let Die	1973	M
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell	1974	Tarmut
Percy's Progress	1974	Barraclough	US title It's Not the Size That Counts
The Man with the Golden Gun	1974	M
Bons Baisers de Hong Kong	1975	David Marton	(Bond Parody) Also known as From Hong Kong with Love
The Spy Who Loved Me	1977	M
Moonraker	1979	M

• ^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. 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.

Television

Bernard Lee's television appearances

Programme	Date	Role	Channel	Notes	Ref.
Television Playhouse, "The Golden Fleece"	31 December 1955	William Lotless	ITV	Television production of a J. B. Priestley play
Theatre Royal, "The Stolen Pearl"	8 January 1956	Candleblow Smith	ITV
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents, "A Borderline Case"	30 October 1956	Rudi Lankert	ITV
Playdate, "All Correct, Sir"	13 December 1956	Cast Member	ITV
Television Playhouse: Cornelius	18 July 1958	Cornelius	ITV	Television production of a J. B. Priestley play
Armchair Theatre, "Ernie Barger is 50"	8 February 1959	Ernie Barger	ITV
Play of the Week, "Family on Trial"	21 April 1959	Detective Inspector Lunt	ITV
Sunday Night Theatre, "Crime Passionnel"	20 September 1959	Hoederer	BBC Television	Television production of a Jean-Paul Sartre play
Armchair Theatre, "Cold Fury"	31 January 1960	Aaronson	ITV
Armchair Theatre, "Nest of Four"	15 May 1960	Tom	ITV
The Interrogator	22 December 1961	Superintendent Farron	BBC Television
The Third Man, "Portrait of Harry"	18 May 1963	Angus Meyrick	BBC Television
Who Was Maddox?	1964	Superintendent Meredith	ITV	Television production of an Edgar Wallace thriller
Espionage, "Snow on Mount Kama"	15 February 1964	John Neary	ITV
Thursday Theatre, "Flowering Cherry"	7 January 1965	Jim Cherry	BBC Two
Danger Man, "Whatever Happened To George Foster?"	30 January 1965	Lord Ammanford	ITV
The Human Jungle, "Ring of Hate"	18 March 1965	Jim Garner	ITV
Thirty-Minute Theatre, "The Passenger"	30 December 1965	The Man	BBC Two
Danger Man, "The Man with the Foot"	3 March 1966	Derringham	ITV
Armchair Theatre, "The Night Before the Morning After"	2 April 1966	Daniel Whittaker	ITV
King of the River	6 July 1966	Joss King	BBC One
The Baron, "Masquerade"	15 October 1966	Morgan Travis	ITV	Part 1 of a 2-part story: part 2 is called "The Killing"
Talking to a Stranger	October 1966	—	BBC Two	Four-part series
The Baron, "The Killing"	22 October 1966	Morgan Travis	ITV	Part 2 of a 2-part story: part 1 is called "Masquerade"
Half-Hour Story, "Friends"	6 September 1967	Frank	ITV
Man in a Suitcase, "Girl Who Never Was"	25 November 1967	Kershaw	ITV
The Gamblers: The Man Beneath	7 December 1967	Bob Townsend	–
The Jazz Age: Post Mortem	17 September 1968	Sir James	BBC Two	Television production of the Noël Coward play Post-Mortem
The System: Them Down There	24 September 1968	Baxter	ITV
The Wednesday Play, "Nothing Will Be The Same Again"	6 November 1968	Frank Lanton	BBC One
Journey to the Unknown: Poor Butterfly	1969	Loker	ABC	Also broadcast on ITV 19 May 1969
The Expert, "Post-Mortem on Harry Kirby"	13 July 1969	Harry Kirby	BBC Two
The Persuaders!, "Someone Like Me"	29 October 1971	Sam Milford	ITV
Pathfinders, "Codename Gomorrah"	13 December 1972	Air Vice-Marshal	ITV
The Man Who Died Twice	13 April 1973	Cast Member	–	First broadcast in the USA
Once Upon a Time: Silver	12 August 1973	James Cable	ITV	Based on the Robert Louis Stevenson story Treasure Island
Crime of Passion: Emile	10 September 1973	Marcel Amiot	ITV
Vienna 1900 Games With Love And Death: Story 1 Mother And Son	8 December 1973	Herr Welponer	BBC Two
Play of the Month, "The Skin Game"	19 May 1974	Hornblower	BBC One	Television production of a John Galsworthy play
Father Brown: The Quick One	21 November 1974	John Raggley	ITV	Based on G. K. Chesterton's Father Brown stories
Play of the Month, "The School for Scandal"	2 February 1975	Cast Member	BBC One	Based on The School for Scandal, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Affairs of the Heart: Kate	9 March 1975	Mr Drury	ITV
Against The Crowd: Murrain	27 July 1975	Beeley	ITV
What A Turn Up	7 August 1975	Cast Member	ITV
Warship, "Knight Errant"	20 January 1976	Yachtsman	BBC One
Killers: The Chalkpit Murder	25 August 1976	Thomas Ley	ITV
Hallmark Hall of Fame, "Beauty and the Beast"	3 December 1976	Beaumont	NBC	US television production
The Foundation: Business Not Quite As Usual	1977	Cast Member	ITV	Nine-part television series
A Christmas Carol Being a Ghost Story of Christmas	24 December 1977	Ghost of Christmas Present	BBC Two
Saint Joan	30 December 1979	Monseigneur de la Trémouille, Lord Chamberlain	BBC One	Television production of a George Bernard Shaw play
Star Games	4 November 1980	On-screen Participant	ITV
Dangerous Davies – The Last Detective	4 January 1981	Sergeant Ben	ITV	Part of the Dangerous Davies series