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Bernard Lee (I) (1908–1981)

Actor | Writer

Best remembered as 'M' in the James Bond films, Bernard Lee was a popular character player in British films throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Born into a theatrical family, he made his stage debut at age six and later attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He first appeared on the West End stage in London in 1928... See full bio »

Born:

John Bernard Lee
in London, England, UK

Died:

(age 73) in London, England, UK
2 photos | 31 videos | 18 news articles »

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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (141 titles)
1981 Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective (TV movie)
Sergeant Ben
 
1979 Moonraker
M / Admiral Miles Messervy
 
1977-1978 The Foundation (TV series)
Eddie Prince
– Business Not Quite as Usual (1978) … Eddie Prince
– Separation (1977) … Eddie Prince
– Marriage (1977) … Eddie Prince
– Love (1977) … Eddie Prince
– Intuition (1977) … Eddie Prince
See all 10 episodes »
 
1977 A Christmas Carol (TV movie)
Ghost of Christmas Present
 
1977 The Spy Who Loved Me
M / Admiral Myles Messervy
 
1976 Beauty and the Beast (TV movie)
Edward Beaumont
 
1976 Killers (TV series)
Thomas Ley
– The Chalkpit Murder (1976) … Thomas Ley
 
1976 Warship (TV series)
Yachtsman
– Knight Errant (1976) … Yachtsman
 
1975 From Hong Kong with Love
M
 
1975 Comedy Premiere (TV series)
Wally Warner
– What a Turn Up (1975) … Wally Warner
 
1975 Against the Crowd (TV series)
Beeley
– Murrain (1975) … Beeley
 
1975 Affairs of the Heart (TV series)
Mr. Drury
– Kate (1975) … Mr. Drury
 
1974-1975 BBC Play of the Month (TV series)
Hornblower / Sir Peter Teazle
– The School for Scandal (1975) … Sir Peter Teazle
– The Skin Game (1974) … Hornblower
 
1974 The Man with the Golden Gun
M / Admiral Myles Messervy
 
1974 Father Brown (TV series)
John Raggley
– The Quick One (1974) … John Raggley
 
1974 It's Not the Size That Counts
Barraclough
 
1974 Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
Tarmut
 
1973 Vienna 1900 (TV mini-series)
Herr Welponer
– Mother and Son (1973) … Herr Welponer
 
1973 Follyfoot (TV series)
Woodman
– Walk in the Woods (1973) … Woodman
 
1973 Crime of Passion (TV series)
Marcel Amiot
– Emile (1973) … Marcel Amiot
 
1973 Once Upon a Time (TV series)
James Cable
– Silver (1973) … James Cable
 
1965-1973 Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV series)
The Man
– The Joke (1973)
– The Passenger (1965) … The Man
 
1973 Live and Let Die
M
 
1973 The Man Who Died Twice (TV movie)
Francis Cumberland
 
1972 The Pathfinders (TV series)
Air Vice Marshal
– Codename Gomorrah (1972) … Air Vice Marshal
 
1971 Diamonds Are Forever
'M'
 
1971 The Persuaders! (TV series)
Sam Milford
– Someone Like Me (1971) … Sam Milford
 
1971 Dulcima
Mr. Gaskain
 
1971 Long Ago, Tomorrow
Uncle Bob
 
1971 Danger Point
Captain
 
1969 On Her Majesty's Secret Service
M
 
1969 Crossplot
Chilmore
 
1969 Strange Report (TV series)
Arthur Pater
– Report 8319: Grenade - What Price Change? (1969) … Arthur Pater
 
1969 The Expert (TV series)
Harry Kirby
– Post-Mortem on Harry Kirby (1969) … Harry Kirby
 
1969 The Champions (TV series)
Squires
– The Body Snatchers (1969) … Squires
 
1969 Journey to the Unknown (TV series)
Ben Loker
– Poor Butterfly (1969) … Ben Loker
 
1968 The Wednesday Play (TV series)
Frank Lanton
– Nothing Will Be the Same (1968) … Frank Lanton
 
1968 City 68' (TV series)
Baxter
– The System: Them Down There (1968) … Baxter
 
1968 The Jazz Age (TV series)
Sir James
– Post Mortem (1968) … Sir James
 
1968 Public Eye (TV series)
Detective Sergeant Davidson
– Mercury in an Off-White Mac (1968) … Detective Sergeant Davidson
 
1968 Journey to Midnight
Ben Loker (episode 'Poor Butterfly')
 
1967 The Gamblers (TV series)
Bob Townsend
– The Man Beneath (1967) … Bob Townsend
 
1967 Mogul (TV series)
Bernard Hart
– Mr. Know-How (1967) … Bernard Hart
 
1967 Man in a Suitcase (TV series)
Kershaw
– The Girl Who Never Was (1967) … Kershaw
 
1967 Half Hour Story (TV series)
Frank Graham
– Friends (1967) … Frank Graham
 
1967 You Only Live Twice
'M'
 
1967 Operation Kid Brother
Commander Cunningham
 
1966 Court Martial (TV series)
– Flight of a Tiger (1966)
 
1966 King of the River (TV series)
Joss King
– Foreign Invasion (1966) … Joss King
 
1966 The Baron (TV series)
Morgan Travis
– The Killing (1966) … Morgan Travis
– Masquerade (1966) … Morgan Travis
 
1959-1966 Armchair Theatre (TV series)
Daniel Whittaker
– The Night Before the Morning After (1966) … Daniel Whittaker
– Nest of Four (1960)
– Cold Fury (1960)
– Ernie Barger Is 50 (1959)
 
1965-1966 Secret Agent (TV series)
Derringham / Lord Ammanford
– The Man with the Foot (1966) … Derringham
– Whatever Happened to George Foster? (1965) … Lord Ammanford
 
1966 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series)
Jeremiah
– The Legend of Young Dick Turpin: Part 2 (1966) … Jeremiah
– The Legend of Young Dick Turpin: Part 1 (1966) … Jeremiah
 
1965 The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
Patmore
 
1965 Thunderball
'M'
 
1965 Blackmail (TV series)
Steve Bradwell
– Tricks of the Trade (1965) … Steve Bradwell
 
1965 Love Story (TV series)
Henry Golden
– After Hours (1965) … Henry Golden
 
1965 The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders
Landlord (uncredited)
 
1965 Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
Hopkins (segment 2 "Creeping Vine")
 
1965 Thursday Theatre (TV series)
Jim Cherry
– The Flowering Cherry (1965) … Jim Cherry
 
1965 The Man in a Looking Glass (TV movie)
Morgan Travis
 
1964 The Human Jungle (TV series)
Jim Garner
– Ring of Hate (1964) … Jim Garner
 
1964 Goldfinger
M
 
1964 Who Was Maddox?
Superintendent Meredith
 
1960-1964 The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (TV series)
Supt. Meredith / Inspector Mann / Superintendant Meredith
– Who Was Maddox? (1964) … Superintendant Meredith
– The Share Out (1962) … Supt. Meredith
– The Clue of the Silver Key (1961) … Supt. Meredith
– Partners in Crime (1961) … Inspector Mann
– The Clue of the Twisted Candle (1960) … Supt. Meredith
 
1964 Saturday Night Out
George Hudson
 
1964 Ring of Treason
Henry Houghton
 
1964 Espionage (TV series)
John Neary
– Snow on Mount Kama (1964) … John Neary
 
1963 From Russia with Love
M
 
1963 A Place to Go
Matt Flint
 
1963 The Third Man (TV series)
Angus Meryick
– Portrait of Harry (1963) … Angus Meryick
 
1963 Two Left Feet
Mr. Crabbe
 
1962 The L-Shaped Room
Charlie
 
1962 Dr. No
M
 
1962 The Brain
Dr. Frank Shears
 
1962 The Share Out
Supt. Meredith
 
1961 The Interrogator (TV movie)
Superintendent Farron
 
1961 Whistle Down the Wind
Mr. Bostock
 
1961 Fury at Smugglers' Bay
Black John
 
1961 The Secret Partner
Det. Supt. Frank Hanbury
 
1961 The Clue of the Silver Key
Supt. Meredith
 
1961 Partners in Crime
Inspector Mann
 
1960 Trouble in the Sky
Capt. George Gort
 
1960 The Angry Silence
Bert Connolly
 
1960 Kidnapped
Captain Hoseason
 
1960 The Clue of the Twisted Candle
Supt. Meredith
 
1959 BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV series)
Hoederer
– Crime Passionnel (1959) … Hoederer
 
1959 Web of Evidence
Patrick Mathry
 
1959 ITV Play of the Week (TV series)
Det. Insp. Lunt
– Family on Trial (1959) … Det. Insp. Lunt
 
1959 Breakout
Lt. Col. Huxley
 
1958 Nowhere to Go
Victor Sloane, alias Lee Henderson
 
1958 The Man Upstairs
Inspector Thompson
 
1955-1958 ITV Television Playhouse (TV series)
Cornelius / Prison Governor / William Lotless
– Cornelius (1958) … Cornelius
– All Correct, Sir (1956) … Prison Governor
– The Golden Fleece (1955) … William Lotless
 
1958 The Key
Cmdr. Wadlow
 
1958 Dunkirk
Charles Foreman (British newspaper reporter)
 
1957 High Flight
Flight Sergeant Harris
 
1957 Across the Bridge
Chief Inspector Hadden
 
1957 Fire Down Below
Dr. Sam
 
1956 The Spanish Gardener
Leighton Bailey
 
1956 Pursuit of the Graf Spee
Captain Dove - M.S. Africa Shell
 
1956 Lilli Palmer Theatre (TV series)
Candleblow Smith
– The Stolen Pearl (1956) … Candleblow Smith
 
1955 Rheingold Theatre (TV series)
Rudi Lankert
– A Borderline Case (1955) … Rudi Lankert
 
1955 PT Raiders
The Customs Officer
 
1955 Out of the Clouds
Customs Officer
 
1954 The Purple Plain
Dr. Harris
 
1954 Crest of the Wave
Seaman 'Lofty' Turner
 
1954 The Detective
Inspector Valentine
 
1954 The Rainbow Jacket
Racketeer
 
1953 Beat the Devil
Insp. Jack Clayton
 
1953 Sailor of the King
Petty Officer 'Stokes' Wheatley
 
1953 The Yellow Balloon
Constable Chapman
 
1952 Glory at Sea
A.S. 'Stripey' Wood
 
1952 Mr. Denning Drives North
Inspector Dodds
 
1951 Island Rescue
Brigadier
 
1951 Calling Bulldog Drummond
Col. Webson
 
1951 White Corridors
Burgess
 
1951 Fortune in Diamonds
O'Connell
 
1950 Cage of Gold
Inspector Grey
 
1950 Odette
Jack
 
1950 Last Holiday
Inspector Wilton
 
1950 Operation Disaster
Cmdr. Gates
 
1950 The Blue Lamp
Inspector Cherry
 
1949 The Third Man
Sgt. Paine
 
1948 Elizabeth of Ladymead
John Beresford in 1903
 
1948 Quartet
Prison Visitor (segment "The Kite")
 
1948 The Fallen Idol
Detective Hart
 
1947 The Adventures of Dusty Bates
Captain Ford
 
1947 Kathy's Love Affair
Colonel Gascoyne
 
1946 This Man Is Mine
James Nicholls
 
1943 The New Lot (short)
Interviewing Officer (uncredited)
 
1941 Once a Crook
Duke
 
1940 Spare a Copper
Jake
 
1940 To Hell with Hitler
Oscar
 
1939 The Frozen Limits
Bill McGrew
 
1939 Murder in the Night
Roy Barnes
 
1938 Love from a Stranger (TV movie)
Bruce Lovell
 
1938 The Terror
Ferdy Fane
 
1937 The Black Tulip
William Of Orange
 
1936 Rhodes
Cartwright
 
1935 The River House Mystery
Wade Belloc
 
1934 The Double Event
Dennison
 
Show ShowWriter (1 title)
1975 Animal Kwackers (TV series) (deviser)
 
Show ShowSelf (4 titles)
2006 Escape from Atlantis Storyboard Sequence (video)
Himself (voice) / M (voice)
 
1980 Star Games (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 4 November 1980 (1980) … Himself
 
1969 Swiss Movement (documentary short)
Himself
 
1963 Dr. No Featurette (documentary short)
M
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (15 titles)
2006 Press Day in Portugal (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2005 James Bond 007: From Russia with Love (Video Game)
M
 
2002 Happy Anniversary Mr. Bond (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2002 Best Ever Bond (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
2002 Premiere Bond: Die Another Day (TV documentary)
M (uncredited)
 
2000 Ken Adam: Designing Bond (video documentary short)
M
 
2000 Inside 'Moonraker' (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2000 Sir John Mills' Moving Memories (video documentary)
Himself
 
2000 Inside 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (video documentary short)
Himself
 
1999 The James Bond Story (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1999 Terence Young: Bond Vivant (video documentary short)
Himself
 
1995 Behind the Scenes with 'Thunderball' (video documentary)
Himself
 
1967 Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond (TV documentary)
M
 
1965 The Incredible World of James Bond (TV movie)
Himself
 
1963 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series)
 

Related Videos

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See all 31 »
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1937) Stage: Appeared in Noel Scott's play, "And the Music Stopped", at the Streatham Hill Theatre in Streatham Hill, London, England, with Phyllis Dare, Edmund Willard and Ian Fleming in the cast. Bernard Nedell was the director. See more »

Publicity Listings:

2 Articles  | 1 Magazine Cover Photo  | See more »

Height:

6' 1" (1.85 m)
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

A portrait of him (in the character of "M") can be seen briefly in the background of the MI6 castle in the 007 film The World Is Not Enough. See more »

Star Sign:

Capricorn