Born into a theatrical family, British actor Lee attended the Royal
Academy of Dramatic Art, making his West End stage debut in 1928. In
films from 1934, he was in the Army from 1940-46 and post-war hit his
stride as an actor. Lee first showed up in many minor roles, but his
screen time increased throughout the 1950s with innumerable roles as
dependable police inspectors and military officers.
Some of Lee’s more memorable roles were that of Sergeant Paine
in The Third Man
(1949), the bullying Bert Connelly in The
Angry Silence (1960) and the troubled father in Whistle
down the Wind (1961). In 1962, Lee was cast as M, the immediate
superior to James Bond in Dr.
No (1962). Bernard Lee continued to portray the affable M in all
subsequent Bond endeavours, up to and including Moonraker
(1979). In January 1981, Lee passed away after a battle with cancer.
