Bernard Lee

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Bernard Lee (born January 10, 1908 in London , England, † January 16, 1981 ibid) was a British actor who gained popularity through his role as "M" in the James Bond films. Until his death, Lee played the manager of the secret agent in all Bond films and, although he also appeared in other films, was almost exclusively identified with this role by the audience.

life and work

Lee started out as a fruit seller in Southampton and originally wanted to be a football player . He made his first stage appearance in 1914 at the side of his father in a small sketch at the Oxford Music Hall in London . The father encouraged him to become an actor, and this is how Lee introduced himself at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where he was accepted. He first played the theater and worked from 1935 in over 100 films, so in 1949 in The Third Man by Carol Reed and 1965 in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold .

In the Bond films, Bernard Lee played the always somewhat grumpy boss of the so-called double-zero department and immediate superior of James Bond, whom he familiarized with the new assignment in his wood-paneled office. He played the role of "M" eleven times, from Dr. No in 1962 to Moonraker - Top Secret 1979. Besides Lois Maxwell in the role of Miss Moneypenny, Lee was the only actor who appeared in all Bond films of the 1960s and 1970s. Lee was supposed to take on the role of M in In Deadly Mission in 1981 , but died on January 16, 1981. After Lee's death, the producers were unable to find an adequate replacement for the actor, which is why the chief of intelligence in In Deadly Mission did not appeared (on the grounds that M was on vacation). From 1983, beginning with "Octopussy", "M" was played by Robert Brown , and from the 1995 Bond film Goldeneye by Judi Dench . After Dench's film death in Skyfall , Ralph Fiennes took on the role of "M".

Bernard Lee said of his role: “On the one hand, M cost me other roles because I was determined that way, on the other hand, it was good to be always busy. Even in Venice or Rome I was recognized by tourists and asked to take a photo together. ”However, he has never read a James Bond novel. Bond actor Sean Connery had this to say of Lee: “He was weathered and had a soft heart. He was a fine actor and gentleman, a bit like the grumpy M he played. "

Bernard Lee was the grandfather of Jonny Lee Miller , who is also an actor.

synchronization

In the first two Bond films, Dr. No and Greetings from Moscow as well as in You Only Live Twice from 1967, “M” was spoken by Clark Gable's German voice, the actor Siegfried Schürenberg . From Goldfinger to Diamond Fever , Konrad Wagner took on this task. From The Man with the Golden Gun and far beyond Lee's death to License to Kill with Robert Brown as MI6 boss Wolf Ackva took over the dubbing.

Filmography (selection)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Lee, Bernard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British actor
DATE OF BIRTH January 10, 1908
PLACE OF BIRTH London
DATE OF DEATH January 16, 1981
Place of death London