John
Bernard
(Bernard)
Lee
Born in Acton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom
Son of Charles Edmund Lee
and Ellen (Smith) Lee
Brother of
Edmund James Lee
Husband of
Gladys Emily Merredew
— married
1934 (to 30 Jan 1972) in Hampstead, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom
Husband of
Ursula Gladys (McHale) Lee
— married
1975 (to 16 Jan 1981) in Hampstead, London, England, United Kingdom
Descendants 
Father of
[private daughter (1940s - unknown)]
Died
at age 73
in Hampstead, London, England, United Kingdom
Profile managers:
Russell Butler 
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Biography
Bernard Lee was born in Middlesex, England.
Bernard Lee is Notable.
John Bernard "Bernard" Lee was an English actor, best known for his role as M, the Head of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, in the James Bond films.
Born into a theatrical family, Bernard was introduced to the stage at just six years of age, at the Oxford Music Hall, London, when he appeared in a sketch The Double Event, in which his father was acting.[1]
Bernard trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, working as a fruit porter to pay his fees, and afterwards spent several years on the stage.[2]
Following wartime service in the Royal Sussex Regiment,[1] he began a career in cinema, where he appeared in over 100 movies and played many notable roles. He also appeared in many television series, and was often cast in the roles of authority figures.[3] He played the role of the Ghost of Christmas Present in "A Christmas Carol." [4]
Bernard's most famous role was that of M, in the James Bond movies. He appeared in all 11 that were released up to the time of his death, from the first, Dr No, with Sean Connery in 1962, to Moonraker with Roger Moore in 1979.[3] His illness prevented his planned appearance in the 12th movie, For Your Eyes Only.[5]
Personal Life
Bernard was born on the 10th January 1908 in Acton, Middlesex, the son of Charles Edmund Lee, a retired pianoforte dealer, and his wife Ellen Smith[6]
In 1934 Bernard married actress Gladys Merredew,[7] John's marriage to Gladys Merredew was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1934 in the Hampstead district.[8] and the couple had one daughter.
Gladys tragically died when fire swept through the couple's 17th-century cottage in Oare, Kent in 1972. Bernard was taken to the hospital after the incident, where he was treated for shock.[9]
Three years after losing Gladys, Bernard married Ursula McHale, a television director's assistant.[10]
In November 1980 Bernard was admitted to the Royal Free Hospital in London, where he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He died there on 16th January 1981. John's death (age 73) was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1981 in the Camden district.[11] [12][13] After observing his suffering, Bernard's widow Ursula joined human rights group Exit (now Dignity in Dying) to campaign for euthanasia laws.[14]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Foster, Paul. "Busy time for Bond's boss". Evening Times, Glasgow. 13 Dec 1973, page 5.
- ↑ Obituary: Mr Bernard Lee. (The Times, London, https://www.thetimes.co.uk, 19 Jan 1981, page 12 : accessed 12 Nov 2020)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Internet Movie Database. (https://www.imdb.com : accessed 12 Nov 2020) Filmography for Bernard Lee.
- ↑ A Christmas Carol (1977), https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/45697-a-christmas-carol?language=en-US
- ↑ New York Times, 18 Jan 1981, section 1, page 28. (https://www.nytimes.com : accessed 11 Nov 2020) [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/18/obituaries/bernard-lee-is-dead-british-actor-had-roles-in-james-bond-movies.html Bernard Lee is Dead].
- ↑ England & Wales births, deaths and marriages registrations, General Register Office United Kingdom, Southport, England, HM Passport Office online search: Name: Lee, John Bernard, Mother's Maiden Surname: Smith, GRO Reference: 1908 M Quarter in Brentford Volume 03A Page 224. (PDF version of registration in possession of Leandra Ford)
- ↑ England & Wales marriages 1837-2005 (FindMyPast, https://www.findmypast.com : accessed 11 November 2020) database entry for marriage of Lee, john B. (Marriage Date: Q1 1934, Spouse's Surname: Merredew) in District: Hampstead, County: London, Volume: 1A, Page: 1218.
- ↑
Marriage Registration:
"England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005"
General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 1a; Page: 1218
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8753 #52189939 (accessed 24 November 2022)
John B Lee's marriage to Gladys Merredew registered Jan-Feb-Mar 1934 in Hampstead. - ↑ Aberdeen Evening Express. 31 Jan 1972, page 7, column 6. (British Newspaper Archive, Actor's Wife Dies in Blaze : accessed 11 Nov 2020).
- ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV6V-4D2T : accessed 11 Nov 2020), John B Lee and null, 1975; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1975, quarter 1, vol. 12, p. 1279, Hampstead, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
- ↑
Death Registration:
"England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007"
General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 14; Page: 2155
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7579 #48416140 (accessed 24 November 2022)
John Bernard Lee's death was registered Jan-Feb-Mar 1981 in Camden (born 10 Jan 1908). - ↑ Aberdeen Evening Express, 17 Jan 1981, page 11, column 7. (British Newspaper Archive : accessed 11 Nov 2020) 'M' Actor is Dead.
- ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZ9-XMM5 : accessed 11 Nov 2020), John Bernard Lee, 1981; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death Registration, Camden, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
- ↑ Daily Mirror, London. 24 Jan 1981, page 9. (British Newspaper Archive : accessed 11 Nov 2020) Mercy Death Call by 'M' Widow.
See also:
- Wikipedia: Bernard Lee
- Wikidata: Item Q323452, en:Wikipedia
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