Bernard Lee (January 10, 1908 – January 16, 1981) was an English actor, best known for his role as M in the first eleven James Bond films.

Bernard Lee as ‘M’ in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.

Born in London, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. During the 1930s he acted mostly on stage, but after World War II developed a successful film career, including The Third Man (1949), Beat the Devil (1953), The Battle of the River Plate (1956), Dunkirk (1958) and Whistle Down the Wind (1961).

Lee also starred in the 1976 television show ‘Beauty and the Beast’ with George C Scott. A year later he starred in the television show ‘A Christmas Carol’ as the Ghost of Christmas Present.

In the Bond films, Lee’s character, M, is Admiral Sir Miles Messervy (only ever named, besides as ‘M’, as ‘Admiral’ and ‘Miles’ on screen in his appearances), Bond’s irascible boss who sends him out on assignments. Lee was succeeded by Robert Brown, though not necessarily playing the same character (Brown had played another admiral in the series previously). Judi Dench, a friend of Lee’s, would later take over the role of a brand-new M, starting in 1995 with some references to her predecessor, including an oil painting of Lee in the role seen in MI6’s secondary HQ (a Scottish castle).

Bernard Lee starred in eleven James Bond films.

• Dr No (1962)
• From Russia with Love (1963)
• Goldfinger (1964)
• Thunderball (1965)
• You Only Live Twice (1967)
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
• Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
• Live and Let Die (1973)
• The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
• The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
• Moonraker (1979)

In January 1981, Lee died after a battle with stomach cancer, while preparing his role for For Your Eyes Only. Out of respect, no new actor was hired to take over the role of M in the film. In the film, M’s lines were transferred to the Minister of Defence and Bill Tanner, M’s Chief of Staff.