John Bernard Lee (10 January 1908 – 16 January 1981) was an English actor, best known for his role as M in the first 11 Eon-produced James Bond films. His film career spanned the years 1934 to 1979, though he… John Bernard Lee (10 January 1908 – 16 January 1981) was an English actor, best known for his role as M in the first 11 Eon-produced James Bond films. His film career spanned the years 1934 to 1979, though he had appeared on stage from the age of six.
Lee appeared in over 100 films, as well as on stage and in television dramatisations. He was known for his roles as authority figures, often playing military characters or policemen in films such as The Third Man, The Blue Lamp, The Battle of the River Plate, and Whistle Down the Wind.
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