 Bernard Lee died of cancer on 16 January 1981, after filming began on "For Your Eyes Only", but before he could film his scenes as M, the head of MI6, as he had done in the previous eleven films of the series.Out of respect, no new actor was hired to assume the role as Broccoli refused to have the character recast and, instead, the script was re-written so that the character is said to be on leave, letting Chief of Staff Bill Tanner take over the role as acting head of MI6 and briefing Bond alongside the Minister of Defence.Chaim Topol was cast following a suggestion by Broccoli's wife Dana, while Julian Glover joined the cast as the producers felt he was stylish – Glover was even considered to play Bond at some point, but Michael G. Wilson stated that "when we first thought of him he was too young, and by the time of "For Your Eyes Only" he was too old".