january january known english actor best known role produced james_bond films lee film career spanned appeared stage age trained london lee appeared films stage television known roles authority figures playing military characters policemen highlights career include man blue lamp battle river plate whistle wind died stomach cancer january aged life career early life lee born january son née smith born london lee father actor bernard appearance stage age father sketch called double event london lee attended working fruit porter pay fees 1930s graduating initially worked theatre cardiff beginning work west end stage lee played comedic roles minute lee screen debut double event followed role biopic starred alongside mentions witty scene featuring film struggling tight collar prior slipping town lee wartime service army managed act films earlier released including murder frozen limits let george known hell hitler spare copper new lot second world war lee wartime service awaiting attended ladies night met producer subsequently offered play stage door war lee returned stage whilst developing successful film career appeared street playing colonel alongside film major success best selling film british box office developed reputation playing solid characters policemen serving officers officials films fallen idol man blue lamp holiday cage gold yellow balloon beat devil father brown commanders films calling appointment venus beat devil considers lee instrumental climax film remarking left badly needed touch end total lee appeared films career 1950s long run stage appearing role later reprised film released crest wave lee starred opposite playing royal_air_force medical officer based burma late second world war portrayed captain successful british films year war film battle river plate based battle starred alongside remarked captain played forms closer bond battleship commander captain film critically acclaimed nominated bafta awards best british film best british screenplay best film source fourth popular film britain films period include spanish place bond lee cast role illustrated cinema thought probably best remembered playing character head superior james_bond film number bond scholars noted lee interpretation character line original literary representation observed lee close version character whilst commented efficient nonsense authority figure smith remarked lee incarnation admiral american newspaper described lee real beef yorkshire type british actor refers lee paternal actor role study british film character actors great names memorable moments agreed noting lee reliable nonsense role character actor eyes manner anglo saxon level lee appeared spoof james_bond film series starred brother actors series period appeared television productions baron man portrayed sculptor picture monster hell alongside released january lee wife died fire seventeenth century home kent left lee hospitalised according actor bernard lovely seventeenth century cottage kent village died fire early trapped bedroom fire started ground floor bernard escaped window ran ladder attempt rescue unsuccessful awful end long happy marriage february lee robbed youths fire lee turned drink unable find work years ran debt chance lee met pub hearing lee problems gave clear debts note saying spot trouble burton gift assisted lee overcoming depression lee accepted roles usual bond characters poorly received french james_bond spoof hong_kong love years fire lee married television director assistant lee marriage produced daughter ann followed father stage blessing lee saying wants enjoying moment ann later married stage actor later stage manager bbc son british actor lee included golf fishing reading music sailing death november lee admitted london suffering stomach cancer died january days birthday wife present death death joined exit dignity dying witnessing lee suffering lee died filming started eyes film scenes respect lee replacement found script written character said leave year lee death summarised acting work reliable nonsense role character actor credits include policemen servicemen father figures spy chiefs shows honest hard working face occasional filmography works lee featured james_bond films character bond superior
Bernard Lee