20 Things You Didn’t Know About Live And Let Die (1973)
5. “Insomnia, Sir?” “Instructions!”
Sadly, 1972 was not Bernard Lee’s year.
His beloved wife, Gladys Merredew tragically perished in a house fire at their idyllic home in Oare, Kent in January whilst he was trying to rescue her, which also resulted in Lee being hospitalised. Adding to his troubles, he was then mugged by some youths in February 1972.
At his wits’ end and left heavily in debt, Lee turned to drink and was cautious about asking friends for help. Many accounts of the filming of Live And Let Die attest that the actor was ill at the time and that he was therefore unavailable to fulfil his usual role as James Bond's superior, M.
His good friend, Kenneth More, knowing of his troubles, offered to play the role of M in Live And Let Die on the condition that his fee be paid to Lee, but the regular M actor declined, turning up for work as usual.
When Richard Burton learnt of Lee’s troubles, he wrote the actor a cheque to cover his debts.