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{{Short description|English actor (1921–2003)}}
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{{refimprove|date=March 2013}}
{{About|the British actor|the American actor|Robert Brown (American actor)}}
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{{More citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Robert Brown
| name = Robert Brown
| image = Robert brown.jpg
| image = British_actor_Robert_Brown.jpg
| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| caption = Brown as [[M (James Bond)|M]] in ''[[Licence to Kill]]'', 1989
| caption =
| parents = Robert Charles Brown
| birth_name = Robert James Brown
| birth_name = Robert James Brown
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|7|23|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1921|7|23}}
| birth_place = [[Swanage]], [[Dorset]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
| birth_place = [[Swanage]], Dorset, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|11|11|1921|7|23|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2003|11|11|1921|7|23}}
| death_place = [[Swanage]], [[Dorset]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]
| death_place = Swanage, Dorset, England
| death_cause = [[Cancer]]
| othername =
| othername =
| website =
| website =
| yearsactive = 1949–1991
| spouse = {{marriage|Rita Becker|1955}}
| yearsactive = 1949–1991
| children = 2
| spouse = Rita Becker (m. 1955–2003; his death); 2 children
}}
}}


'''Robert James Brown''' (23 July 1921{{spaced ndash}}11 November 2003) was a British [[actor]] known for his portrayal of [[M (James Bond)|M]] in the [[James Bond]] films, succeeding [[Bernard Lee]], who died in 1981.
'''Robert James Brown''' (23 July 1921{{spaced ndash}}11 November 2003) was an English actor, best known for his portrayal of [[M (James Bond)|M]] in the [[James Bond]] films from 1983 to 1989, succeeding [[Bernard Lee]], who died in 1981.<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f45635a|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629101442/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f45635a|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2017|title=Robert Brown}}</ref>


Brown made his first appearance as M in ''[[Octopussy]]'' in 1983.
Brown made his first appearance as M in ''[[Octopussy]]'' in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/robert-brown-p216775|title=Robert Brown - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref>


Brown was born and died in [[Swanage]], [[Dorset]], [[England]]. Before appearing in the Bond films, he had a long career as a bit-part actor in films and television. He had a starring role in the 1950s television series ''[[Ivanhoe (1958 TV series)|Ivanhoe]]'' where he played Gurth, the faithful companion of Ivanhoe, played by [[Roger Moore]]. He had previously made an uncredited appearance as a castle guard in the unrelated 1952 film ''[[Ivanhoe (1952 film)|Ivanhoe]]''. He had an uncredited appearance as the galley-master in ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' (1959) and as factory worker Bert Harker in the [[BBC]]'s 1960s [[soap opera]] ''[[The Newcomers (TV series)|The Newcomers]]''. In ''[[One Million Years B.C.]]'' (1966), he played grunting caveman Akhoba, brutal head of the barbaric "Rock tribe".
Brown was born in [[Swanage]], Dorset and later died there on November 11, 2003, aged 82. Before appearing in the Bond films, he had a long career as a bit-part actor in films and television. He had a starring role in the 1950s television series ''[[Ivanhoe (1958 TV series)|Ivanhoe]]'' where he played Gurth, the faithful companion of Ivanhoe, played by [[Roger Moore]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/robert-brown-n2ljpvl2fkf|title=Robert Brown|date=19 November 2003|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}</ref> He had previously made an uncredited appearance as a castle guard in the unrelated 1952 film ''[[Ivanhoe (1952 film)|Ivanhoe]]''. He had an uncredited appearance as the galley-master in ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' (1959) and as factory worker Bert Harker in the [[BBC]]'s 1960s soap opera ''[[The Newcomers (TV series)|The Newcomers]]''. In ''[[One Million Years B.C.]]'' (1966), he played grunting caveman Akhoba, brutal head of the barbaric "Rock tribe".<ref name=bfi/>


Brown first started in the James Bond franchise in the film ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'' as Admiral Hargreaves, appearing alongside Lee. After Lee's sudden death in 1981, the producers, instead of hiring a replacement, decided to leave M out of ''For Your Eyes Only'' out of respect for the actor and trade his lines with M's Chief of Staff [[Bill Tanner]]. In 1983, they cast Brown to portray M on the recommendation of Bond actor Roger Moore, his ''Ivanhoe'' co-star and father of his goddaughter [[Deborah Moore|Deborah]]. It is not clear as to whether he was the same character as Lee's M or a different M, perhaps a promoted Hargreaves. The official Bond film canon recognizes Brown's M as a promoted Hargreaves, but this remains a subject of debate. He would later be succeeded by [[Judi Dench]] in the film ''[[GoldenEye]]'' (1995).
Brown first started in the James Bond franchise in the film ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'' as Admiral Hargreaves, appearing alongside Bernard Lee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-nov-21-me-passings21.6-story.html|title=Robert Brown, 82; Actor Played Spy Boss M in 4 Bond Films|date=21 November 2003|via=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> After Lee's death in January 1981, Broccoli and the other producers, decided to leave M out of ''For Your Eyes Only'' out of respect for Lee and assigned his lines to M's Chief of Staff [[Bill Tanner]]. In 1983, Brown was hired to portray M on the recommendation of Bond actor Roger Moore, his ''Ivanhoe'' co-star and the father of Brown's goddaughter [[Deborah Moore|Deborah]]. It was never clearly established if Brown was the same M as Lee's character, or a different M, perhaps a promoted Hargreaves. In 1995, Brown was succeeded as M by [[Judi Dench]] in ''[[GoldenEye]].'' Brown died from cancer in November 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2012/apr/10/skyfall-end-judi-dench-m|title=Is this really the end of Judi Dench's reign as M?|first=Ben|last=Child|date=10 April 2012|website=The Guardian}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
Altogether, Robert Brown starred in five James Bond films.
Altogether, Robert Brown starred in five James Bond films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/455954|title=AFI-Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref>


*''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'' (1977) – Admiral Hargreaves (possibly the same character as M he would play in subsequent films)
*''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'' (1977) – Admiral Hargreaves (possibly the same character he played as M in subsequent films)
*''[[Octopussy]]'' (1983) – M
*''[[Octopussy]]'' (1983) – M
*''[[A View to a Kill]]'' (1985) – M
*''[[A View to a Kill]]'' (1985) – M
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Other films:
Other films:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[The Third Man]]'' (1949) – Policeman in sewer (coincidentally Bernard Lee is also in this film)
* ''[[The Third Man]]'' (1949) – Policeman in sewer (coincidentally Bernard Lee is also in this film) (uncredited)
⚫
* ''[[Out of True (film)|Out of True]]'' (1951) - Dr. Dale
* ''[[Ivanhoe (1952 film)|Ivanhoe]]'' (1952) - Castle Guard
* ''[[Out of True (film)|Out of True]]'' (1951) – Dr. Dale
* ''[[Noose for a Lady]]'' (1953) - Jonas Rigg
* ''[[The Dark Man (film)|The Dark Man]]'' (1951) – Policeman at Hospital (uncredited)
* ''[[The Dark Avenger]]'' (1955) - First French Knight
* ''[[Cloudburst (1951 film)|Cloudburst]]'' (1951) – Carter
* ''[[Death of an Angel]]'' (1952) – Jim Pollard (uncredited)
* ''[[Derby Day (1952 film)|Derby Day]]'' (1952) – Foster – Berkeley's Butler (uncredited)
* ''[[Ivanhoe (1952 film)|Ivanhoe]]'' (1952) – Castle Guard (uncredited)
* ''[[Time Gentlemen, Please!]]'' (1952) – Bill Jordan
* ''[[The Gambler and the Lady]]'' (1952) – John – Waiter at Max's Dive (uncredited)
* ''[[Noose for a Lady]]'' (1953) – Jonas Rigg
* ''[[The Large Rope]]'' (1953) – Mick Jordan
* ''[[Passage Home]]'' (1955) – Shane
* ''[[The Dark Avenger]]'' (1955) – First French Knight
⚫
* ''[[Helen of Troy (film)|Helen of Troy]]'' (1956) – Polydorus
* ''[[Lost (1956 film)|Lost]]'' (1956) – Farmer with Shotgun (uncredited)
* ''[[The Man Who Never Was]]'' (1956) – French (uncredited)
* ''[[A Hill in Korea]]'' (1956) – Private O'Brien
* ''[[A Hill in Korea]]'' (1956) – Private O'Brien
* ''[[The Man Who Never Was]]'' (1956) – French
* ''[[Kill Me Tomorrow]]'' (1957) – Steve Ryan
*''[[The Abominable Snowman (film)|The Abominable Snowman]]'' (1957) - Ed Shelley
* ''[[The Steel Bayonet]]'' (1957) – Company Sergeant Major Gill
* ''[[The Steel Bayonet]]'' (1957) - Company Sergeant Major Gill
* ''[[The Abominable Snowman (film)|The Abominable Snowman]]'' (1957) – Ed Shelley
* ''[[Campbell's Kingdom]]'' (1957) - Ben Creasy
* ''[[Campbell's Kingdom]]'' (1957) – Ben Creasy
* ''[[Passport to Shame]]'' (1958) - Mike
* ''[[Passport to Shame]]'' (1958) – Mike
* ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' (1959) – Rowing Overseer
* ''[[Shake Hands with the Devil (1959 film)|Shake Hands with the Devil]]'' (1959) – First Sergeant 'Black & Tans'
* ''[[The Challenge (1960 film)|The Challenge]]'' (1960) - Bob Crowther
* ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' (1959) – Rowing Overseer (uncredited)
* ''[[Sink The Bismark (1960 film)|Sink The Bismark]]'' (1960) - unnamed officer aboard HMS Devonshire
* ''[[Sink the Bismarck!]]'' (1960) – unnamed officer aboard {{HMS|King George V|41|6}} (uncredited)
*''[[A Story of David]]'' (1961) - Jashobeam
* ''[[The Challenge (1960 film)|The Challenge]]'' (1960) – Bob Crowther
* ''[[The 300 Spartans]]'' (1962) - Pentheus
* ''[[Sands of the Desert]]'' (1960) – 1st Tourist
* ''[[A Story of David]]'' (1961) – Jashobeam
* ''[[The 300 Spartans]]'' (1962) – Pentheus
* ''[[Live Now, Pay Later]]'' (1962) – (unconfirmed)
* ''[[Billy Budd (film)|Billy Budd]]'' (1962) – Arnold Talbot
* ''[[Billy Budd (film)|Billy Budd]]'' (1962) – Arnold Talbot
* ''[[Mystery Submarine (1963 film)|Mystery Submarine]]'' (1963) - Coxswain Drage
* ''[[The Double (1963 film)|The Double]]'', ''([[Edgar Wallace Mysteries]])'' – Richard Harrison
* ''[[Clash by Night (1963 film)|Clash by Night]]'' (1963) - Mawsley
* ''[[Mystery Submarine (1963 film)|Mystery Submarine]]'' (1963) – Coxswain Drage
*''[[Doctor Syn#The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1963)|Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow]]'' (1963) - Sam Farley
* ''[[Doctor Syn#The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1963)|Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow]]'' (1963) – Sam Farley
* ''[[The Masque of the Red Death (1964 film)|The Masque of the Red Death]]'' (1964) - Guard
* ''[[The Masque of the Red Death (1964 film)|The Masque of the Red Death]]'' (1964) – Guard
* ''[[Operation Crossbow (film)|Operation Crossbow]]'' (1965) - Air Commodore
* ''[[Clash by Night (1963 film)|Clash by Night]]'' (1963) – Mawsley
* ''[[Operation Crossbow (film)|Operation Crossbow]]'' (1965) – Air Commodore
* ''[[One Million Years B.C.]]'' (1966) – Akhoba
* ''[[One Million Years B.C.]]'' (1966) – Akhoba
* ''[[Private Road]]'' (1971) - Mr Halpern
* ''Un hombre solo'' (1969)
* ''[[1000 Convicts and a Woman]]'' (1971) - Ralph
* ''[[Private Road]]'' (1971) – Mr Halpern
* ''[[Demons of the Mind]]'' (1972) - Fischinger
* ''[[1000 Convicts and a Woman|Fun and Games]]'' (1971) – Ralph
* ''Wreck Raisers'' (1972) – Cox'n
* ''[[Demons of the Mind]]'' (1972) – Fischinger
* ''[[Mohammad, Messenger of God]]'' (1976) – Otba
* ''[[Mohammad, Messenger of God]]'' (1976) – Otba
* ''[[Jesus of Nazareth (miniseries)|Jesus of Nazareth]]'' (1977) - Elder
* ''[[Jesus of Nazareth (miniseries)|Jesus of Nazareth]]'' (1977, TV Mini-Series) – Pharisee
* ''[[Warlords of Atlantis]]'' (1978) - Briggs
* ''[[Warlords of Atlantis]]'' (1978) – Briggs
* ''[[The Passage (1979 film)|The Passage]]'' (1979) - Major
* ''[[The Passage (1979 film)|The Passage]]'' (1979) – Major
* ''[[Lion of the Desert]]'' (1981) - Al Fadeel
* ''[[Lion of the Desert]]'' (1981) – Al Fadeel
* ''[[The Forgotten Story (TV series)|The Forgotten Story]]'' (1983, TV series) – Captain Stevens
* ''Jugando con la muerte'' (1982) – 2nd bodyguard
{{div col end}}


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0114533|name=Robert Brown}}
*{{IMDb name|0114533}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Robert}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Robert}}
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:1921 births]]
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[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:People from Swanage]]
[[Category:People from Swanage]]
[[Category:Cancer deaths in England]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]

Latest revision as of 21:39, 7 December 2024

This article is about the British actor. For the American actor, see Robert Brown (American actor).

Robert Brown
Born
Robert James Brown

(1921-07-23)23 July 1921
Swanage, Dorset, England
Died11 November 2003(2003-11-11) (aged 82)
Swanage, Dorset, England
Years active1949–1991
Spouse
Rita Becker
​
(m. 1955)​
Children2
ParentRobert Charles Brown

Robert James Brown (23 July 1921 – 11 November 2003) was an English actor, best known for his portrayal of M in the James Bond films from 1983 to 1989, succeeding Bernard Lee, who died in 1981.[1]

Brown made his first appearance as M in Octopussy in 1983.[2]

Brown was born in Swanage, Dorset and later died there on November 11, 2003, aged 82. Before appearing in the Bond films, he had a long career as a bit-part actor in films and television. He had a starring role in the 1950s television series Ivanhoe where he played Gurth, the faithful companion of Ivanhoe, played by Roger Moore.[3] He had previously made an uncredited appearance as a castle guard in the unrelated 1952 film Ivanhoe. He had an uncredited appearance as the galley-master in Ben-Hur (1959) and as factory worker Bert Harker in the BBC's 1960s soap opera The Newcomers. In One Million Years B.C. (1966), he played grunting caveman Akhoba, brutal head of the barbaric "Rock tribe".[1]

Brown first started in the James Bond franchise in the film The Spy Who Loved Me as Admiral Hargreaves, appearing alongside Bernard Lee.[4] After Lee's death in January 1981, Broccoli and the other producers, decided to leave M out of For Your Eyes Only out of respect for Lee and assigned his lines to M's Chief of Staff Bill Tanner. In 1983, Brown was hired to portray M on the recommendation of Bond actor Roger Moore, his Ivanhoe co-star and the father of Brown's goddaughter Deborah. It was never clearly established if Brown was the same M as Lee's character, or a different M, perhaps a promoted Hargreaves. In 1995, Brown was succeeded as M by Judi Dench in GoldenEye. Brown died from cancer in November 2003.[5]

Filmography

[edit]

Altogether, Robert Brown starred in five James Bond films.[6]

Other films:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Robert Brown". Archived from the original on 29 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Robert Brown - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  3. ^ "Robert Brown". 19 November 2003 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Robert Brown, 82; Actor Played Spy Boss M in 4 Bond Films". 21 November 2003 – via Los Angeles Times.
  5. ^ Child, Ben (10 April 2012). "Is this really the end of Judi Dench's reign as M?". The Guardian.
  6. ^ "AFI-Catalog". catalog.afi.com.
[edit]
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