Bernard Spear


Bernard Spear was an English actor.

Early life

Spear was born on 11 September 1919 in Croydon, Surrey, to a Polish-Jewish father and a Russian-Jewish mother. He was educated at Central Federation School in London, and worked as a clerk at a tobacco manufacturers before serving in the Royal Artillery in Gibraltar during World War II.

Career

Spear starred in the BAFTA TV Award-winning television play Bar Mitzvah Boy, and also portrayed the dual roles of Cervantes's manservant and Sancho Panza in the 1968 London stage version of Man of La Mancha. His film career includes roles in the films Drop Dead Darling, Bedazzled, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, Secrets of a Door-to-Door Salesman, Wombling Free and Yentl. His only regular role on television was as Morris Ransome in the soap opera Albion Market.

Personal life

Spear married dancer/writer Mary Newton in 1949; the couple had one child, Julian, owner of Julian Spear PR, who was married to actress Carol Royle.
Bernard and Mary remained married until his death in 2003.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1959Quatermass and the PitNews Vendor/ArthurMiniseries
1966Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.Man with Carrier Bag
1966Drop Dead DarlingFrench Inspector
1967BedazzledIrving Moses
1968Chitty Chitty Bang BangGoran the Spy
1972The Adventures of Barry McKenzieCabbie
1972Hide and SeekFruit Vendor
1973Secrets of a Door-to-Door SalesmanJake Tripper
1974Love Thy NeighbourAlfredoEpisode: The Mediterranean
1976Bar Mitzvah BoyVictor GreenTV Movie
1977Gulliver's TravelsVoice
1977Wombling FreeArnold Takahashi
1983YentlTailor
1985Not Quite ParadiseMr. Schwartz-
1994LovejoyMorrie SamuelsEpisode: Fruit of the Desert
2000The Man Who CriedMan in Sweatshop