Bernard Spear


Bernard Spear was an English actor.

Early life

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

Filmography