Bruce Lester (6 June 1912 – 13 June 2008) was a

South African __NOTOC__ South African may relate to: * The nation of South Africa * South African Airways * South African English * South African people * Languages of South Africa * Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the Afric ...

-born English film actor with over 60 screen appearances to his credit between 1934 and his retirement from acting in 1958. Lester's career divided into two distinct periods. Between 1934 and 1938, billed as Bruce Lister, he appeared in upwards of 20 British films, mostly of the cheaply shot and quickly forgotten quota quickie variety. He then moved to the US, where he changed his surname to Lester, and found himself for a time appearing in some of the biggest prestige productions of their day, alongside stars such as

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her p ...

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion pic ...

Tyrone Power Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include ''Jesse James (193 ...

and Errol Flynn. Lester himself never achieved star-billing, but was said to have remarked that this at least meant that if a film was a flop, no blame ever fell on his shoulders.Bruce Lester obituary
''The Daily Telegraph'', 27 June 2008. ''Retrieved 14 August 2010''

Early life

Born in

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a Megacity#List of megacities, megacity, and is List of urban areas by p ...

to English parents, Lester was educated at Brighton College in Sussex. He dabbled in amateur dramatics, but also showed potential as an exceptionally talented tennis player, and was considering trying to make a living from the sport until friends convinced him that acting offered far greater earning potential."Bruce Lester: Dapper actor in Forties Hollywood"
''The Independent'', 1 July 2008. ''Retrieved 14 August 2010''

Film career

1930s

After spending some time as a stage actor, Lester obtained his first minor film role in the 1934 quota quickie '' The Girl in the Flat''. His performance was noticed and a good career opportunity presented itself straight away when he was offered the male romantic lead in ''

To Be a Lady ''To Be a Lady'' is a 1934 British romance drama, directed and produced by George King, and starring Chili Bouchier (credited here as Dorothy Bouchier) and Bruce Lester. The film is the first screen editing credit of American film editor Elmo W ...

'', opposite Chili Bouchier, one of Britain's top female stars of the time. Far from a quota quickie, this was a quality production with a generous budget, but failed to perform as well as expected at the box-office. This was followed by another romantic lead, this time with Valerie Hobson, in '' Badger's Green'', a film in which cricket played a major part and which was praised for its "Englishness". Both of these films are believed lost, but are deemed of great interest by the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

and are both included on its " 75 Most Wanted" list of missing British feature films. Lester's career then began to stagnate. The most enduring British film in which he appeared was '' Death at Broadcasting House'', also from 1934, although his role was relatively minor. The next few years were spent toiling mainly in low-budget programmes, often in insignificant roles. Things took an upturn in 1938, when he was signed to Teddington Studios, the British division of

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American Film studio, film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, Califo ...

. He was promptly sent to the US, where he was cast in the

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He ...

vehicle '' Boy Meets Girl''. He was then signed to a three-year Hollywood contract, reportedly at Cagney's urging. One of his first Hollywood assignments was the high-profile historical drama '' If I Were King''.

1940s and 1950s

Lester's film career hit its peak in the early 1940s, beginning with the role of Mr. Bingley in the 1940 adaptation of ''

Pride and Prejudice ''Pride and Prejudice'' is an 1813 novel of manners by Jane Austen. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist of the book who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreci ...

'', followed by landing a plum role in the

classic ''

The Letter The Letter may refer to: Literature * "The Letter" (poem), a poem by Wilfred Owen (1893–1918) * "The Letter", a short story in W. Somerset Maugham's 1926 collection ''The Casuarina Tree'' * "The Letter", 38th sura of the Qur'an * ''The Letters ...

''. Lester and Davis shared some crucial scenes in the film, and it was soon being reported that Davis was very taken by the handsome young Englishman, going out of her way to help him and put him at his ease on set. It is generally believed that a brief relationship of some description developed between the two, although nothing came of it. Writer Jerry Asher, a long-time friend of Davis, recalled: "She found Bruce attractive and sweet, but he was a bit tame for her speed." At this time Lester briefly returned to

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

, intending to join the

army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

. However he was persuaded that his talents would be better employed in helping to promote the Allied cause in the US. He returned, and appeared in several films in which he played flying officers, including '' Man Hunt'', ''

A Yank in the RAF ''A Yank in the R.A.F.'' is a 1941 American black-and-white war film directed by Henry King and starring Tyrone Power and Betty Grable. Released three months before the attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the United States into World War II, it is ...

'' and '' Desperate Journey''. In 1943 he played in the Joan Crawford and Fred MacMurray spy drama '' Above Suspicion''. He did then decide to join the British services, serving through to the end of the war. On his return to Hollywood, Lester's career faltered, with both the quality of film and size of role he was being offered tapering off. He did land a good part in 1947's '' Golden Earrings'' with

Ray Milland Ray Milland (born Alfred Reginald Jones; 3 January 1907 – 10 March 1986) was a Welsh-American actor and film director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985. He is remembered for his Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival Award-winning ...

and

Marlene Dietrich Marie Magdalene "Marlene" DietrichBorn as Maria Magdalena, not Marie Magdalene, according to Dietrich's biography by her daughter, Maria Riva ; however Dietrich's biography by Charlotte Chandler cites "Marie Magdalene" as her birth name . (, ; ...

, then returned for a time to Europe, where he starred in ''

But Not in Vain ''But Not in Vain'' (Dutch name ''Niet Tevergeefs'') is a 1948 Anglo-Dutch World War II drama, directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Raymond Lovell. The film is set in 1944 in the occupied Netherlands, and was shot at the Cinetone Stud ...

'' (1948 – filmed in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

) and ''Celia: The Sinister Affair of Poor Aunt Nora'' (1949). Returning to the US, Lester began to turn his hand to working as a story analyst for Paramount and Columbia. In the early 1950s he was playing minor roles in low-budget versions of English-set historical dramas such as ''Tales of Robin Hood'' and ''Lorna Doone''. As the decade progressed film parts became ever-smaller, until he was mainly playing uncredited bit parts. Lester's final screen credit came in 1958's '' Tarzan and the Trappers'', after which he decided to retire from acting and spend the rest of his life out of the spotlight.

Later life

In later years, Lester and his wife divided their time between Los Angeles and

Palm Springs Palm Springs (Cahuilla: ''Séc-he'') is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Colorado Desert's Coachella Valley. The city covers approximately , making it the largest city in Riverside County by lan ...

. He continued to play tennis, and was a keen member of the Hollywood Cricket Club. Lester died in Los Angeles on 13 June 2008, one week after his 96th birthday. He was buried at the Westwood Memorial Park in Westwood, Los Angeles

Filmography

*1934: '' The Girl in the Flat'' - Bit Role (uncredited) *1934: ''

'' - Jerry Dean *1934: '' Badger's Green'' - Dickie Wetherby *1934: '' Death at Broadcasting House'' - Peter Ridgwell (uncredited) *1934: ''

The Third Clue ''The Third Clue'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by Albert Parker and starring Basil Sydney, Molly Lamont and Raymond Lovell. The film was based on Neil Gordon's novel ''The Shakespeare Murders'', which also inspired ''The Claydon T ...

'' - Derek Clayton *1935: ''Old Faithful'' - Chris Morgan *1935: ''Old Roses'' - Alf Haines *1936: '' Ourselves Alone'' - 2nd Lieut. Lingard *1936: '' A Star Fell from Heaven'' - Winkler *1936: '' The Tenth Man'' - Edward O'Donnell *1936: '' Crime Over London'' - Ronald Martin *1936: ''

Hail and Farewell Hail and Farewell (a translation of ''ave atque vale'', last words of the poem Catullus 101) is a traditional military event whereby those coming to and departing from an organization are celebrated. This may coincide with a change in command, be s ...

'' - Peter Dove *1936: '' The Heirloom Mystery'' - Alf Dene *1936: ''

Head Office Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the to ...

'' - Halliday *1937: '' Mayfair Melody'' - Dickie *1937: '' The Windmill'' - Officer *1937: '' Ship's Concert'' (Short) - Purser *1937: '' Change for a Sovereign'' - Prince William *1938: ''Quiet Please'' - Dr. Faversham *1938: '' Thistledown'' - Lord James Dunfoyle *1938: '' Boy Meets Girl'' - Rodney Bowman *1938: '' If I Were King'' - Noel le Jolys *1939: '' Home from Home'' - Jim *1939: '' The Witness Vanishes'' - Lord Noel Stratton *1940: '' The Invisible Man Returns'' - Chaplain (uncredited) *1940: ''

British Intelligence The Government of the United Kingdom maintains intelligence agencies within three government departments, the Foreign Office, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence. These agencies are responsible for collecting and analysing foreign and ...

'' - Frank Bennett *1940: '' My Son, My Son!'' - Rory O'Riorden *1940: ''

'' - Mr. Bingley *1940: ''

'' - John Withers *1941: '' Shadows on the Stairs'' - Hugh Bromilow *1941: '' Singapore Woman'' - Clyde *1941: '' Shining Victory'' - Dr. Bentley *1941: '' Man Hunt'' - Co-Pilot (uncredited) *1941: ''

'' - Flight Lt. Sterling Richardson *1942: '' Eagle Squadron'' - King (uncredited) *1942: '' Desperate Journey'' - English Officer *1943: '' The Mysterious Doctor'' - Lt. Christopher 'Kit' Hilton *1943: '' Above Suspicion'' - Thornley *1943: '' Flesh and Fantasy'' - Young Man (uncredited) *1946: '' The Wife of Monte Cristo'' - (uncredited) *1946: '' Without Reservations'' - Army Lieutenant (uncredited) *1946: '' Cloak and Dagger'' - British Officer (uncredited) *1946: '' Strange Journey'' - Roger Blythe *1947: '' Golden Earrings'' - Richard Byrd *1947: '' I Walk Alone'' - Charles (uncredited) *1948: ''

'' - Fred Van Nespen *1949: '' The Fool and the Princess'' - Harry Granville *1949: '' Celia: The Sinister Affair of Poor Aunt Nora'' - Larry Peters *1951: '' Tarzan's Peril'' - Warden (uncredited) *1951: ''Tales of Robin Hood'' - Alan A. Dale *1951: '' Lorna Doone'' - Walt Snowe (uncredited) *1951: '' Secrets of Monte Carlo'' - British Inspector *1951: '' The Son of Dr. Jekyll'' - Daniels' Reporter (uncredited) *1952: '' The Pathfinder'' - Capt. Clint Bradford *1953: '' Rogue's March'' - Wilson (uncredited) *1953: ''

Storm over Africa '' The Royal African Rifles'' is a 1953 American Cinecolor First World War adventure film directed by Lesley Selander and starring Louis Hayward, Veronica Hurst and Michael Pate. It is set in British East Africa but filmed on location in the L ...

'' - Saxon *1954: '' King Richard and the Crusaders'' - Castelaine *1954: '' Charade'' - Capt. van Buren *1955: '' The Sea Chase'' - Petty Officer (uncredited) *1955: '' The Scarlet Coat'' - Col. Simcoe (uncredited) *1957: '' Something of Value'' - Physician - McKenzie Massacre (uncredited) *1957: '' The Seventh Sin'' - Allan (uncredited) *1958: '' Tarzan and the Trappers'' (TV Movie) - Commissioner Brandini (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lester, Bruce 1912 births 2008 deaths English male film actors People from Johannesburg English expatriates in the United States People educated at Brighton College Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery South African emigrants to the United Kingdom