Bernard Miles
A character actor who built a theatre from scratch in the heart of London, reviving the City's stage after a 300-year drought.
1907–1991 (age 84)·English actor, writer, and director·Birthday: September 27·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bernard Miles carved a distinct path through 20th-century British culture, his weathered face and rich voice making him a familiar presence on stage and screen. Born in Middlesex, he possessed a deep, practical love for theatre that extended beyond performance. Dissatisfied with the West End's offerings, he championed accessible, vibrant drama for all. His crowning ambition was realized in 1959 with the opening of the Mermaid Theatre at Puddle Dock, a bold venture that broke ground as the first new playhouse in London's financial district since Shakespeare's time. He poured his own resources and relentless energy into the project, creating a venue known for its adventurous repertoire and informal atmosphere. Miles was later knighted and made a life peer, becoming Baron Miles, a testament to his cultural impact. He remained, at heart, a craftsman of the stage who believed theatre belonged to the people.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bernard was born in 1907, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bernard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1907
Bernard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1907Born
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Started school
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1920Became a teenager
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Could drive
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1925Could vote
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Turned 21
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1937Turned 30
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 40
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 50
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 60
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 70
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 80
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1991Died at 84
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
Key Achievements
- Founded and opened the Mermaid Theatre in the City of London in 1959, ending a centuries-long absence of new theatres in the district.
- Was created a life peer in 1979, taking the title Baron Miles, in recognition of his services to the arts.
- Had a long career as a respected character actor in films such as 'Great Expectations' (1946) and 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1956).
Did You Know?
He initially trained as a farmer at the Royal Agricultural College before turning to acting.
The Mermaid Theatre was originally built as a temporary structure for the 1951 Festival of Britain before finding its permanent home.
He was a skilled carpenter and helped build the sets for his early theatrical productions.
“The theatre is a building where you can see what people are really like.”
