Bernard Miles was born in 1907. He entered the world of the theatre in the 1930's after completing his studies at Pembroke College, Oxford.

 

He appeared in over 100 plays after making his professional debut in RICHARD III in 1930. He also had parts in many memorable films from the era including IN WHICH WE SERVE, ONE OF OUR AIRCRAFT IS MISSING and GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Perhaps the part with which he became most associated was that of Long John SIlver in the original TV version of Robert Louis Stevenson's TREASURE ISLAND in 1951, and again in 1957.

 

Miles set up the Mermaid Theatre Trust in order to build the first new playhouse in London in 300 years. His attempt succeeded when he opened The Mermaid Theatre in 1959 with the long-running musical LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS, co-written with Lionel Bart and Laurie Johnson and adapted from a play by Henry Fielding.

 

He was the author of numerous books, including THE BRITISH THEATRE, GOD'S BRAINWAVE and FAVOURITE TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE.

 

He was knighted in 1969 and created a life peer as Baron Miles in 1979 by the City of London. He died in 1991.