Bernard Price

The English actor Bernard Ashley Price was born on March 2, 1925, in Merton, Surrey, England, the son of an egg salesman. He made his acting debut at the age of 16 in an amateur production of Dodie Smith's "Dear Octopus" in London. The play was seen by the director Barry Jackson, who hired Price for his company and engaged his services until 1944. Lewis Casson then hired Price for a tour of George Bernard Shaw revivals, "Man and Superman," "Pygmalian," and "Saint Joan," that were performed in Bristol and London before touring liberated Paris, Belgium and Germany to entertain the Allied armed forces. Price moved to South Africa in 1947, where he helped manage the Johannesburg corps de ballet and continued acting. He played one of the homosexuals in William Douglas Home's prison play "Now Barabbas Was a Robber," and acted in the thriller "They Walk Alone." He returned to London in 1951 and acted in a variety of shows. In 1967, he he joined the New Era Academy of Drama and Music, eventually becoming an administrator. He was a founding member of Gay Switchboard and Icebreakers. Bernard Price died of cancer in February 2000. He was 74 years old.