Bernard Fox, a Welsh actor who charmed audiences with his roles in Bewitched, Hogan’s Heroes, Titanic, and The Mummy, passed away on December 14, 2016 at the age of 89. He died of heart failure at the Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, California, surrounded by his family and friends
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A Fifth-Generation Performer
Fox was born in Port Talbot, Glamorgan, Wales, on May 11, 1927, to stage actors Queenie and Gerald Lawson. He was a fifth-generation performer and had an uncle who was a famous British actor, Wilfrid Lawson
Fox began his film career at the age of 18 months, and by age 14 was an apprentice assistant manager of a theatre. After serving with the Royal Navy in World War II and the Korean War, he resumed his acting career and appeared in over 30 cinema films from 1956 to 2004
A Versatile and Memorable Actor
Fox was best known for playing Dr. Bombay on the cult 1960s comedy Bewitched, a witch doctor who would appear whenever Samantha or Endora needed his help. He reprised the role of Dr. Bombay on the 1977 sequel series Tabitha, and again in 1999 on the soap opera Passions. He also spoofed it as a genie doctor (“wish doctor”) in a 1989 episode of Pee-wee’s Playhouse
Fox also played the naive, bumbling Colonel Crittendon on Hogan’s Heroes, a British officer who often interfered with Hogan’s plans to sabotage the Nazis. He appeared in 10 episodes of the show from 1965 to 1971
Fox had many other notable TV roles, such as Malcolm Merriweather on The Andy Griffith Show, Professor Farnsworth on I Dream of Jeannie, Dr. Zorba on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Major Bonacelli on MAS*H, and Mr. Cadwallader on Columbo. He also voiced the Chairmouse in the Disney animated features The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under
Fox also appeared in two cinematic dramatizations of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, separated by 39 years. In A Night to Remember (1958), he played Frederick Fleet, the sailor who spotted the iceberg and delivered the line “Iceberg dead ahead, sir!” In Titanic (1997), he played Colonel Archibald Gracie IV, a first-class passenger who befriended Jack and Rose and helped them escape from Cal Hockley
Fox’s other film roles included Yellowbeard, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, The Private Eyes, The Mummy, and Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes. He was praised for his comedic timing and his ability to play different accents and characters
A Loving Husband and Father
Fox was married to Jacqueline Fox since 1962 and had two daughters, Amanda and Valerie. He was devoted to his family and enjoyed playing golf and gardening in his spare time. He retired from acting in 2004 and lived in Woodland Hills, California
Fox is survived by his wife and daughters, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is remembered as a beloved actor who brought joy and laughter to millions of fans around the world.
