Jack May

Biography

Jack May was a mellifluous-voiced actor best known for playing butlers and establishment figures, often representing Britain's interests in far-flung corners of the empire. With regards the former, he memorably played William E. Simms, former music hall artise turned manservant to Gerald Harper's titular swashbuckling adventurer in '60s TV cult classic Adam Adamant Lives! as well as providing the voice of Igor, the long-suffering valet in Cosgrove Hall's 1980s animation Count Duckula. His film credits included the district commissioner in 1975's The Man Who Would Be King and the prosecuting naval attorney in the remake of The Bounty (1984). For many, May was Nelson Gabriel 'the most disreputable character in Ambridge' in BBC Radio 4's long-running soap The Archers. May took the role of the shady rogue, later antique dealer and wine bar owner, in 1952 and continued to play him right up until the year of his death, 1997. This 45 year stint made May, at the time, the fourth-longest serving soap opera star in the world. He died at the age of 75, on 19 September 1997, survived by his wife, the actress Petra Davies, his daughter Henrietta, and son David.

Known For

Doctor Who

The Avengers

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

No Hiding Place

No Hiding Place

All Creatures Great and Small

Jeeves and Wooster

The Wednesday Play

All Movies (56)

• Without Air1997
• Willie's War1994 · as Grandfather
• More Children's Holiday Favourites1990 · as Igor (voice)
• More Children's Summer Stories1989 · as Igor (voice)
• Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 11989 · as Igor/Giant (voice)
• Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 21989 · as Igor (voice)
• Children's Favourites - Volume 11988 · as Sea Rat (voice)
• Hard Road1988 · as Psychiatrist
• The Doctor and the Devils1985 · as Dr Stevens
• The Shooting Party1985 · as Sir Harry Stamp
• The Bounty1984 · as Prosecuting Captain
• A Swarm in May1983 · as Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
• The Return of the Soldier1983 · as Brigadier General
• Friends and Other Lovers1981 · as Mr. Franklyn
• The Life and Times of David Lloyd George1981 · as Lord Runciman
• The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy1981 · as Garkbit (Head Waiter)
• Whinfrey's Last Case1979 · as General Chapman
• Henry VIII1979 · as Lord Chancellor
• The Seven-Per-Cent Solution1976 · as Dr. Schultz
• The Man Who Would Be King1975 · as District Commissioner
• Soap Opera in Stockwell1973 · as Detective
• Big Zapper1973 · as Jeremiah Horn
• The Breaking of Colonel Keyser1972 · as Watts
• The Yes Girls1971 · as King Reiter
• Trog1970 · as Dr. Selbourne
• Emma's Time1970 · as Emma's father
• Goodbye, Mr. Chips1969 · as Price (uncredited)
• Doctor Who: The Space Pirates1969 · as General Hermack
• Night After Night After Night1969 · as Judge Lomax
• A Twist of Sand1968 · as Inspector Seekert
• How I Won the War1967 · as Toby
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum1966 · as Shopkeeper
• The Last Invasion1966
• Stranger in the Family1965 · as Evans
• A Prize of Arms1962 · as MO
• Solo for Sparrow1962 · as Inspector Hudson
• The Traitors1962 · as Burton
• Two-Way Stretch1960 · as Prison Visitor (uncredited)
• There Was a Crooked Man1960 · as Police Sergeant
• The Professionals1960 · as Edwards
• A Night to Remember1958 · as Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
• The Silent Enemy1958 · as Navy Doctor
• Cat Girl1957 · as Richard Johnson
• The Men of Sherwood Forest1954
• The Gay Dog1954 · as Pub Customer
• Trouble in Store1953 · as Bus Passenger (uncredited)
• Behind the Headlines1953
• Pool of London1951 · as Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
• The Blue Lamp1950 · as Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
• Saraband for Dead Lovers1948 · as Reveller
• Brief Encounter1945 · as Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
• Johnny Frenchman1945 · as Choir Member (uncredited)
• This Happy Breed1944 · as Mourner
• Deadlock1943 · as Postman
• Millions Like Us1943 · as Old Man
• The Gentle Sex1943 · as Postman (uncredited)

All TV Shows (52)

• Jeeves and Wooster1990 · as Vicar
• Count Duckula1988 · as Igor (voice)
• Big Muzzy1987 · as Muzzy (voice)
• Bulman1985 · as Sir Thomas Boycott
• Scarecrow and Mrs. King1983
• The Agatha Christie Hour1982 · as Colonel Jaggers
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy1981 · as Garkbit (Head Waiter)
• Escape1980
• Shoestring1979 · as Judge
• A Horseman Riding By1978 · as Lord Gilroy
• Hawkmoor1978 · as John Stedman
• All Creatures Great and Small1978 · as Reverend Henty
• The Children of the New Forest1977 · as Justice Booth
• Target1977 · as Chief Officer
• Poldark1975 · as Ralph Allen Daniell
• Dawson's Weekly1975
• Black and Blue1973 · as Detective
• Away from It All1973 · as Graham
• Van der Valk1972 · as Minister
• The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes1971 · as James Ladbroke, Q.C.
• Brett1971
• Brett1971 · as Mason
• Budgie1971 · as Mr. Pratt
• The Ten Commandments1971 · as Herbert Ward
• UFO1970 · as English Delegate
• The Main Chance1969 · as Derrick Asher
• The Main Chance1969 · as Harry Turner
• You Can't Win1966
• Adam Adamant Lives!1966 · as William E. Simms
• Out of the Unknown1965 · as Evans
• The Wednesday Play1964 · as Lt. Krov
• Detective1964 · as Inspector Dubois
• Doctor Who1963 · as General Nicolai Hermack
• Festival1963 · as Voice of God (voice)
• Espionage1963 · as Brent
• The Spread of the Eagle1963 · as Casca
• Dr. Finlay's Casebook1962
• Richard the Lionheart1962 · as Knight
• A for Andromeda1961 · as Major Quadring
• The Avengers1961
• Danger Man1960 · as Third Secretary
• An Age of Kings1960
• An Age of Kings1960 · as Duke of York
• No Hiding Place1959
• No Hiding Place1959 · as Major Westbrook
• Pride and Prejudice1958 · as Mr Collins
• Nicholas Nickleby1957 · as Lord Frederick Verisopht
• The Adventures of Sir Lancelot1956 · as Caradoc
• The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel1955 · as Citizen (uncredited)
• Mark Saber1954 · as Newsvendor
• Sunday Night Theatre1950 · as David Gottlieb
• Sunday Night Theatre1950 · as Burton