James Hayter

Biography

James Hayter (23 April 1907 – 27 March 1983) was a British actor. He was born in Lonavala, India, brought up in Scotland and died in Spain. His best remembered film roles include Friar Tuck in the 1952 film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men and Samuel Pickwick in The Pickwick Papers of the same year. His rotund appearance and fruity voice made him a natural choice for such roles. A pupil of Dollar Academy, he became a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, his film career began in 1936 in Sensation, but was interrupted by World War II during which he served in the Royal Armoured Corps. His later career included roles in TV series such as The Forsyte Saga (1967), The Onedin Line and Are You Being Served?. His 1946 television series Pinwright's Progress, shown on the BBC, is recognised as the first real example of the half-hour situation comedy format in the history of British television. He was also the original narrator of the UK television advertisements for Mr. Kipling cakes. In fact, these ads led to his departure from Are You Being Served?; the cake company paid him a significant bonus to withdraw from the series, as they felt his reputation lent an air of dignity to their snack advertisements. In the film Oliver!, he played Mr Jessop the book shop owner. He appeared in scenes when Dodger steals a gentleman's wallet outside the book shop and also when Oliver is in court charged with the robbery. Hayter used to have a tree house in his back garden where he would retire of an evening to learn and practise his lines from his current script. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Hayter, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

The Avengers

Lawrence of Arabia

Are You Being Served?

The Onedin Line

The World of Hammer

Mark Saber

Father Brown

The Blue Lagoon

All Movies (92)

• The Funny Blokes of British Comedy2005 · as Mr. Percival Tebbs (archive footage) (uncredited)
• The Light Princess1978 · as Owl (voice)
• The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones1976 · as Briggs
• Burke & Hare1972 · as Dr. Selby
• Not Tonight, Darling1971 · as Mr. Finlay / grocer owner
• The Blood on Satan's Claw1971 · as Squire Middleton
• The Firechasers1971 · as Inspector Herman
• The Horror of Frankenstein1970 · as Bailiff
• Song of Norway1970 · as Butler to Berg
• David Copperfield1969 · as Porter
• Oliver!1968 · as Mr. Jessop
• A Challenge for Robin Hood1967 · as Friar Tuck
• Stranger in the House1967 · as Harry Hawkins
• Lawrence of Arabia1962 · as Sheik in Arab Council (uncredited)
• Out of the Fog1962 · as Daniels
• Go to Blazes1962 · as Pipe Smoker
• You'll Never See Me Again1959 · as Joe Alden
• The Boy and the Bridge1959 · as Tugboat Skipper
• The 39 Steps1959 · as Mr Memory
• The Captain's Table1959 · as Chief Engineer Earnshaw
• I Was Monty's Double1958 · as Sgt. Adams
• The Big Money1958 · as Mr Frith
• Gideon's Day1958 · as Robert Mason
• Gideon's Day1958 · as Mason
• Sail Into Danger1957 · as Monty
• The Heart Within1957 · as Grandfather Willard
• Carry On Admiral1957 · as Sir Henry Tomkinson (uncredited)
• Mañana...1957 · as Silvestre
• Seven Waves Away1957 · as 'Cookie' Morrow
• It's a Wonderful World1956 · as Bert Fielding
• Port Afrique1956 · as Nino
• Keep It Clean1956 · as Mr. Bouncenboy
• Touch and Go1955 · as Kimball
• Land of the Pharaohs1955 · as Mikka
• Beau Brummell1954 · as Mortimer
• The Awakening1954 · as The Chief
• For Better, for Worse1954 · as Plumber
• A Day to Remember1953 · as Fred Collins
• Will Any Gentleman...?1953 · as Dr. Smith
• Always a Bride1953 · as Dutton
• Four Sided Triangle1953 · as Dr. Harvey
• Royal Review1953 · as Commentator (voice)
• The Great Game1953 · as Joe Lawson
• The Pickwick Papers1952 · as Samuel Pickwick
• The Crimson Pirate1952 · as Prof. Prudence
• I'm A Stranger1952 · as Horatio Flowerdew
• The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men1952 · as Friar Tuck
• Calling Bulldog Drummond1951 · as Bill
• Tom Brown's Schooldays1951 · as Old Thomas
• Flesh and Blood1951 · as Sir Douglas Manley
• The Woman with No Name1950 · as Captain Bradshawe
• Trio1950 · as Albert Foreman (segment "The Verger")
• Waterfront1950 · as Ship's Captain
• Night and the City1950 · as Figler (uncredited)
• Your Witness1950 · as Prouty
• Morning Departure1950
• Scrapbook for 19331950 · as (voice)
• The Spider and the Fly1949 · as Mayor
• Passport to Pimlico1949 · as Commissionaire
• Dear Mr. Prohack1949 · as Carrell Quire
• Helter Skelter1949 · as Inn Landlord (uncredited)
• Don't Ever Leave Me1949 · as Man with Summons
• All Over the Town1949 · as Councillor Baines
• For Them That Trespass1949 · as John Craigie 'Jocko' Glenn
• The Blue Lagoon1949 · as Dr Murdock
• Once a Jolly Swagman1949 · as Pa Fox
• Silent Dust1949 · as Pringle
• No Room at the Inn1948 · as Councilor Trouncer
• Bonnie Prince Charlie1948 · as Kingsburgh
• Quartet1948 · as Foreman of the Jury (segment "The Alien Corn")
• Woman Hater1948 · as Mr. Burrell
• The Fallen Idol1948 · as Perry
• A Song for Tomorrow1948 · as Nicholas Klausmann
• My Brother Jonathan1948 · as Tom Morse
• Vice Versa1948 · as Bandmaster
• The End of the River1947 · as Chico
• The Ghosts of Berkeley Square1947 · as Capt. Dodds (uncredited)
• The October Man1947 · as Garage Man
• Captain Boycott1947 · as Music Hall Comic (uncredited)
• The Mark of Cain1947 · as Dr. White
• The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby1947 · as Ned and Charles Cheeryble
• School for Secrets1946 · as Warrant Officer
• The Laughing Lady1946 · as Ostler
• Sailors Three1940 · as Hans
• Band Waggon1940 · as (uncredited)
• Come on George!1939 · as Barker
• Murder in Soho1939 · as Nick Green
• The Moon in the Yellow River1938 · as Captain Potts
• Marigold1938 · as Peter Gloag
• Big Fella1938 · as Chuck
• Aren't Men Beasts!1937 · as Minor Role
• Sensation1936 · as Jock

All TV Shows (15)

• The World of Hammer1994 · as Self (archive footage)
• Father Brown1974 · as Sir Aaron Armstrong
• Are You Being Served?1972 · as Mr. Tebbs
• The Onedin Line1971 · as Captain Webster
• The Adventures of Don Quick1970 · as Hendenno
• The Flaxton Boys1969 · as Nathan
• The World of Wodehouse1967 · as Smithers
• The Avengers1961 · as Ticket Collector
• Fair Game1958 · as Mr Shaw
• Huntingtower1957 · as Dickson McCunn
• Armchair Theatre1956 · as Bert Taylor
• Armchair Theatre1956 · as Arthur Tanner
• Armchair Theatre1956 · as Mayor
• Armchair Theatre1956 · as Joe Alden
• Mark Saber1954 · as Longhair Smith