Jack May
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 23, 1922
- Died
- September 19, 1997 (aged 75)
- Birthplace
- Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK
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
Filmography
Without Air
Movie
Willie's War
Movie · as Grandfather
More Children's Holiday Favourites
Movie · as Igor (voice)
Jeeves and Wooster
TV · as Vicar · 1 ep
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Movie · as Igor/Giant (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
Movie · as Igor (voice)
More Children's Summer Stories
Movie · as Igor (voice)
Hard Road
Movie · as Psychiatrist
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Movie · as Sea Rat (voice)
Count Duckula
TV · as Igor (voice) · 65 eps
Big Muzzy
TV · as Muzzy (voice) · 6 eps
The Doctor and the Devils
Movie · as Dr Stevens
The Shooting Party
Movie · as Sir Harry Stamp
Bulman
TV · as Sir Thomas Boycott · 1 ep
The Bounty
Movie · as Prosecuting Captain
The Return of the Soldier
Movie · as Brigadier General
A Swarm in May
Movie · as Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
TV · 1 ep
The Agatha Christie Hour
TV · as Colonel Jaggers · 1 ep
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
Movie · as Garkbit (Head Waiter)
Friends and Other Lovers
Movie · as Mr. Franklyn
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George
Movie · as Lord Runciman
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
TV · as Garkbit (Head Waiter) · 1 ep
Escape
TV · 1 ep
Whinfrey's Last Case
Movie · as General Chapman
Henry VIII
Movie · as Lord Chancellor
Shoestring
TV · as Judge · 1 ep
Hawkmoor
TV · as John Stedman · 5 eps
All Creatures Great and Small
TV · as Reverend Henty · 1 ep
A Horseman Riding By
TV · as Lord Gilroy · 3 eps
Target
TV · as Chief Officer · 1 ep
The Children of the New Forest
TV · as Justice Booth · 1 ep
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Movie · as Dr. Schultz
The Man Who Would Be King
Movie · as District Commissioner
Dawson's Weekly
TV · 1 ep
Poldark
TV · as Ralph Allen Daniell · 2 eps
Soap Opera in Stockwell
Movie · as Detective
Big Zapper
Movie · as Jeremiah Horn
Black and Blue
TV · as Detective · 1 ep
Away from It All
TV · as Graham · 1 ep
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
Movie · as Watts
Van der Valk
TV · as Minister · 1 ep
The Yes Girls
Movie · as King Reiter
Brett
TV · as Mason · 1 ep
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
TV · as James Ladbroke, Q.C. · 1 ep
Budgie
TV · as Mr. Pratt · 1 ep
The Ten Commandments
TV · as Herbert Ward · 1 ep
Emma's Time
Movie · as Emma's father
Trog
Movie · as Dr. Selbourne
UFO
TV · as English Delegate · 1 ep
Night After Night After Night
Movie · as Judge Lomax
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Movie · as Price (uncredited)
Doctor Who: The Space Pirates
Movie · as General Hermack
The Main Chance
TV · as Derrick Asher, Harry Turner · 1 ep
A Twist of Sand
Movie · as Inspector Seekert
How I Won the War
Movie · as Toby
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Movie · as Shopkeeper
The Last Invasion
Movie
Adam Adamant Lives!
TV · as William E. Simms · 27 eps
You Can't Win
TV · 1 ep
Stranger in the Family
Movie · as Evans
Out of the Unknown
TV · as Evans · 1 ep
Six Shades of Black
TV · as Gregory Hawk · 1 ep
The Wednesday Play
TV · as Lt. Krov · 1 ep
Detective
TV · as Inspector Dubois · 1 ep
The Protectors
TV · as Hartnell · 1 ep
In Search of Sierra Nine
Movie · as Father Gabriel
The Spread of the Eagle
TV · as Casca · 2 eps
Festival
TV · as Voice of God (voice) · 1 ep
Doctor Who
TV · as General Nicolai Hermack · 1 ep
Espionage
TV · as Brent · 1 ep
The Traitors
Movie · as Burton
A Prize of Arms
Movie · as MO
Solo for Sparrow
Movie · as Inspector Hudson
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
TV · 1 ep
Richard the Lionheart
TV · as Knight · 1 ep
The Avengers
TV · 1 ep
A for Andromeda
TV · as Major Quadring · 2 eps
The Professionals
Movie · as Edwards
There Was a Crooked Man
Movie · as Police Sergeant
Two-Way Stretch
Movie · as Prison Visitor (uncredited)
An Age of Kings
TV · as Duke of York · 4 eps
Danger Man
TV · as Third Secretary · 1 ep
No Hiding Place
TV · as Major Westbrook · 5 eps
A Night to Remember
Movie · as Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
The Silent Enemy
Movie · as Navy Doctor
Pride and Prejudice
TV · as Mr Collins · 2 eps
Cat Girl
Movie · as Richard Johnson
Nicholas Nickleby
TV · as Lord Frederick Verisopht · 3 eps
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
TV · as Caradoc · 1 ep
The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
TV · as Citizen (uncredited) · 1 ep
The Men of Sherwood Forest
Movie
The Gay Dog
Movie · as Pub Customer
Child's Play
Movie · as Bob Crouch
Mark Saber
TV · as Newsvendor · 1 ep
Behind the Headlines
Movie
Trouble in Store
Movie · as Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Pool of London
Movie · as Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
The Blue Lamp
Movie · as Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
Sunday Night Theatre
TV · as David Gottlieb, Burton · 1 ep
Saraband for Dead Lovers
Movie · as Reveller
Brief Encounter
Movie · as Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
Johnny Frenchman
Movie · as Choir Member (uncredited)
This Happy Breed
Movie · as Mourner
The Gentle Sex
Movie · as Postman (uncredited)
Deadlock
Movie · as Postman
Millions Like Us
Movie · as Old Man