Jack May
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.
Filmography
Without Air
Without Air
Willie's War
as Grandfather
Willie's War
as Grandfather
More Children's Holiday Favourites
as Igor (voice)
More Children's Holiday Favourites
as Igor (voice)
More Children's Summer Stories
as Igor (voice)
More Children's Summer Stories
as Igor (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
as Igor/Giant (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
as Igor/Giant (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
as Igor (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
as Igor (voice)
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
as Sea Rat (voice)
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
as Sea Rat (voice)
Hard Road
as Psychiatrist
Hard Road
as Psychiatrist
The Doctor and the Devils
as Dr Stevens
The Doctor and the Devils
as Dr Stevens
The Shooting Party
as Sir Harry Stamp
The Shooting Party
as Sir Harry Stamp
The Bounty
as Prosecuting Captain
The Bounty
as Prosecuting Captain
A Swarm in May
as Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
A Swarm in May
as Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
The Return of the Soldier
as Brigadier General
The Return of the Soldier
as Brigadier General
Friends and Other Lovers
as Mr. Franklyn
Friends and Other Lovers
as Mr. Franklyn
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George
as Lord Runciman
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George
as Lord Runciman
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
as Garkbit (Head Waiter)
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
as Garkbit (Head Waiter)
Whinfrey's Last Case
as General Chapman
Whinfrey's Last Case
as General Chapman
Henry VIII
as Lord Chancellor
Henry VIII
as Lord Chancellor
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
as Dr. Schultz
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
as Dr. Schultz
The Man Who Would Be King
as District Commissioner
The Man Who Would Be King
as District Commissioner
Soap Opera in Stockwell
as Detective
Soap Opera in Stockwell
as Detective
Big Zapper
as Jeremiah Horn
Big Zapper
as Jeremiah Horn
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
as Watts
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
as Watts
The Yes Girls
as King Reiter
The Yes Girls
as King Reiter
Trog
as Dr. Selbourne
Trog
as Dr. Selbourne
Emma's Time
as Emma's father
Emma's Time
as Emma's father
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
as Price (uncredited)
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
as Price (uncredited)
Doctor Who: The Space Pirates
as General Hermack
Doctor Who: The Space Pirates
as General Hermack
Night After Night After Night
as Judge Lomax
Night After Night After Night
as Judge Lomax
A Twist of Sand
as Inspector Seekert
A Twist of Sand
as Inspector Seekert
How I Won the War
as Toby
How I Won the War
as Toby
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
as Shopkeeper
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
as Shopkeeper
The Last Invasion
The Last Invasion
Stranger in the Family
as Evans
Stranger in the Family
as Evans
In Search of Sierra Nine
as Father Gabriel
In Search of Sierra Nine
as Father Gabriel
A Prize of Arms
as MO
A Prize of Arms
as MO
Solo for Sparrow
as Inspector Hudson
Solo for Sparrow
as Inspector Hudson
The Traitors
as Burton
The Traitors
as Burton
Two-Way Stretch
as Prison Visitor (uncredited)
Two-Way Stretch
as Prison Visitor (uncredited)
There Was a Crooked Man
as Police Sergeant
There Was a Crooked Man
as Police Sergeant
The Professionals
as Edwards
The Professionals
as Edwards
A Night to Remember
as Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
A Night to Remember
as Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
The Silent Enemy
as Navy Doctor
The Silent Enemy
as Navy Doctor
Cat Girl
as Richard Johnson
Cat Girl
as Richard Johnson
The Men of Sherwood Forest
The Men of Sherwood Forest
The Gay Dog
as Pub Customer
The Gay Dog
as Pub Customer
Trouble in Store
as Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Trouble in Store
as Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Behind the Headlines
Behind the Headlines
Pool of London
as Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
Pool of London
as Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
The Blue Lamp
as Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
The Blue Lamp
as Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
Saraband for Dead Lovers
as Reveller
Saraband for Dead Lovers
as Reveller
Brief Encounter
as Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
Brief Encounter
as Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
Johnny Frenchman
as Choir Member (uncredited)
Johnny Frenchman
as Choir Member (uncredited)
This Happy Breed
as Mourner
This Happy Breed
as Mourner
Deadlock
as Postman
Deadlock
as Postman
Millions Like Us
as Old Man
Millions Like Us
as Old Man
The Gentle Sex
as Postman (uncredited)
The Gentle Sex
as Postman (uncredited)