Jack May
- Acting
- April 23, 1922 · Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK
- September 19, 1997
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
- Willie's War · Grandfather
- More Children's Holiday Favourites · Igor (Voice)
- Jeeves and Wooster · Vicar
- More Children's Summer Stories · Igor (Voice)
- Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1 · Igor/Giant (Voice)
- Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2 · Igor (Voice)
- Count Duckula · Igor (Voice)
- Children's Favourites - Volume 1 · Sea Rat (Voice)
- Hard Road · Psychiatrist
- Big Muzzy · Muzzy (Voice)
- The Doctor and the Devils · Dr Stevens
- Bulman · Sir Thomas Boycott
- The Shooting Party · Sir Harry Stamp
- The Bounty · Prosecuting Captain
- A Swarm in May · Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King
- The Return of the Soldier · Brigadier General
- The Agatha Christie Hour · Colonel Jaggers
- Friends and Other Lovers · Mr. Franklyn
- The Life and Times of David Lloyd George · Lord Runciman
- The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy · Garkbit (Head Waiter)
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy · Garkbit (Head Waiter)
- Escape
- Whinfrey's Last Case · General Chapman
- Shoestring · Judge
- Henry VIII · Lord Chancellor
- A Horseman Riding By · Lord Gilroy
- Hawkmoor · John Stedman
- All Creatures Great and Small · Reverend Henty
- The Children of the New Forest · Justice Booth
- Target · Chief Officer
- The Seven-Per-Cent Solution · Dr. Schultz
- The Man Who Would Be King · District Commissioner
- Poldark · Ralph Allen Daniell
- Dawson's Weekly
- Soap Opera in Stockwell · Detective
- Black and Blue · Detective
- Big Zapper · Jeremiah Horn
- Away from It All · Graham
- The Breaking of Colonel Keyser · Watts
- Van der Valk · Minister
- The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes · James Ladbroke, Q.C.
- Brett · Mason
- Budgie · Mr. Pratt
- The Ten Commandments · Herbert Ward
- The Yes Girls · King Reiter
- Trog · Dr. Selbourne
- UFO · English Delegate
- Emma's Time · Emma's father
- Goodbye, Mr. Chips · Price (uncredited)
- The Main Chance · Derrick Asher, Harry Turner
- Doctor Who: The Space Pirates · General Hermack
- Night After Night After Night · Judge Lomax
- A Twist of Sand · Inspector Seekert
- How I Won the War · Toby
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum · Shopkeeper
- The Last Invasion
- You Can't Win
- Adam Adamant Lives! · William E. Simms
- Stranger in the Family · Evans
- Out of the Unknown · Evans
- Six Shades of Black · Gregory Hawk
- The Wednesday Play · Lt. Krov
- Detective · Inspector Dubois
- The Protectors · Hartnell
- Doctor Who · General Nicolai Hermack
- Festival · Voice of God (Voice)
- Espionage · Brent
- In Search of Sierra Nine · Father Gabriel
- The Spread of the Eagle · Casca
- A Prize of Arms · MO
- Solo for Sparrow · Inspector Hudson
- Dr. Finlay's Casebook
- Richard the Lionheart · Knight
- The Traitors · Burton
- A for Andromeda · Major Quadring
- The Avengers
- Two-Way Stretch · Prison Visitor (uncredited)
- Danger Man · Third Secretary