Jack May
Acting • Born 1922-04-23 – Died 1997-09-19
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.
Filmography
103 credits
The Man Who Would Be King
Movie • 1975
District Commissioner
The Doctor and the Devils
Movie • 1985
Dr Stevens
Brief Encounter
Movie • 1945
Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
The Bounty
Movie • 1984
Prosecuting Captain
The Men of Sherwood Forest
Movie • 1954
The Gentle Sex
Movie • 1943
Postman (uncredited)
Emma's Time
Movie • 1970
Emma's father
The Professionals
Movie • 1960
Edwards
There Was a Crooked Man
Movie • 1960
Police Sergeant
A Night to Remember
Movie • 1958
Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
Night After Night After Night
Movie • 1969
Judge Lomax
The Traitors
Movie • 1962
Burton
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
Movie • 1981
Garkbit (Head Waiter)
The Blue Lamp
Movie • 1950
Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
Pool of London
Movie • 1951
Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Movie • 1969
Price (uncredited)
A Prize of Arms
Movie • 1962
MO
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
Movie • 1972
Watts
Friends and Other Lovers
Movie • 1981
Mr. Franklyn
Trog
Movie • 1970
Dr. Selbourne
Stranger in the Family
Movie • 1965
Evans
Soap Opera in Stockwell
Movie • 1973
Detective
Solo for Sparrow
Movie • 1962
Inspector Hudson
Cat Girl
Movie • 1957
Richard Johnson
The Silent Enemy
Movie • 1958
Navy Doctor
Whinfrey's Last Case
Movie • 1979
General Chapman
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Movie • 1976
Dr. Schultz
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George
Movie • 1981
Lord Runciman
Deadlock
Movie • 1943
Postman
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Movie • 1966
Shopkeeper
Henry VIII
Movie • 1979
Lord Chancellor
This Happy Breed
Movie • 1944
Mourner
Millions Like Us
Movie • 1943
Old Man
Big Zapper
Movie • 1973
Jeremiah Horn
How I Won the War
Movie • 1967
Toby
The Shooting Party
Movie • 1985
Sir Harry Stamp
Johnny Frenchman
Movie • 1945
Choir Member (uncredited)
The Return of the Soldier
Movie • 1983
Brigadier General
Willie's War
Movie • 1994
Grandfather
Hard Road
Movie • 1988
Psychiatrist
A Swarm in May
Movie • 1983
Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
Doctor Who: The Space Pirates
Movie • 1969
General Hermack
A Twist of Sand
Movie • 1968
Inspector Seekert
The Last Invasion
Movie • 1966
The Gay Dog
Movie • 1954
Pub Customer
Behind the Headlines
Movie • 1953
Saraband for Dead Lovers
Movie • 1948
Reveller
The Yes Girls
Movie • 1971
King Reiter
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Movie • 1988
Sea Rat (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Movie • 1989
Igor/Giant (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
Movie • 1989
Igor (voice)
More Children's Summer Stories
Movie • 1989
Igor (voice)
More Children's Holiday Favourites
Movie • 1990
Igor (voice)
Trouble in Store
Movie • 1953
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
The Wind in the Willows
Movie • 1984
Sea Rat (voice)
Without Air
Movie • 1997
Two-Way Stretch
Movie • 1960
Prison Visitor (uncredited)
Adam Adamant Lives!
TV • 1966
Jeeves and Wooster
TV • 1990
Vicar
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
TV • 1981
Garkbit (Head Waiter)
Count Duckula
TV • 1988
Igor (voice)
The Avengers
TV • 1961
UFO
TV • 1970
English Delegate
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
TV • 1983
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
TV • 1956
Caradoc
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
TV • 1962
Van der Valk
TV • 1972
Minister
No Hiding Place
TV • 1959
An Age of Kings
TV • 1960
The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
TV • 1955
Citizen (uncredited)
The Main Chance
TV • 1969
Derrick Asher
Nicholas Nickleby
TV • 1957
Dawson's Weekly
TV • 1975
Escape
TV • 1980
You Can't Win
TV • 1966
The Agatha Christie Hour
TV • 1982
Brett
TV • 1971
The Main Chance
TV • 1969
Harry Turner
Hawkmoor
TV • 1978
John Stedman
All Creatures Great and Small
TV • 1978
Reverend Henty
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
TV • 1971
James Ladbroke, Q.C.
Budgie
TV • 1971
Mr. Pratt
Danger Man
TV • 1960
Third Secretary
Sunday Night Theatre
TV • 1950
David Gottlieb
An Age of Kings
TV • 1960
Duke of York
The Spread of the Eagle
TV • 1963
Casca
The Wednesday Play
TV • 1964
Lt. Krov
The Ten Commandments
TV • 1971
Herbert Ward
Richard the Lionheart
TV • 1962
Knight
Festival
TV • 1963
Voice of God (voice)
Target
TV • 1977
Chief Officer
Black and Blue
TV • 1973
Detective
Pride and Prejudice
TV • 1958
Mr Collins
Brett
TV • 1971
Mason
Poldark
TV • 1975
Ralph Allen Daniell
Mark Saber
TV • 1954
Newsvendor
A Horseman Riding By
TV • 1978
Lord Gilroy
A for Andromeda
TV • 1961
Major Quadring
No Hiding Place
TV • 1959
Major Westbrook
Out of the Unknown
TV • 1965
Evans
Shoestring
TV • 1979
Judge
The Children of the New Forest
TV • 1977
Justice Booth
Bulman
TV • 1985
Sir Thomas Boycott