James Hayter
Acting • Born 1907-04-23 – Died 1983-03-27
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.
Filmography
103 credits
The Horror of Frankenstein
Movie • 1970
Bailiff
The Fallen Idol
Movie • 1948
Perry
The Crimson Pirate
Movie • 1952
Prof. Prudence
The 39 Steps
Movie • 1959
Mr Memory
The Blood on Satan's Claw
Movie • 1971
Squire Middleton
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
Movie • 1952
Friar Tuck
Burke & Hare
Movie • 1972
Dr. Selby
Beau Brummell
Movie • 1954
Mortimer
For Better, for Worse
Movie • 1954
Plumber
Tom Brown's Schooldays
Movie • 1951
Old Thomas
The End of the River
Movie • 1947
Chico
Gideon's Day
Movie • 1958
Robert Mason
Royal Review
Movie • 1953
Commentator (voice)
A Challenge for Robin Hood
Movie • 1967
Friar Tuck
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Movie • 1947
Ned and Charles Cheeryble
The Moon in the Yellow River
Movie • 1938
Captain Potts
Once a Jolly Swagman
Movie • 1949
Pa Fox
Four Sided Triangle
Movie • 1953
Dr. Harvey
Seven Waves Away
Movie • 1957
'Cookie' Morrow
Murder in Soho
Movie • 1939
Nick Green
Trio
Movie • 1950
Albert Foreman (segment "The Verger")
The Pickwick Papers
Movie • 1952
Samuel Pickwick
Always a Bride
Movie • 1953
Dutton
The Big Money
Movie • 1958
Mr Frith
Dear Mr. Prohack
Movie • 1949
Carrell Quire
Silent Dust
Movie • 1949
Pringle
I'm A Stranger
Movie • 1952
Horatio Flowerdew
Out of the Fog
Movie • 1962
Daniels
Song of Norway
Movie • 1970
Butler to Berg
A Day to Remember
Movie • 1953
Fred Collins
A Song for Tomorrow
Movie • 1948
Nicholas Klausmann
Marigold
Movie • 1938
Peter Gloag
Big Fella
Movie • 1938
Chuck
The Blue Lagoon
Movie • 1949
Dr Murdock
Bonnie Prince Charlie
Movie • 1948
Kingsburgh
All Over the Town
Movie • 1949
Councillor Baines
Port Afrique
Movie • 1956
Nino
The Captain's Table
Movie • 1959
Chief Engineer Earnshaw
Touch and Go
Movie • 1955
Kimball
The Great Game
Movie • 1953
Joe Lawson
It's a Wonderful World
Movie • 1956
Bert Fielding
David Copperfield
Movie • 1969
Porter
Not Tonight, Darling
Movie • 1971
Mr. Finlay / grocer owner
Come on George!
Movie • 1939
Barker
For Them That Trespass
Movie • 1949
John Craigie 'Jocko' Glenn
My Brother Jonathan
Movie • 1948
Tom Morse
Keep It Clean
Movie • 1956
Mr. Bouncenboy
Band Waggon
Movie • 1940
(uncredited)
Lawrence of Arabia
Movie • 1962
Sheik in Arab Council (uncredited)
Morning Departure
Movie • 1950
Sensation
Movie • 1936
Jock
Aren't Men Beasts!
Movie • 1937
Minor Role
Passport to Pimlico
Movie • 1949
Commissionaire
Oliver!
Movie • 1968
Mr. Jessop
Flesh and Blood
Movie • 1951
Sir Douglas Manley
The Firechasers
Movie • 1971
Inspector Herman
Land of the Pharaohs
Movie • 1955
Mikka
The Light Princess
Movie • 1978
Owl (voice)
Mañana...
Movie • 1957
Silvestre
The October Man
Movie • 1947
Garage Man
Waterfront
Movie • 1950
Ship's Captain
The Awakening
Movie • 1954
The Chief
Stranger in the House
Movie • 1967
Harry Hawkins
Your Witness
Movie • 1950
Prouty
Sailors Three
Movie • 1940
Hans
Night and the City
Movie • 1950
Figler (uncredited)
The Heart Within
Movie • 1957
Grandfather Willard
Go to Blazes
Movie • 1962
Pipe Smoker
School for Secrets
Movie • 1946
Warrant Officer
Calling Bulldog Drummond
Movie • 1951
Bill
I Was Monty's Double
Movie • 1958
Sgt. Adams
Captain Boycott
Movie • 1947
Music Hall Comic (uncredited)
Helter Skelter
Movie • 1949
Inn Landlord (uncredited)
Will Any Gentleman...?
Movie • 1953
Dr. Smith
Gideon's Day
Movie • 1958
Mason
Woman Hater
Movie • 1948
Mr. Burrell
No Room at the Inn
Movie • 1948
Councilor Trouncer
Don't Ever Leave Me
Movie • 1949
Man with Summons
The Laughing Lady
Movie • 1946
Ostler
The Spider and the Fly
Movie • 1949
Mayor
Sail Into Danger
Movie • 1957
Monty
The Mark of Cain
Movie • 1947
Dr. White
Vice Versa
Movie • 1948
Bandmaster
The Boy and the Bridge
Movie • 1959
Tugboat Skipper
Quartet
Movie • 1948
Foreman of the Jury (segment "The Alien Corn")
You'll Never See Me Again
Movie • 1959
Joe Alden
Carry On Admiral
Movie • 1957
Sir Henry Tomkinson (uncredited)
The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones
Movie • 1976
Briggs
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
Movie • 2005
Mr. Percival Tebbs (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Ghosts of Berkeley Square
Movie • 1947
Capt. Dodds (uncredited)
The Woman with No Name
Movie • 1950
Captain Bradshawe
Scrapbook for 1933
Movie • 1950
(voice)
Are You Being Served?
TV • 1972
Mr. Tebbs
The Avengers
TV • 1961
Ticket Collector
Father Brown
TV • 1974
The Onedin Line
TV • 1971
Captain Webster
Huntingtower
TV • 1957
Dickson McCunn
The World of Wodehouse
TV • 1967
Smithers
The Adventures of Don Quick
TV • 1970
Hendenno
The World of Hammer
TV • 1994
Self (archive footage)
The Flaxton Boys
TV • 1969
Nathan
Mark Saber
TV • 1954
Longhair Smith
Fair Game
TV • 1958
Mr Shaw