Acting · Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK · Born April 23, 1922
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.
MovieWithout Air
1997
MovieWillie's War
1994
as Grandfather
More Children's Holiday Favourites
1990
as Igor (voice)
TVJeeves and Wooster
1990
as Vicar
More Children's Summer Stories
1989
as Igor (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
1989
as Igor/Giant (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
1989
as Igor (voice)
TVCount Duckula
1988
as Igor (voice)
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
1988
as Sea Rat (voice)
MovieHard Road
1988
as Psychiatrist
TVBig Muzzy
1987
as Muzzy (voice)
MovieThe Doctor and the Devils
1985
as Dr Stevens
TVBulman
1985
as Sir Thomas Boycott
MovieThe Shooting Party
1985
as Sir Harry Stamp
MovieThe Bounty
1984
as Prosecuting Captain
MovieA Swarm in May
1983
as Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
TVScarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
MovieThe Return of the Soldier
1983
as Brigadier General
TVThe Agatha Christie Hour
1982
as Colonel Jaggers
Friends and Other Lovers
1981
as Mr. Franklyn
MovieThe Life and Times of David Lloyd George
1981
as Lord Runciman
MovieThe Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
1981
as Garkbit (Head Waiter)
TVThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
1981
as Garkbit (Head Waiter)
Escape
1980
MovieWhinfrey's Last Case
1979
as General Chapman
TVShoestring
1979
as Judge
MovieHenry VIII
1979
as Lord Chancellor
TVA Horseman Riding By
1978
as Lord Gilroy
Hawkmoor
1978
as John Stedman
TVAll Creatures Great and Small
1978
as Reverend Henty
The Children of the New Forest
1977
as Justice Booth
TVTarget
1977
as Chief Officer
MovieThe Seven-Per-Cent Solution
1976
as Dr. Schultz
MovieThe Man Who Would Be King
1975
as District Commissioner
TVPoldark
1975
as Ralph Allen Daniell
TVDawson's Weekly
1975
MovieSoap Opera in Stockwell
1973
as Detective
Black and Blue
1973
as Detective
MovieBig Zapper
1973
as Jeremiah Horn
Away from It All
1973
as Graham
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
1972
as Watts
TVVan der Valk
1972
as Minister
TVThe Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
1971
as James Ladbroke, Q.C.
Brett
1971
TVBudgie
1971
as Mr. Pratt
The Ten Commandments
1971
as Herbert Ward
MovieThe Yes Girls
1971
as King Reiter
MovieTrog
1970
as Dr. Selbourne
TVUFO
1970
as English Delegate
MovieEmma's Time
1970
as Emma's father
MovieGoodbye, Mr. Chips
1969
as Price (uncredited)
TVThe Main Chance
1969
as Derrick Asher
MovieDoctor Who: The Space Pirates
1969
as General Hermack
MovieNight After Night After Night
1969
as Judge Lomax
MovieA Twist of Sand
1968
as Inspector Seekert
MovieHow I Won the War
1967
as Toby
MovieA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
1966
as Shopkeeper
The Last Invasion
1966
TVYou Can't Win
1966
TVAdam Adamant Lives!
1966
as William E. Simms
MovieStranger in the Family
1965
as Evans
TVOut of the Unknown
1965
as Evans
TVThe Wednesday Play
1964
as Lt. Krov
TVDetective
1964
as Inspector Dubois
TVThe Protectors
1964
as Hartnell
TVDoctor Who
1963
as General Nicolai Hermack
Festival
1963
as Voice of God (voice)
TVEspionage
1963
as Brent
TVThe Spread of the Eagle
1963
as Casca
MovieA Prize of Arms
1962
as MO
MovieSolo for Sparrow
1962
as Inspector Hudson
TVDr. Finlay's Casebook
1962
TVRichard the Lionheart
1962
as Knight
MovieThe Traitors
1962
as Burton
TVA for Andromeda
1961
as Major Quadring
TVThe Avengers
1961
MovieTwo-Way Stretch
1960
as Prison Visitor (uncredited)
TVDanger Man
1960
as Third Secretary
MovieThere Was a Crooked Man
1960
as Police Sergeant
TVAn Age of Kings
1960
MovieThe Professionals
1960
as Edwards
TVNo Hiding Place
1959
MovieA Night to Remember
1958
as Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
MovieThe Silent Enemy
1958
as Navy Doctor
TVPride and Prejudice
1958
as Mr Collins
Nicholas Nickleby
1957
as Lord Frederick Verisopht
MovieCat Girl
1957
as Richard Johnson
TVThe Adventures of Sir Lancelot
1956
as Caradoc
TVThe Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
1955
as Citizen (uncredited)
MovieThe Men of Sherwood Forest
1954
TVMark Saber
1954
as Newsvendor
MovieThe Gay Dog
1954
as Pub Customer
MovieTrouble in Store
1953
as Bus Passenger (uncredited)
MovieBehind the Headlines
1953
MoviePool of London
1951
as Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
MovieThe Blue Lamp
1950
as Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
TVSunday Night Theatre
1950
as David Gottlieb
MovieSaraband for Dead Lovers
1948
as Reveller
MovieBrief Encounter
1945
as Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
MovieJohnny Frenchman
1945
as Choir Member (uncredited)
MovieThis Happy Breed
1944
as Mourner
MovieDeadlock
1943
as Postman
MovieMillions Like Us
1943
as Old Man
MovieThe Gentle Sex
1943
as Postman (uncredited)
