Jack May
Born
April 23, 1922
Died
September 19, 1997 (75 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK
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
Willie's War
Grandfather
1994
Jeeves and Wooster
Vicar · (1 episode)
1990
Count Duckula
Igor (voice) · (65 episodes)
1988
Hard Road
Psychiatrist
1988
The Doctor and the Devils
Dr Stevens
1985
The Shooting Party
Sir Harry Stamp
1985
The Bounty
Prosecuting Captain
1984
A Swarm in May
Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
1983
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
(1 episode)
1983
The Cleopatras
Criton · (8 episodes)
1983
The Return of the Soldier
Brigadier General
1983
The Agatha Christie Hour
(1 episode)
1982
Friends and Other Lovers
Mr. Franklyn
1981
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George
Lord Runciman
1981
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
Garkbit (Head Waiter)
1981
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Garkbit (Head Waiter) · (1 episode)
1981
Escape
(1 episode)
1980
Whinfrey's Last Case
General Chapman
1979
Shoestring
(1 episode)
1979
Henry VIII
Lord Chancellor
1979
The BBC Television Shakespeare
Lord Chancellor · (1 episode)
1978
A Horseman Riding By
(13 episodes)
1978
Hawkmoor
John Stedman · (5 episodes)
1978
All Creatures Great and Small
Reverend Henty · (1 episode)
1978
Target
(1 episode)
1977
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Dr. Schultz
1976
The Man Who Would Be King
District Commissioner
1975
Dawson's Weekly
(1 episode)
1975
Soap Opera in Stockwell
Detective
1973
Black and Blue
(1 episode)
1973
Big Zapper
Jeremiah Horn
1973
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
Watts
1972
Van der Valk
Minister · (1 episode)
1972
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
James Ladbroke, Q.C. · (1 episode)
1971
Brett
(2 episodes)
1971
Budgie
Mr. Pratt · (1 episode)
1971
The Ten Commandments
Herbert Ward · (1 episode)
1971
The Yes Girls
King Reiter
1971
Trog
Dr. Selbourne
1970
UFO
English Delegate · (1 episode)
1970
Emma's Time
Emma's father
1970
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Price (uncredited)
1969
The Main Chance
Derrick Asher · (1 episode)
1969
The Main Chance
Harry Turner · (1 episode)
1969
Doctor Who: The Space Pirates
General Hermack
1969
Night After Night After Night
Judge Lomax
1969
A Twist of Sand
Inspector Seekert
1968
How I Won the War
Toby
1967
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Shopkeeper
1966
The Last Invasion
1966
You Can't Win
(1 episode)
1966
Adam Adamant Lives!
(29 episodes)
1966
Softly, Softly
(1 episode)
1966
Stranger in the Family
Evans
1965
The Wednesday Play
Lt. Krov · (1 episode)
1964
The Spread of the Eagle
Casca · (2 episodes)
1963
A Prize of Arms
MO
1962
Solo for Sparrow
Inspector Hudson
1962
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
(1 episode)
1962
Richard the Lionheart
Knight · (1 episode)
1962
The Traitors
Burton
1962
A for Andromeda
Major Quadring · (2 episodes)
1961
The Avengers
(1 episode)
1961
Danger Man
Third Secretary · (1 episode)
1960
There Was a Crooked Man
Police Sergeant
1960
An Age of Kings
(5 episodes)
1960
An Age of Kings
Duke of York · (1 episode)
1960
The Professionals
Edwards
1960
No Hiding Place
(6 episodes)
1959
A Night to Remember
Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
1958
The Silent Enemy
Navy Doctor
1958
Pride and Prejudice
Mr. Collins · (6 episodes)
1958
Nicholas Nickleby
(3 episodes)
1957
Cat Girl
Richard Johnson
1957
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
Caradoc · (1 episode)
1956
The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
Citizen (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1955
The Men of Sherwood Forest
1954
The Gay Dog
Pub Customer
1954
Behind the Headlines
1953
Pool of London
Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
1951
The Blue Lamp
Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
1950
Sunday Night Theatre
David Gottlieb · (1 episode)
1950
Saraband for Dead Lovers
Reveller
1948
Brief Encounter
Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
1945
Johnny Frenchman
Choir Member (uncredited)
1945
This Happy Breed
Mourner
1944
Deadlock
Postman
1943
Millions Like Us
Old Man
1943
The Gentle Sex
Postman (uncredited)
1943