James Hayter
Born
April 23, 1907
Died
March 27, 1983 (75 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Lonavala, India
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.
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Known For
The Light Princess
Owl (voice)
1978
Father Brown
(1 episode)
1974
Are You Being Served?
Mr. Tebbs · (6 episodes)
1972
Burke & Hare
Dr. Selby
1972
The Onedin Line
Captain Webster · (10 episodes)
1971
Not Tonight, Darling
Mr. Finlay / grocer owner
1971
The Blood on Satan's Claw
Squire Middleton
1971
The Firechasers
Inspector Herman
1971
The Horror of Frankenstein
Bailiff
1970
Song of Norway
Butler to Berg
1970
David Copperfield
Porter
1969
The Flaxton Boys
Nathan · (13 episodes)
1969
Oliver!
Mr. Jessop
1968
A Challenge for Robin Hood
Friar Tuck
1967
Cop-Out
Harry Hawkins
1967
Lawrence of Arabia
Sheik in Arab Council (uncredited)
1962
Out of the Fog
Daniels
1962
Go to Blazes
Pipe Smoker
1962
The Avengers
Ticket Collector · (1 episode)
1961
The Boy and the Bridge
Tugboat Skipper
1959
The 39 Steps
Mr Memory
1959
The Captain's Table
Earnshaw
1959
I Was Monty's Double
Sgt. Adams
1958
Fair Game
(1 episode)
1958
The Big Money
Mr Frith
1958
Gideon's Day
Robert Mason
1958
Gideon's Day
Mason
1958
Sail Into Danger
Monty
1957
The Heart Within
Grandfather Willard
1957
Mañana...
Silvestre
1957
Abandon Ship
'Cookie' Morrow
1957
It's a Wonderful World
Bert Fielding
1956
Port Afrique
Nino
1956
Keep It Clean
Mr. Bouncenboy
1956
Touch and Go
Kimball
1955
Land of the Pharaohs
Mikka
1955
Beau Brummell
Mortimer
1954
The Awakening
The Chief
1954
For Better, for Worse
The Plumber
1954
A Day to Remember
Fred Collins
1953
Will Any Gentleman...?
Dr. Smith
1953
Always a Bride
Dutton
1953
Four Sided Triangle
Dr. Harvey
1953
Royal Review
Commentator (voice)
1953
The Great Game
Joe Lawson
1953
The Pickwick Papers
Samuel Pickwick
1952
The Crimson Pirate
Prof. Prudence
1952
I'm A Stranger
Horatio Flowerdew
1952
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
Friar Tuck
1952
Calling Bulldog Drummond
Bill
1951
Tom Brown's Schooldays
Old Thomas
1951
Flesh and Blood
Sir Douglas Manley
1951
Trio
Albert Foreman (segment "The Verger")
1950
Waterfront
Ship's Captain
1950
Night and the City
Figler (uncredited)
1950
Your Witness
Prouty
1950
Morning Departure
1950
The Spider and the Fly
Mayor
1949
Passport to Pimlico
Commissionaire
1949
Dear Mr. Prohack
Carrell Quire
1949
Don't Ever Leave Me
Man with Summons
1949
All Over the Town
Councillor Baines
1949
For Them That Trespass
John Craigie 'Jocko' Glenn
1949
The Blue Lagoon
Dr Murdock
1949
Once a Jolly Swagman
Pa Fox
1949
Silent Dust
Pringle
1949
Helter Skelter
Inn Landlord
1949
No Room at the Inn
Councilor Trouncer
1948
Bonnie Prince Charlie
Kingsburgh
1948
Quartet
Foreman of the Jury (segment "The Alien Corn")
1948
Woman Hater
Mr. Burrell
1948
The Fallen Idol
Perry
1948
A Song for Tomorrow
Nicholas Klausmann
1948
My Brother Jonathan
Tom Morse
1948
Vice Versa
Bandmaster
1948
The End of the River
Chico
1947
The October Man
Garage Man
1947
Captain Boycott
Music Hall Comic (uncredited)
1947
The Mark of Cain
Dr. White
1947
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Ned and Charles Cheeryble
1947
School for Secrets
Warrant Officer
1946
The Laughing Lady
Ostler
1946
Sailors Three
Hans
1940
Band Waggon
(uncredited)
1940
Come on George!
Barker
1939
Murder in Soho
Nick Green
1939
The Moon in the Yellow River
Captain Potts
1938
Marigold
Peter Gloag
1938
Big Fella
Chuck
1938
Aren't Men Beasts!
Minor Role
1937
Sensation
Jock
1936