Jack May
Acting
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.
TV Shows(46)
Jeeves and Wooster
Vicar
1990
Count Duckula
Igor (voice)
1988
Big Muzzy
Muzzy (voice)
1987
Bulman
Sir Thomas Boycott
1985
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
The Agatha Christie Hour
Colonel Jaggers
1982
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Garkbit (Head Waiter)
1981
Escape
1980
Shoestring
Judge
1979
A Horseman Riding By
Lord Gilroy
1978
Hawkmoor
John Stedman
1978
All Creatures Great and Small
Reverend Henty
1978
The Children of the New Forest
Justice Booth
1977
Target
Chief Officer
1977
Poldark
Ralph Allen Daniell
1975
Dawson's Weekly
1975
Black and Blue
Detective
1973
Van der Valk
Minister
1972
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
James Ladbroke, Q.C.
1971
Brett
1971
Budgie
Mr. Pratt
1971
The Ten Commandments
Herbert Ward
1971
UFO
English Delegate
1970
The Main Chance
Derrick Asher
1969
You Can't Win
1966
Adam Adamant Lives!
1966
Out of the Unknown
Evans
1965
The Wednesday Play
Lt. Krov
1964
Detective
Inspector Dubois
1964
Doctor Who
General Nicolai Hermack
1963
Festival
Voice of God (voice)
1963
Espionage
Brent
1963
The Spread of the Eagle
Casca
1963
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
1962
Richard the Lionheart
Knight
1962
A for Andromeda
Major Quadring
1961
The Avengers
1961
Danger Man
Third Secretary
1960
An Age of Kings
1960
No Hiding Place
1959
Pride and Prejudice
Mr Collins
1958
Nicholas Nickleby
Lord Frederick Verisopht
1957
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
Caradoc
1956
The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
Citizen (uncredited)
1955
Mark Saber
Newsvendor
1954
Sunday Night Theatre
David Gottlieb
1950
Movies(56)
Without Air
1997
Willie's War
Grandfather
1994
More Children's Holiday Favourites
Igor (voice)
1990
More Children's Summer Stories
Igor (voice)
1989
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Igor/Giant (voice)
1989
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
Igor (voice)
1989
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Sea Rat (voice)
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
The Return of the Soldier
Brigadier General
1983
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
Whinfrey's Last Case
General Chapman
1979
Henry VIII
Lord Chancellor
1979
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Dr. Schultz
1976
The Man Who Would Be King
District Commissioner
1975
Soap Opera in Stockwell
Detective
1973
Big Zapper
Jeremiah Horn
1973
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
Watts
1972
The Yes Girls
King Reiter
1971
Trog
Dr. Selbourne
1970
Emma's Time
Emma's father
1970
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Price (uncredited)
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
Stranger in the Family
Evans
1965
A Prize of Arms
MO
1962
Solo for Sparrow
Inspector Hudson
1962
The Traitors
Burton
1962
Two-Way Stretch
Prison Visitor (uncredited)
1960
There Was a Crooked Man
Police Sergeant
1960
The Professionals
Edwards
1960
A Night to Remember
Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
1958
The Silent Enemy
Navy Doctor
1958
Cat Girl
Richard Johnson
1957
The Men of Sherwood Forest
1954
The Gay Dog
Pub Customer
1954
Trouble in Store
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
1953
Behind the Headlines
1953
Pool of London
Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
1951
The Blue Lamp
Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
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