
James Hayter
Acting
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.
TV Shows(12)

The World of Hammer
Self (archive footage)
1994

Father Brown
1974

Are You Being Served?
Mr. Tebbs
1972

The Onedin Line
Captain Webster
1971

The Adventures of Don Quick
Hendenno
1970

The Flaxton Boys
Nathan
1969
The World of Wodehouse
Smithers
1967

The Avengers
Ticket Collector
1961
Fair Game
Mr Shaw
1958
Huntingtower
Dickson McCunn
1957

Armchair Theatre
Bert Taylor
1956

Mark Saber
Longhair Smith
1954
Movies(91)
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
Mr. Percival Tebbs (archive footage) (uncredited)
2005

The Light Princess
Owl (voice)
1978

The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones
Briggs
1976

Burke & Hare
Dr. Selby
1972

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

Oliver!
Mr. Jessop
1968

A Challenge for Robin Hood
Friar Tuck
1967

Stranger in the House
Harry Hawkins
1967

Lawrence of Arabia
Sheik in Arab Council (uncredited)
1962

Out of the Fog
Daniels
1962

Go to Blazes
Pipe Smoker
1962
You'll Never See Me Again
Joe Alden
1959

The Boy and the Bridge
Tugboat Skipper
1959

The 39 Steps
Mr Memory
1959

The Captain's Table
Chief Engineer Earnshaw
1959

I Was Monty's Double
Sgt. Adams
1958

The Big Money
Mr Frith
1958

Gideon's Day
Robert Mason
1958

Sail Into Danger
Monty
1957

The Heart Within
Grandfather Willard
1957

Carry On Admiral
Sir Henry Tomkinson (uncredited)
1957

Mañana...
Silvestre
1957

Seven Waves Away
'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
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

The Woman with No Name
Captain Bradshawe
1950

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
Scrapbook for 1933
(voice)
1950

The Spider and the Fly
Mayor
1949

Passport to Pimlico
Commissionaire
1949

Dear Mr. Prohack
Carrell Quire
1949

Helter Skelter
Inn Landlord (uncredited)
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

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 Ghosts of Berkeley Square
Capt. Dodds (uncredited)
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