Jack May
Known for Acting · 102 credits
- Born
- 1922-04-23
- Died
- 1997-09-19
- Place of birth
- Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK
Biography
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
TV Shows (46)
Doctor Who
1963
as General Nicolai Hermack
The Avengers
1961
The Wednesday Play
1964
as Lt. Krov
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
All Creatures Great and Small
1978
as Reverend Henty
No Hiding Place
1959
as Major Westbrook
Danger Man
1960
as Third Secretary
Jeeves and Wooster
1990
as Vicar
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
1962
Sunday Night Theatre
1950
as David Gottlieb
UFO
1970
as English Delegate
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
1971
as James Ladbroke, Q.C.
Van der Valk
1972
as Minister
Out of the Unknown
1965
as Evans
Festival
1963
as Voice of God (voice)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
1981
as Garkbit (Head Waiter)
Poldark
1975
as Ralph Allen Daniell
Espionage
1963
as Brent
Shoestring
1979
as Judge
Count Duckula
1988
as Igor (voice)
The Main Chance
1969
as Derrick Asher / Harry Turner
Detective
1964
as Inspector Dubois
Budgie
1971
as Mr. Pratt
Mark Saber
1954
as Newsvendor
Target
1977
as Chief Officer
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
1956
as Caradoc
The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
1955
as Citizen (uncredited)
The Agatha Christie Hour
1982
as Colonel Jaggers
An Age of Kings
1960
as Duke of York
Richard the Lionheart
1962
as Knight
Adam Adamant Lives!
1966
Bulman
1985
as Sir Thomas Boycott
Big Muzzy
1987
as Muzzy (voice)
Black and Blue
1973
as Detective
Brett
1971
as Mason
A for Andromeda
1961
as Major Quadring
The Ten Commandments
1971
as Herbert Ward
A Horseman Riding By
1978
as Lord Gilroy
Escape
1980
Nicholas Nickleby
1957
as Lord Frederick Verisopht
You Can't Win
1966
The Spread of the Eagle
1963
as Casca
Pride and Prejudice
1958
as Mr Collins
Dawson's Weekly
1975
Hawkmoor
1978
as John Stedman
The Children of the New Forest
1977
as Justice Booth
Movies (56)
The Bounty
1984
as Prosecuting Captain
A Night to Remember
1958
as Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
Brief Encounter
1945
as Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
The Man Who Would Be King
1975
as District Commissioner
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
1969
as Price (uncredited)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
1966
as Shopkeeper
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
1976
as Dr. Schultz
The Return of the Soldier
1983
as Brigadier General
Two-Way Stretch
1960
as Prison Visitor (uncredited)
Saraband for Dead Lovers
1948
as Reveller
The Blue Lamp
1950
as Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
This Happy Breed
1944
as Mourner
The Doctor and the Devils
1985
as Dr Stevens
The Men of Sherwood Forest
1954
Trog
1970
as Dr. Selbourne
The Silent Enemy
1958
as Navy Doctor
Pool of London
1951
as Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
How I Won the War
1967
as Toby
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
1981
as Garkbit (Head Waiter)
Cat Girl
1957
as Richard Johnson
Trouble in Store
1953
as Bus Passenger (uncredited)
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
1972
as Watts
Stranger in the Family
1965
as Evans
Henry VIII
1979
as Lord Chancellor
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George
1981
as Lord Runciman
The Gentle Sex
1943
as Postman (uncredited)
Johnny Frenchman
1945
as Choir Member (uncredited)
The Professionals
1960
as Edwards
A Prize of Arms
1962
as MO
Millions Like Us
1943
as Old Man
A Twist of Sand
1968
as Inspector Seekert
Night After Night After Night
1969
as Judge Lomax
Solo for Sparrow
1962
as Inspector Hudson
The Gay Dog
1954
as Pub Customer
Die Letzte Jagd
1985
as Sir Harry Stamp
Big Zapper
1973
as Jeremiah Horn
Willie's War
1994
as Grandfather
The Last Invasion
1966
There Was a Crooked Man
1960
as Police Sergeant
Soap Opera in Stockwell
1973
as Detective
Friends and Other Lovers
1981
as Mr. Franklyn
A Swarm in May
1983
as Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
The Traitors
1962
as Burton
Emma's Time
1970
as Emma's father
Doctor Who: The Space Pirates
1969
as General Hermack
Whinfrey's Last Case
1979
as General Chapman
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
1988
as Sea Rat (voice)
Hard Road
1988
as Psychiatrist
The Yes Girls
1971
as King Reiter
Deadlock
1943
as Postman
More Children's Holiday Favourites
1990
as Igor (voice)
Behind the Headlines
1953
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
1989
as Igor (voice)
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
1989
as Igor/Giant (voice)
More Children's Summer Stories
1989
as Igor (voice)
Without Air
1997
About Jack May
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… With 102 credits spanning from 1943 to 1997, Jack May has appeared in 56 films and 46 TV shows.
Fans searching for Jack May movies, Jack May filmography, or the latest projects starring Jack May can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Jack May Movies
- The Bounty (1984) — as Prosecuting Captain
- A Night to Remember (1958) — as Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
- Brief Encounter (1945) — as Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
- The Man Who Would Be King (1975) — as District Commissioner
- Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969) — as Price (uncredited)
Where to Watch Jack May Films
Most Jack May movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Jack May, check our movies catalogue and browse page.