Jack May
Known for: 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.
Filmography
Series
Doctor Who
General Nicolai Hermack
1963
Series
The Avengers
1961
Series
The Wednesday Play
Lt. Krov
1964
Series
No Hiding Place
1959
Series
No Hiding Place
Major Westbrook
1959
Series
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
Series
All Creatures Great and Small
Reverend Henty
1978
Series
Sunday Night Theatre
David Gottlieb
1950
Series
Sunday Night Theatre
Burton
1950
Series
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
1962
Series
Danger Man
Third Secretary
1960
Series
Jeeves and Wooster
Vicar
1990
Series
UFO
English Delegate
1970
Series
Count Duckula
Igor (voice)
1988
Series
Richard the Lionheart
Knight
1962
Series
Mark Saber
Newsvendor
1954
Series
Van der Valk
Minister
1972
Series
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Garkbit (Head Waiter)
1981
Series
Out of the Unknown
Evans
1965
Series
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
James Ladbroke, Q.C.
1971
Series
Poldark
Ralph Allen Daniell
1975
Series
The Agatha Christie Hour
Colonel Jaggers
1982
Series
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
Caradoc
1956
Series
Shoestring
Judge
1979
Series
The Main Chance
Derrick Asher
1969
Series
The Main Chance
Harry Turner
1969
Series
Espionage
Brent
1963
Series
Budgie
Mr. Pratt
1971
Series
Detective
Inspector Dubois
1964
Festival
Voice of God (voice)
1963
Series
The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
Citizen (uncredited)
1955
Series
Target
Chief Officer
1977
Series
An Age of Kings
1960
Series
An Age of Kings
Duke of York
1960
Series
Adam Adamant Lives!
William E. Simms
1966
Series
Bulman
Sir Thomas Boycott
1985
Series
Big Muzzy
Muzzy (voice)
1987
Film
The Bounty
Prosecuting Captain
1984
Film
The Man Who Would Be King
District Commissioner
1975
Film
Brief Encounter
Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
1945
Series
The Protectors
Hartnell
1964
Film
A Night to Remember
Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
1958
Black and Blue
Detective
1973
Series
A Horseman Riding By
Lord Gilroy
1978
The Ten Commandments
Herbert Ward
1971
Series
A for Andromeda
Major Quadring
1961
Series
The Spread of the Eagle
Casca
1963
Away from It All
Graham
1973
Escape
1980
Brett
1971
Brett
Mason
1971
Six Shades of Black
Gregory Hawk
1965
Film
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Shopkeeper
1966
Nicholas Nickleby
Lord Frederick Verisopht
1957
Series
Pride and Prejudice
Mr Collins
1958
Series
You Can't Win
1966
Film
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Dr. Schultz
1976
Film
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Price (uncredited)
1969
Film
The Doctor and the Devils
Dr Stevens
1985
Series
Dawson's Weekly
1975
Film
How I Won the War
Toby
1967
Film
Two-Way Stretch
Prison Visitor (uncredited)
1960
Film
Pool of London
Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
1951
Film
The Blue Lamp
Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
1950
Film
The Return of the Soldier
Brigadier General
1983
Film
Saraband for Dead Lovers
Reveller
1948
Film
The Silent Enemy
Navy Doctor
1958
Film
The Men of Sherwood Forest
1954
Hawkmoor
John Stedman
1978
Film
Trog
Dr. Selbourne
1970
Film
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George
Lord Runciman
1981
Film
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
Garkbit (Head Waiter)
1981
Film
This Happy Breed
Mourner
1944
Film
The Shooting Party
Sir Harry Stamp
1985
The Children of the New Forest
Justice Booth
1977
Film
A Twist of Sand
Inspector Seekert
1968
Film
A Prize of Arms
MO
1962
Film
Cat Girl
Richard Johnson
1957
Film
Emma's Time
Emma's father
1970
Film
The Gentle Sex
Postman (uncredited)
1943
Film
There Was a Crooked Man
Police Sergeant
1960
Film
Soap Opera in Stockwell
Detective
1973
Film
Millions Like Us
Old Man
1943
Film
Whinfrey's Last Case
General Chapman
1979
Film
Stranger in the Family
Evans
1965
Film
Doctor Who: The Space Pirates
General Hermack
1969
Film
Trouble in Store
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
1953
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Igor/Giant (voice)
1989
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
Watts
1972
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
Igor (voice)
1989
Film
Henry VIII
Lord Chancellor
1979
Film
Solo for Sparrow
Inspector Hudson
1962
Film
Night After Night After Night
Judge Lomax
1969
Film
The Yes Girls
King Reiter
1971
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Sea Rat (voice)
1988
Film
Child's Play
Bob Crouch
1954
Film
A Swarm in May
Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
1983
Film
The Traitors
Burton
1962
Film
Hard Road
Psychiatrist
1988
Film
Willie's War
Grandfather
1994
Friends and Other Lovers
Mr. Franklyn
1981
Film
Johnny Frenchman
Choir Member (uncredited)
1945
Film
Big Zapper
Jeremiah Horn
1973
Film
The Gay Dog
Pub Customer
1954
Film
The Professionals
Edwards
1960
More Children's Holiday Favourites
Igor (voice)
1990
The Last Invasion
1966
More Children's Summer Stories
Igor (voice)
1989
Film
Behind the Headlines
1953
Film
Deadlock
Postman
1943
Film
Without Air
1997
In Search of Sierra Nine
Father Gabriel
1963