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'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
The Avengers
All Creatures Great and Small
Reverend Henty
UFO
English Delegate
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
The Wednesday Play
Lt. Krov
No Hiding Place
No Hiding Place
Major Westbrook
Count Duckula
Igor (voice)
Sunday Night Theatre
David Gottlieb
Jeeves and Wooster
Vicar
Danger Man
Third Secretary
Mark Saber
Newsvendor
Van der Valk
Minister
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Garkbit (Head Waiter)
The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
Citizen (uncredited)
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
James Ladbroke, Q.C.
Festival
Voice of God (voice)
Out of the Unknown
Evans
Shoestring
Judge
The Main Chance
Derrick Asher
The Main Chance
Harry Turner
Poldark
Ralph Allen Daniell
Brief Encounter
Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
An Age of Kings
An Age of Kings
Duke of York
Richard the Lionheart
Knight
Target
Chief Officer
The Agatha Christie Hour
Budgie
Mr. Pratt
Adam Adamant Lives!
A for Andromeda
Major Quadring
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
Caradoc
The Ten Commandments
Herbert Ward
Cat Girl
Richard Johnson
The Bounty
Prosecuting Captain
This Happy Breed
Mourner
Brett
Brett
Mason
A Night to Remember
Steerage Passenger (uncredited)
The Spread of the Eagle
Casca
Black and Blue
Detective
A Horseman Riding By
Lord Gilroy
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Dr. Schultz
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Price (uncredited)
The Man Who Would Be King
District Commissioner
The Gentle Sex
Postman (uncredited)
Pride and Prejudice
Mr Collins
How I Won the War
Toby
Escape
You Can't Win
The Blue Lamp
Old Man in Crowd (Uncredited)
Pool of London
Sailor on the Dunbar (uncredited)
Saraband for Dead Lovers
Reveller
The Doctor and the Devils
Dr Stevens
Hawkmoor
John Stedman
Nicholas Nickleby
Trog
Dr. Selbourne
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Shopkeeper
A Prize of Arms
MO
Two-Way Stretch
Prison Visitor (uncredited)
The Silent Enemy
Navy Doctor
The Return of the Soldier
Brigadier General
The Shooting Party
Sir Harry Stamp
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
Garkbit (Head Waiter)
Big Zapper
Jeremiah Horn
The Professionals
Edwards
Dawson's Weekly
Henry VIII
Lord Chancellor
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George
Lord Runciman
The Yes Girls
King Reiter
Solo for Sparrow
Inspector Hudson
The Men of Sherwood Forest
Emma's Time
Emma's father
Trouble in Store
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Doctor Who: The Space Pirates
General Hermack
The Traitors
Burton
There Was a Crooked Man
Police Sergeant
Willie's War
Grandfather
Soap Opera in Stockwell
Detective
A Twist of Sand
Inspector Seekert
The Gay Dog
Pub Customer
Night After Night After Night
Judge Lomax
Friends and Other Lovers
Mr. Franklyn
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
Watts
Whinfrey's Last Case
General Chapman
Millions Like Us
Old Man
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Igor/Giant (voice)
Johnny Frenchman
Choir Member (uncredited)
The Wind in the Willows
Sea Rat (voice)
Hard Road
Psychiatrist
More Children's Holiday Favourites
Igor (voice)
Stranger in the Family
Evans
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Sea Rat (voice)
Behind the Headlines
The Last Invasion
The Children of the New Forest
Justice Booth
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
Igor (voice)
A Swarm in May
Mr. Ardent - the Headmaster
More Children's Summer Stories
Igor (voice)
Deadlock
Postman