Acting
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.
Filmography
Without Air
Film · 1997
Willie's War
Film · 1994
More Children's Holiday Favourites
Film · 1990
Jeeves and Wooster
Series · 1990
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Film · 1989
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
Film · 1989
More Children's Summer Stories
Film · 1989
Hard Road
Film · 1988
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
Film · 1988
Count Duckula
Series · 1988
Big Muzzy
Series · 1987
The Doctor and the Devils
Film · 1985
The Shooting Party
Film · 1985
Bulman
Series · 1985
The Bounty
Film · 1984
The Return of the Soldier
Film · 1983
A Swarm in May
Film · 1983
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Series · 1983
The Agatha Christie Hour
Series · 1982
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
Film · 1981
Friends and Other Lovers
Film · 1981
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George
Film · 1981
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Series · 1981
Escape
Series · 1980
Whinfrey's Last Case
Film · 1979
Henry VIII
Film · 1979
Shoestring
Series · 1979
Hawkmoor
Series · 1978
All Creatures Great and Small
Series · 1978
A Horseman Riding By
Series · 1978
Target
Series · 1977
The Children of the New Forest
Series · 1977
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Film · 1976
The Man Who Would Be King
Film · 1975
Dawson's Weekly
Series · 1975
Poldark
Series · 1975
Soap Opera in Stockwell
Film · 1973
Big Zapper
Film · 1973
Black and Blue
Series · 1973
Away from It All
Series · 1973
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
Film · 1972
Van der Valk
Series · 1972
The Yes Girls
Film · 1971
Brett
Series · 1971
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
Series · 1971
Budgie
Series · 1971
The Ten Commandments
Series · 1971
Brett
Series · 1971
Emma's Time
Film · 1970
Trog
Film · 1970
UFO
Series · 1970
Night After Night After Night
Film · 1969
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Film · 1969
Doctor Who: The Space Pirates
Film · 1969
The Main Chance
Series · 1969
The Main Chance
Series · 1969
A Twist of Sand
Film · 1968
How I Won the War
Film · 1967
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Film · 1966
The Last Invasion
Film · 1966
Adam Adamant Lives!
Series · 1966
You Can't Win
Series · 1966
Stranger in the Family
Film · 1965
Out of the Unknown
Series · 1965
Six Shades of Black
Series · 1965
The Wednesday Play
Series · 1964
Detective
Series · 1964
The Protectors
Series · 1964
In Search of Sierra Nine
Film · 1963
The Spread of the Eagle
Series · 1963
Festival
Series · 1963
Doctor Who
Series · 1963
Espionage
Series · 1963
The Traitors
Film · 1962
A Prize of Arms
Film · 1962
Solo for Sparrow
Film · 1962
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
Series · 1962
Richard the Lionheart
Series · 1962
The Avengers
Series · 1961
A for Andromeda
Series · 1961
The Professionals
Film · 1960
There Was a Crooked Man
Film · 1960
Two-Way Stretch
Film · 1960
An Age of Kings
Series · 1960
Danger Man
Series · 1960
An Age of Kings
Series · 1960
No Hiding Place
Series · 1959
No Hiding Place
Series · 1959
A Night to Remember
Film · 1958
The Silent Enemy
Film · 1958
Pride and Prejudice
Series · 1958
Cat Girl
Film · 1957
Nicholas Nickleby
Series · 1957
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
Series · 1956
The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel
Series · 1955
The Men of Sherwood Forest
Film · 1954
The Gay Dog
Film · 1954
Mark Saber
Series · 1954
Behind the Headlines
Film · 1953
Trouble in Store
Film · 1953
Pool of London
Film · 1951
The Blue Lamp
Film · 1950
Sunday Night Theatre
Series · 1950
Sunday Night Theatre
Series · 1950
Saraband for Dead Lovers
Film · 1948
Brief Encounter
Film · 1945
Johnny Frenchman
Film · 1945
This Happy Breed
Film · 1944
The Gentle Sex
Film · 1943
Deadlock
Film · 1943
Millions Like Us
Film · 1943