Jack May

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.

Most Known For

The Avengers

All Creatures Great and Small

as Reverend Henty

UFO

as English Delegate

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

Count Duckula

as Igor (voice)

The Wednesday Play

as Lt. Krov

No Hiding Place

No Hiding Place

as Major Westbrook

Jeeves and Wooster

as Vicar

Danger Man

as Third Secretary

Sunday Night Theatre

as David Gottlieb

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

as Garkbit (Head Waiter)

Mark Saber

as Newsvendor

Van der Valk

as Minister

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes

as James Ladbroke, Q.C.

Dr. Finlay's Casebook

The Main Chance

as Derrick Asher

The Main Chance

as Harry Turner

Out of the Unknown

as Evans

Poldark

as Ralph Allen Daniell