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.
56 movies · 48 shows
Without Air
1997·10.0
Willie's War
1994·8.5
More Children's Holiday Favourites
1990·0.0
More Children's Summer Stories
1989·0.0
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 1
1989·0.0
Lollipop Children's Favourites - Volume 2
1989·0.0
Children's Favourites - Volume 1
1988·0.0
Hard Road
1988·6.5
The Doctor and the Devils
1985·6.2
The Shooting Party
1985·6.6
The Bounty
1984·6.8
A Swarm in May
1983·6.5
The Return of the Soldier
1983·6.3
Friends and Other Lovers
1981·8.0
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George
1981·0.0
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
1981·7.3
Whinfrey's Last Case
1979·9.5
Henry VIII
1979·6.6
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
1976·6.2
The Man Who Would Be King
1975·7.5
Soap Opera in Stockwell
1973·8.0
Big Zapper
1973·4.0
The Breaking of Colonel Keyser
1972·0.0
The Yes Girls
1971·2.6
Trog
1970·4.5
Emma's Time
1970·0.0
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
1969·6.8
Doctor Who: The Space Pirates
1969·5.2
Night After Night After Night
1969·5.6
A Twist of Sand
1968·4.9
How I Won the War
1967·5.6
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
1966·6.1
The Last Invasion
1966·0.0
Stranger in the Family
1965·7.0
A Prize of Arms
1962·6.7
Solo for Sparrow
1962·0.0
The Traitors
1962·5.8
Two-Way Stretch
1960·6.8
There Was a Crooked Man
1960·6.6
The Professionals
1960·5.5
A Night to Remember
1958·7.6
The Silent Enemy
1958·5.9
Cat Girl
1957·4.9
The Men of Sherwood Forest
1954·6.9
The Gay Dog
1954·7.0
Trouble in Store
1953·6.1
Behind the Headlines
1953·4.5
Pool of London
1951·6.6
The Blue Lamp
1950·6.6
Saraband for Dead Lovers
1948·6.6
Brief Encounter
1945·7.7
Johnny Frenchman
1945·6.8
This Happy Breed
1944·7.1
Deadlock
1943·5.5
Millions Like Us
1943·5.6
The Gentle Sex
1943·7.0