James Hayter (23 April 1907 – 27 March 1983) was a British actor. He was born in Lonavala, India, brought up in Scotland and died in Spain. His best remembered film roles include Friar Tuck in the 1952 film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men and Samuel Pickwick in The Pickwick Papers of the same year. His rotund appearance and fruity voice made him a natural choice for such roles. A pupil of Dollar Academy, he became a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, his film career began in 1936 in Sensation, but was interrupted by World War II during which he served in the Royal Armoured Corps. His later career included roles in TV series such as The Forsyte Saga (1967), The Onedin Line and Are You Being Served?. His 1946 television series Pinwright's Progress, shown on the BBC, is recognised as the first real example of the half-hour situation comedy format in the history of British television. He was also the original narrator of the UK television advertisements for Mr. Kipling cakes. In fact, these ads led to his departure from Are You Being Served?; the cake company paid him a significant bonus to withdraw from the series, as they felt his reputation lent an air of dignity to their snack advertisements. In the film Oliver!, he played Mr Jessop the book shop owner. He appeared in scenes when Dodger steals a gentleman's wallet outside the book shop and also when Oliver is in court charged with the robbery. Hayter used to have a tree house in his back garden where he would retire of an evening to learn and practise his lines from his current script. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Hayter, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
91 movies · 13 shows
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
2005·6.5
The Light Princess
1978·7.0
The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones
1976·3.5
Burke & Hare
1972·5.2
Not Tonight, Darling
1971·5.3
The Blood on Satan's Claw
1971·6.2
The Firechasers
1971·7.7
The Horror of Frankenstein
1970·5.9
Song of Norway
1970·5.3
David Copperfield
1969·5.6
Oliver!
1968·7.0
A Challenge for Robin Hood
1967·6.3
Stranger in the House
1967·5.4
Lawrence of Arabia
1962·8.0
Out of the Fog
1962·7.0
Go to Blazes
1962·6.3
You'll Never See Me Again
1959·0.0
The Boy and the Bridge
1959·6.0
The 39 Steps
1959·6.3
The Captain's Table
1959·6.0
I Was Monty's Double
1958·6.9
The Big Money
1958·7.0
Gideon's Day
1958·6.4
Sail Into Danger
1957·10.0
The Heart Within
1957·8.0
Carry On Admiral
1957·6.4
Mañana...
1957·6.5
Seven Waves Away
1957·7.5
It's a Wonderful World
1956·5.8
Port Afrique
1956·5.9
Keep It Clean
1956·5.3
Touch and Go
1955·6.6
Land of the Pharaohs
1955·6.4
Beau Brummell
1954·6.5
The Awakening
1954·6.5
For Better, for Worse
1954·5.8
A Day to Remember
1953·7.4
Will Any Gentleman...?
1953·6.3
Always a Bride
1953·6.5
Four Sided Triangle
1953·5.9
Royal Review
1953·0.0
The Great Game
1953·7.3
The Pickwick Papers
1952·7.0
The Crimson Pirate
1952·7.0
I'm A Stranger
1952·6.3
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
1952·6.2
Calling Bulldog Drummond
1951·6.5
Tom Brown's Schooldays
1951·7.0
Flesh and Blood
1951·7.0
The Woman with No Name
1950·8.0
Trio
1950·6.4
Waterfront
1950·6.5
Night and the City
1950·7.5
Your Witness
1950·6.2
Morning Departure
1950·6.9
Scrapbook for 1933
1950·6.0
The Spider and the Fly
1949·6.9
Passport to Pimlico
1949·6.9
Dear Mr. Prohack
1949·6.4
Helter Skelter
1949·6.4
Don't Ever Leave Me
1949·7.7
All Over the Town
1949·6.6
For Them That Trespass
1949·5.3
The Blue Lagoon
1949·5.8
Once a Jolly Swagman
1949·5.8
Silent Dust
1949·7.4
No Room at the Inn
1948·8.5
Bonnie Prince Charlie
1948·5.5
Quartet
1948·6.3
Woman Hater
1948·7.7
The Fallen Idol
1948·7.2
A Song for Tomorrow
1948·6.3
My Brother Jonathan
1948·6.8
Vice Versa
1948·7.2
The End of the River
1947·6.3
The Ghosts of Berkeley Square
1947·5.7
The October Man
1947·6.2
Captain Boycott
1947·7.2
The Mark of Cain
1947·6.2
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
1947·6.7
School for Secrets
1946·7.2
The Laughing Lady
1946·7.5
Sailors Three
1940·7.6
Band Waggon
1940·5.7
Come on George!
1939·6.0
Murder in Soho
1939·6.0
The Moon in the Yellow River
1938·7.0
Marigold
1938·8.0
Big Fella
1938·7.3
Aren't Men Beasts!
1937·7.0
Sensation
1936·6.0