Jack May

Jack May (23 April 1922 – 19 September 1997) was an English actor renowned for his mellifluous voice and portrayals of butlers, establishment figures, and authoritative roles often embodying British imperial interests.^[1]^[2] Born in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, May was educated at Forest School in Essex before attending Merton College, Oxford, where he declined a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) to pursue a degree.^[2] He began his professional acting career in October 1950 at the Colchester Repertory Theatre, debuting as Titinius in Julius Caesar, and soon joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (1950–1955), where he performed in productions such as Richard II, Uncle Vanya, and Moon on the Yellow River.^[2] May achieved significant recognition in radio and television, most notably for his 45-year role as the roguish Nelson Gabriel in the BBC Radio 4 soap opera The Archers, from 1951 until his death in 1997.^[2] On television, he portrayed the valet William E. Simms in the cult series Adam Adamant Lives! (1966–1967) and provided the voice of the hunchbacked butler Igor in the animated children's series Count Duckula (1988–1991).^[2]^[3] In film, May appeared in several notable productions, including the adventure epic The Man Who Would Be King (1975) as the District Commissioner, the historical drama The Bounty (1984), and the period piece The Shooting Party (1984).^[3]^[2] Beyond acting, he worked as an antiques dealer in Islington, London.^[2] May was married to actress Petra Davies, with whom he had one son and one daughter, and he passed away in Hove, East Sussex, at the age of 75.^[3]^[2]

Early life and education

Early years in Henley-on-Thames

Jack May was born Jack Wynne May on 23 April 1922 in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England.^[4]^[5] May spent his early childhood in this market town on the River Thames, though specific details about his family life and local experiences remain limited in public records. He later transitioned to formal education at Forest School in Walthamstow.^[5]

Education and early acting

May was educated at Forest School in Walthamstow, Essex. He had ambitions to pursue a career suiting his extrovert qualities, such as barrister, archbishop, prime minister, or the theatre.^[5] During the Second World War, May served in India.^[5] After the war, he taught for a year before receiving an offer of a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), which he turned down in favor of studying at Merton College, Oxford.^[5] While at Oxford, May immersed himself in acting by performing with the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS), which convinced him that his future lay on the stage.^[5] Upon graduating, he committed to a professional acting path, making his debut in October 1950 at the Colchester Repertory Theatre as Titinius in Julius Caesar, before spending five years (1950–1955) with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where he gained recognition for portraying King Henry consecutively across all three parts of Shakespeare's Henry VI.^[5]

Career

Stage and theatre

Following his involvement with the Oxford University Dramatic Society, Jack May embarked on his professional stage career with a five-year tenure at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 1950 to 1955, where he performed in a range of ensemble and leading roles in historical and classical plays. Notable appearances included the title role in Shakespeare's Richard II, Voynitsky in Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, and characters in Denis Johnston's Moon on the Yellow River. During this period, he participated in a joint season with the Old Vic Company in London in 1953, becoming the first actor to portray Henry VI consecutively across all three parts of Shakespeare's history cycle.^[2] In the later stages of his theatre career, May transitioned to prominent West End and regional productions, showcasing his versatility in character roles. He played the Headmaster in John Mortimer's A Voyage Round My Father at the Haymarket Theatre in 1971, Martin Knight in John Hopkins's At the End of the Day at the Savoy Theatre in 1973, and Colonel Pickering opposite Diana Rigg in George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion at the Albery Theatre (now the Noël Coward Theatre) from May to November 1974.^[2]^[6] May developed a specialization in British theatre for roles depicting butlers, establishment figures, and authority types, often embodying poised and authoritative personas that underscored themes of class and tradition. Examples such as Colonel Pickering, a gentleman linguist, exemplified this niche, contributing to his enduring reputation as a reliable character actor in ensemble-driven productions.^[1] Through his foundational work at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, May made significant contributions to the repertory system, attracting critical notice for his range in classical and modern repertory while fostering ensemble dynamics in regional theatre. He maintained a commitment to stage work across decades, balancing it with opportunities in other media and ensuring his theatre presence remained a core element of his professional legacy.^[2]

Television roles

Jack May frequently portrayed authoritative and establishment figures in British television, leveraging his resonant, mellifluous voice to bring depth to roles ranging from butlers to military officers.^[7] His most recognized television role was as the loyal Victorian-era butler William E. Simms in the BBC cult series Adam Adamant Lives! (1966–1967), where he appeared in all 29 episodes as the valet to the time-displaced adventurer Adam Adamant.^[5]^[8] In this fantasy-adventure, Simms provided comic relief and steadfast support, embodying the era's stiff-upper-lip propriety amid modern 1960s settings.^[5] May also gained prominence as General Nikolai Hermack in the Doctor Who serial The Space Pirates (1969), a six-part story from the show's seventh season.^[9]^[10] As the stern Space Corps commander, Hermack led the pursuit of interstellar pirates threatening mining operations on Jupiter's moons, showcasing May's ability to convey authoritative resolve in science fiction.^[10] Throughout his career, May made guest appearances in various period dramas and comedies, often as dignified or commanding characters.^[5] In the historical adaptation An Age of Kings (1960), he performed multiple Shakespearean roles across the 15-part BBC series chronicling English monarchs from Richard II to Richard III.^[5] Similarly, he appeared in the sequel The Wars of the Roses (1965), another Shakespeare anthology blending history and drama.^[5] Other notable guest roles included Major Quadring, a military intelligence officer, in the science fiction serial A for Andromeda (1961), and the Reverend Mr. Barter in the seafaring drama The Onedin Line (1973).^[11]^[5] In comedies, May guest-starred as an authority figure in Jeeves and Wooster (1990), highlighting his versatility in portraying upper-class or institutional types.^[5] His vocal timbre, praised for its smoothness and gravitas, extended to animated television, where he voiced the butler Igor in the children's series Count Duckula (1988–1991).^[5]

Film roles

Jack May appeared in a number of British films throughout his career, primarily in supporting roles that showcased his ability to portray authoritative or bureaucratic figures, often complementing the stern, no-nonsense personas he embodied in television without dominating the cinematic spotlight.^[3] One of his most notable film roles was as the District Commissioner in John Huston's 1975 adventure epic The Man Who Would Be King, where he played a rigid British colonial official overseeing operations in the fictional Kafiristan, interacting with the protagonists Peachy Carnehan (Michael Caine) and Daniel Dravot (Sean Connery) as they navigate imperial intrigue and local customs. This performance highlighted May's skill in conveying understated authority and cultural detachment, contributing to the film's exploration of British imperialism.^[12] May later took on another authority-driven part in the 1984 historical drama The Bounty, directed by Roger Donaldson, portraying the Prosecuting Captain during the court-martial proceedings following the famous mutiny aboard HMS Bounty. In this role, he represented naval discipline and institutional power, delivering lines that underscored the rigid hierarchy of the Royal Navy, opposite Anthony Hopkins as William Bligh and Mel Gibson as Fletcher Christian. The film, a reimagining of the 1789 events, allowed May to embody the bureaucratic enforcement that clashed with the mutineers' rebellion. He also played Sir Harry Stamp in the period drama The Shooting Party (1985).^[13]^[2] Beyond these standout appearances, May accumulated minor credits in various British productions, frequently cast as officials, workers, or peripheral authority types that echoed his television characterizations of dependable, middle-class professionals. Examples include his role as Price, a colleague to the titular professor, in the 1969 musical adaptation Goodbye, Mr. Chips directed by Herbert Ross; Dr. Selbourne, a scientist aiding in a creature investigation, in the 1970 horror film Trog starring Joan Crawford; and Jeremiah Horn, a gunslinger figure, in the 1974 actioner Big Zapper. These parts, while brief, reinforced his versatility in ensemble casts without shifting focus from his stronger television presence.^[14]

Radio and voice work

Jack May is best known for his long-running role as Nelson Gabriel in the BBC Radio 4 soap opera The Archers, which he portrayed for 45 years from 1951 until his death in 1997, making it one of the longest continuous roles in radio history.^[5] As the suave yet disreputable antiques dealer and son of the character's Walter Gabriel, May's performance brought a distinctive charm and roguish edge to the Ambridge storyline, contributing to the soap's enduring popularity.^[15] His tenure spanned numerous plotlines, including Nelson's business ventures and personal entanglements, solidifying May's status as a staple of British radio drama.^[3] In addition to The Archers, May lent his resonant voice to several notable radio adaptations and dramas. He voiced King Théoden in the 1981 BBC Radio 4 serialization of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, delivering a portrayal that captured the character's weary authority and transformation.^[16] This 13-part production, adapted by Bert Coules and Michael Bakewell, highlighted May's ability to convey gravitas in fantasy narratives.^[3] Earlier, he appeared in supernatural radio plays such as The Missing Piece (1976), where he starred as a mystic in J.C.W. Brook's unsettling tale of lost powers, and The Doppelganger (1977), another Brook script involving eerie encounters during a honeymoon.^[17] May's voice work extended beyond live radio to animation and audiobooks, showcasing the versatility honed through his stage training. He provided the voice for Igor, the long-suffering vulture butler, in the ITV animated series Count Duckula from 1988 to 1991, infusing the character with a dry, aristocratic menace that became iconic in children's programming.^[18] His contributions also included narrations and supporting roles in various BBC radio productions, though The Archers remained his most enduring audio legacy.^[3]

Personal life

Marriage and family

Jack May married actress Petra Davies in 1957, shortly after meeting her on the set of the BBC television adaptation of Vanity Fair, where he portrayed Joseph Sedley opposite her Amelia Sedley.^[19] The couple's marriage lasted 40 years and was marked by their shared experiences in the acting profession.^[20] They had two children: a son named David and a daughter named Henrietta.^[21] May and Davies balanced their demanding careers in theatre and television while raising their family, with May's long-term role as Nelson Gabriel in BBC Radio 4's The Archers—which he held from 1951 until 1997—providing a steady income that supported their household stability.^[2] The family later resided in Hove, East Sussex.^[21]

Death

Jack May died on 19 September 1997 at Hove General Hospital in East Sussex, aged 75, following a long illness.^[5]^[3] He had continued his long-running role as Nelson Gabriel in BBC Radio 4's The Archers until shortly before his death, with his final appearance on 16 January 1997, after which ill health prevented him from returning; the character had not yet been written out of the storyline.^[21]^[5] His passing prompted tributes from colleagues in radio and theatre. Vanessa Whitburn, editor of The Archers, described the loss as "very sad" and noted that Nelson Gabriel would be greatly missed by listeners.^[21] Paddy Greene, who played Jill Archer, called May "glamorous and sparkling" and said she would miss him "desperately."^[21] James Boyle, controller of Radio 4, highlighted how May's voice had brought pleasure to millions over the years and would be sorely missed.^[21] James Fergusson, a former Archers editor, praised May's 45-year portrayal of Nelson Gabriel as one of the programme's most beloved characters, emphasizing his unique contribution to the series.^[5] May was survived by his wife of 40 years, actress Petra Davies (who died on 22 March 2016), whose support had been a constant in his personal life.^[5]^[20] No public details emerged regarding a funeral or memorial service.^[21]^[5]