Jack May

Jack May was an English actor who became a familiar presence on television. Born in Henley-on-Thames in 1922, he served in the Royal Indian Navy, then studied at Merton College, Oxford, where he acted with the OUDS in plays including Richard II and Hamlet. Five years with Birmingham Repertory Theatre brought him notice as Shakespeare's Henry VI in a trilogy that transferred to the Old Vic, and he returned there for the 1958 to 1959 season. His television fame came from playing William E. Simms, a valet, in the BBC fantasy adventure series Adam Adamant Lives!, which had two series between 1966 and 1967. His film credits included The Man Who Would Be King (1975), where he was the District Commissioner, and his voice work ranged from Igor in Count Duckula to Theoden in a 1981 BBC Radio production of The Lord of the Rings. For forty five years he played Nelson Gabriel in The Archers. He died in 1997.