Person Details

Birthday: 1907-04-23 16:53:29

Death: 1983-03-27 16:53:29

Aliases: No known aliases

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Lonavala, India

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 54

TV Involvements: 3


Most Famous Work

Biography

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.

Most Famous Work

The Avengers
Average
8

The Avengers

(1961) Ticket Collector
Lawrence of Arabia
Average
8

Lawrence of Arabia

(1962) Sheik in Arab Council (uncredited)
Oliver!
Average
7

Oliver!

(1968) Mr. Jessop
The Blood on Satan's Claw
Average
6

The Blood on Satan's Claw

(1971) Squire Middleton
Night and the City
Average
8

Night and the City

(1950) Figler (uncredited)
The Fallen Idol
Average
7

The Fallen Idol

(1948) Perry
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
Average
6
The Horror of Frankenstein
Average
6

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
1978 Owl (voice)
1974 N/A
1972 Mr. Tebbs
Dr. Selby
1971 Captain Webster
Mr. Finlay / grocer owner
Squire Middleton
Inspector Herman
1970 Bailiff
Butler to Berg
1969 Porter
Nathan
1968 Mr. Jessop
1967 Friar Tuck
Harry Hawkins
1962 Sheik in Arab Council (uncredited)
Daniels
Pipe Smoker
1961 Ticket Collector
1959 Mr Memory
Earnshaw
1958 Sgt. Adams
N/A
Mr Frith
Mason
Robert Mason
1957 Monty
Grandfather Willard
Silvestre
'Cookie' Morrow
1956 Bert Fielding
Nino
Mr. Bouncenboy
1955 Kimball
Mikka
1954 Mortimer
The Chief
The Plumber
1953 Fred Collins
Dr. Smith
Dutton
Dr. Harvey
Commentator (voice)
Joe Lawson
1952 Samuel Pickwick
Prof. Prudence
Horatio Flowerdew
Friar Tuck
1951 Bill
Old Thomas
Sir Douglas Manley
1950 Albert Foreman (segment "The Verger")
Ship's Captain
Figler (uncredited)
Prouty
N/A
1949 Mayor
Commissionaire
Carrell Quire
Man with Summons
Councillor Baines
John Craigie 'Jocko' Glenn
Dr Murdock
Pa Fox
Pringle
Inn Landlord
1948 Councilor Trouncer
Foreman of the Jury
Kingsburgh
Mr. Burrell
Perry
Nicholas Klausmann
Tom Morse
Bandmaster
1947 Chico
Garage Man
Music Hall Comic (uncredited)
Dr. White
Ned and Charles Cheeryble
1946 Warrant Officer
Ostler
1940 Hans
(uncredited)
1939 Barker
Nick Green
1938 Captain Potts
Peter Gloag
1937 Chuck
Minor Role
1936 Jock
Year Character Movie/Tv

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