James Hayter
Acting
- Born:
- 1907-04-23
- Died:
- 1983-03-27
- Place of birth:
- Lonavala, India
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.
Known For
Filmography
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
The World of Hammer
The Light Princess
The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones
Father Brown
Are You Being Served?
Burke & Hare
The Onedin Line
Not Tonight, Darling
Blood on Satan's Claw
The Firechasers
The Horror of Frankenstein
Song of Norway
The Adventures of Don Quick
Wicked Women
David Copperfield
The Flaxton Boys
Oliver!
A Challenge for Robin Hood
Stranger in the House
The World of Wodehouse
Lawrence of Arabia
Out of the Fog
Go to Blazes
The Avengers
You'll Never See Me Again
The Boy and the Bridge
The 39 Steps
The Captain's Table
I Was Monty's Double
Fair Game
The Big Money
Gideon's Day
Sail Into Danger
The Heart Within
Huntingtower
Carry On Admiral
Mañana...
Seven Waves Away
It's a Wonderful World
Armchair Theatre
Port Afrique
Keep It Clean
Touch and Go
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Land of the Pharaohs
Beau Brummell
Mark Saber
The Awakening
For Better, for Worse
A Day to Remember
Will Any Gentleman...?
Always a Bride
Four Sided Triangle
Royal Review
The Great Game
The Pickwick Papers
The Crimson Pirate
I'm A Stranger
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
Calling Bulldog Drummond
Tom Brown's Schooldays
Flesh and Blood
The Woman with No Name
Trio
Waterfront
Night and the City
Your Witness
Morning Departure
Scrapbook for 1933
The Spider and the Fly
Passport to Pimlico
Dear Mr. Prohack
Helter Skelter
Don't Ever Leave Me
All Over the Town
For Them That Trespass
The Blue Lagoon
Once a Jolly Swagman
Silent Dust
No Room at the Inn
Bonnie Prince Charlie
Quartet
Woman Hater
The Fallen Idol
A Song for Tomorrow
My Brother Jonathan
Vice Versa
The End of the River
The Ghosts of Berkeley Square
The October Man
Captain Boycott
The Mark of Cain
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
School for Secrets
The Laughing Lady
Sailors Three
Band Waggon
Come on George!
Murder in Soho
The Moon in the Yellow River
Marigold
Big Fella
Aren't Men Beasts!
Sensation