James Hayter

Known for ActingBorn 1907-04-23Died 1983-03-27Lonavala, India

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.Read more

Movies & web series

Sail Into Danger

No Room at the Inn

Lawrence of Arabia

Fair Game

The Heart Within

Mark Saber

The Woman with No Name

The Avengers

Marigold

The Firechasers

Don't Ever Leave Me

Woman Hater

Seven Waves Away

Are You Being Served?

Sailors Three

Night and the City

The Laughing Lady

A Day to Remember

Silent Dust

The Great Game

The Light Princess

The Onedin Line

The Fallen Idol

Oliver!

Vice Versa

Captain Boycott

Big Fella

School for Secrets

Out of the Fog

The World of Hammer

The Big Money

The Crimson Pirate

The Funny Blokes of British Comedy

Father Brown

The Pickwick Papers

Tom Brown's Schooldays

Flesh and Blood

I Was Monty's Double

The Spider and the Fly

The Moon in the Yellow River

Passport to Pimlico

Morning Departure

Aren't Men Beasts!

My Brother Jonathan

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Touch and Go

All Over the Town

Mañana...