Michael Jayston

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Michael Jayston
Born
Michael A. James

(1935-10-29)29 October 1935
Nottingham, England
Died5 February 2024(2024-02-05) (aged 88)
Hove, England
Alma materGuildhall School of Music and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active1962–2024
Notable workDoctor Who (1986)
Only Fools and Horses (1996)
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1965; div. 1970)​
  • Heather Sneddon
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1970; div. 1977)​
  • Ann Smithson
    ​
    (m. 1979)​
Children5

Michael A. James (29 October 1935 – 5 February 2024), known professionally as Michael Jayston, was an English actor. He played

The Trial of a Time Lord (1986), and appearing in the Only Fools and Horses episode "Time on Our Hands" (1996) as Raquel
's father, James.

Early life and education

Michael Jayston was born on 29 October 1935 in

Becket RC School on Wilford Lane, West Bridgford.[5] A onetime accountant, he trained in acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.[6]

Career

Stage

Jayston began his stage career in 1962 and performed at the

Haymarket Theatre opposite Maggie Smith and Joan Plowright.[1]

Television

Jayston played

The Power Game
in 1969.

In 1972, he played

Mr Rochester in a BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre, opposite Sorcha Cusack
.

Jayston made two appearances in the anthology series

She Fell Among Thieves. In 1979, he played Peter Guillam opposite Sir Alec Guinness in the series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.[1] In 1983, he appeared, along with Sue Cook, in Arthur Marshall's team on Call My Bluff
(Series 18 Episode 11) on 4 July 1983.

Jayston played Neville Badger in the 1989 television adaptation of David Nobbs's comedy of manners A Bit of a Do.[1] He portrayed James Bond in a radio adaptation of You Only Live Twice in 1990. In 1991, he appeared as Colonel Mustard in the television series Cluedo, and a year later made a guest appearance in the Press Gang episode "UnXpected". Other TV appearances include in EastEnders, Coronation Street, Only Fools and Horses,[1] The Darling Buds of May, Tales of the Unexpected, The Bill and the character of Donald De Souza in Emmerdale. He appeared in Foyle's War, Holby City, Sherlock Holmes, Tracy Beaker Returns, and Midsomer Murders.

Doctor Who

In 1986, Jayston played the role of the

Trial of the Valeyard, The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure, and The Eighth Doctor: The Time War 3, audio plays released by Big Finish Productions
.

Film

In 1968 Jayston played Demetrius in Peter Hall's

Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in the film Nicholas and Alexandra.[9][1]

Jayston appeared as Gratiano opposite Laurence Olivier as Shylock in the National Theatre's film The Merchant of Venice (1974).

Audio

Jayston recorded most of John le Carré's novels in audiobook format,[10] providing a link with his role as Peter Guillam in the 1979 TV series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. He was also the storyteller in the BBC radio readings of the novels Rogue Male and Rogue Justice, both written by Geoffrey Household.

In 1990, he played the role of Ian Fleming's James Bond in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of You Only Live Twice.[11]

As an official United Kingdom Record Store Day 2017 release, a collaborative double vinyl album between the underground artist Ruben Vine and Jayston, including a 28-page comic, was released. Jayston featured as the narrator on the story-based album entitled The Life & Times of an Imaginary Rock Star. [12] [13]

A prolific reader for audiobooks, Jayston also recorded audio versions of many of the novels of

TV adverts
in the UK.

Personal life

Michael Jayston was married three times, to Lynn Farleigh in 1965 and, after his first divorce, to Heather Sneddon in 1970. He remarried in 1979 to Ann Smithson. He had three children with Sneddon and two children with Smithson.[1]

Death

Jayston lived in

Hove, Sussex. He died on 5 February 2024, at the age of 88, following a short illness.[10][1]

Select filmography

Film

Year Title Role Ref.
1970 Cromwell Henry Ireton [1]
1971 Nicholas and Alexandra Tsar
Nicholas II of Russia
 [1][10]
1972 Follow Me! Charles
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Charles Dodgson [1]
1973 Bequest to the Nation Capt. Hardy [15]
The Homecoming Teddy [16]
Tales That Witness Madness Brian (segment 3 "Mel")
1974 Craze Detective Sgt. Wall
The Internecine Project David Baker [17]
1978
Dominique
 Arnold Craven
1979 Zulu Dawn Col. Crealock [1]
1981 From a Far Country Narrator
1994 Highlander III: The Final Dimension Jack Donovan

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1968 A Midsummer Night's Dream Demetrius [1]
1969
The Power Game
 Dowling
1970 Mad Jack Siegfried Sassoon
'The Hero of My Life' Charles Dickens
1972
The Edwardians
 Henry Royce
1973 The Merchant of Venice Gratiano [10]
Jane Eyre Mr Rochester
1974 Thriller Mark Walker "Ring Once for Death" - Roger Masters; "A Coffin for the Bride"
1975 Quiller Quiller
King Lear Edmund [10]
1977 She Fell Among Thieves Jonathan Mansell [1]
1979 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Peter Guillam [1]
1984 Tales of the Unexpected G.B.Shaw "The Best Chess Player in the World"
1986 Doctor Who The
Valeyard
 "
The Trial of a Time Lord
"		 [1][10]
1989 A Bit of a Do Neville Badger 13 episodes [1]
1991 Cluedo Colonel Mike Mustard
The Disappeance of Lady Carfax Earl of Rufton "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (Granada Television)
1992 The Darling Buds of May Ernst Bristow 4 episodes [1]
1995-1996 Outside Edge Bob Willis
1996 Only Fools and Horses James Turner 1 episode: Time on Our Hands [1][10]
2007-08 Foyle's War A. C. Henry Parkins 2 episodes: "Casualties of War", "Plan of Attack"
2010 Tracy Beaker Returns Mr Spooner [10]
2014 Midsomer Murders Reverend Arthur Gould [1][10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Michael Coveney (5 February 2024). "Michael Jayston obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  2. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007 DEC 1935 Volume Number7b Page number397 Nottingham
  3. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 MAR 1937 Volume7b Page229 Nottingham
  4. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 DEC 1950 Volume3c Page363 Nottingham
  5. ^ "The Becket School, Nottingham". 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0719091384
    .
  7. ISBN 978-1-5115-9067-9
    .
  8. ISBN 978-0-7391-3590-7
    .
  9. ISBN 978-0-399-51780-8
    .
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Vassell, Nicole (5 February 2024). "Michael Jayston death: Only Fools and Horses and Doctor Who actor dies, aged 88". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  11. ^ "BBC One - Doctor Who, Series 4 - The Fourth Dimension". BBC. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Full list of Record Store Day 2017 releases unveiled". NME. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  13. ^ "RUBEN VINE PRESENTS THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN IMAGINARY ROCK STAR CD & 28 PAGE COMIC CD LTD NUMBERED EDITION AOF005CD". Analogue Seduction. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Audible.com narrator=Michael Jayston". 2023. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Bequest to the Nation (1973)". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
  16. ^ Benson, Raymond (16 April 2009). "Remember...The American Film Theater". Cinema Retro. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013.
  17. ^ John Willis' Screen World. Crown Publishers. 1975. p. 165.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Jayston&oldid=1217453225"