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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 workNicholas and Alexandra(1971)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy(1979)
Doctor 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 asMichael Jayston,was an English actor. He playedNicholas II of Russiain the filmNicholas and Alexandra(1971).[1]He also made many television appearances, which included portrayingPeter Guillamin the miniseriesTinker Tailor Soldier Spy(1979), playingthe Valeyardin all fourteen episodes of theDoctor WhoserialThe Trial of a Time Lord(1986), and appearing in theOnly Fools and Horsesepisode "Time on Our Hands"(1996) asRaquel's father, James.

Early life and education

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Michael Jayston was born on 29 October 1935 inWest Bridgford,Nottingham as Michael A. James,[1]the only son of Aubrey Vincent James (died 1937) and Edna Myfanwy Medcalfe (died 1950).[2]His father died ofpneumoniawhen Michael was one, and his mother died when he was a young teenager. Jayston was then raised by his grandmother and an uncle.[1]He attended theBecket RC Schoolon Wilford Lane, West Bridgford.[3]Formerly an accountant, he trained in acting at theGuildhall School of Music and Drama.[4]

Career

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Stage

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Jayston began his stage career in 1962, performed at theBristol Old Vic,and joined theRoyal Shakespeare CompanyatStratford-upon-Avonin 1965.[1][4]He starred asCaptain von Trappin the 1981 stage revival ofThe Sound of Musicat theApollo Victoriain London's West End, alongsidePetula ClarkasMaria.In 1984, Jayston starred as Mirabell in a production ofWilliam Congreve'sThe Way of the Worldat theHaymarket TheatreoppositeMaggie SmithandJoan Plowright.[1]

Television

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Jayston playedShakespeareanroles on TV including Macbeth inMacbeth(1970), Gratiano inThe Merchant of Venice(1973) and Edmund inKing Lear(1975). An early recurring television role of his was ascivil servantDowling in the final series of boardroom dramaThe Power Gamein 1969.

In 1972, Jayston playedSir Henry RoycealongsideRobert Powellin the episode "Mr. Rolls and Mr. Royce" of the BBC drama seriesThe Edwardians;the following year he took the role ofMr Rochesterin aBBCadaptation ofJane Eyre,oppositeSorcha Cusack.

Jayston made two appearances in the anthology seriesThrillerin 1974, and in 1975 playedQuiller,a spy who never used a gun, in the short-lived British TV series ofthe same name.[5]He appeared asDornford Yates' gentleman hero Jonathan Mansel in the 1978 BBC adaptation ofShe Fell Among Thieves.In 1979, he playedPeter GuillamoppositeAlec Guinnessin the seriesTinker Tailor Soldier Spy.[1]In 1983, he appeared, along withSue Cook,inArthur Marshall's team onCall My Bluff(Series 18 Episode 11) on 4 July 1983.

Jayston played Neville Badger in the 1989 television adaptation ofDavid Nobbs's comedy of mannersA Bit of a Do.[1]In 1991, he appeared as Colonel Mustard in the television seriesCluedo,and a year later made a guest appearance in thePress Gangepisode "UnXpected". Other TV appearances include inEastEnders,Coronation Street,Only Fools and Horses,[1]The Darling Buds of May,Tales of the Unexpected,The Billand the character ofDonald De SouzainEmmerdale.He appeared inFoyle's War,Holby City,Sherlock Holmes,Tracy Beaker Returns,andMidsomer Murders.

Doctor Who

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In 1986, Jayston played the role of theValeyardin the long-running Britishscience fiction televisionseriesDoctor Who.[1]In the serial's conclusion, the Valeyard is revealed to be a manifestation ofthe Doctor's dark side. He later reprised the part of the Valeyard in theBig Finish Productionsaudio playsHe Jests at Scars...,Trial of the Valeyard,The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure,andThe Eighth Doctor: The Time War 3.

Film

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In 1968 Jayston played Demetrius in Peter Hall'sA Midsummer Night's Dream.[1]Two years later in 1970, he playedHenry IretoninCromwell.[6][1]The following year he starred asTsar Nicholas II of Russiain the filmNicholas and Alexandra.[7][1]

Jayston appeared as Gratiano oppositeLaurence OlivierasShylockin the National Theatre's filmThe Merchant of Venice(1974).

Audio

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Jayston recorded most ofJohn le Carré's novels in audiobook format,[8]providing a link with his role as Peter Guillam in the 1979 TV seriesTinker Tailor Soldier Spy.He was also the storyteller in the BBC radio readings of the novelsRogue MaleandRogue Justice,both written byGeoffrey Household.

In 1990, he played the role ofIan Fleming'sJames Bondin aBBC Radio 4adaptation ofYou Only Live Twice.[9]

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 entitledThe Life & Times of an Imaginary Rock Star.[10][11]

A prolific reader for audiobooks, Jayston also recorded audio versions of many of the novels ofAlexander Kent- theRichard Bolithoadventures set during the age of sail before and throughout theNapoleonic Wars,Winston Churchill'shistory of the Second World War,and many others.[12]In the 1970s and 1980s he also provided voiceovers for manyTV advertsin the UK.

Personal life

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Jayston was married three times, toLynn Farleighin 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

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Jayston lived inHoveinEast Sussex.He died on 5 February 2024, at the age of 88, following a short illness.[8][1]

Select filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Ref.
1970 Cromwell Henry Ireton [1]
1971 Nicholas and Alexandra TsarNicholas II of Russia [1][8]
1972 Follow Me! Charles
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Charles Dodgson [1]
1973 Bequest to the Nation Capt. Hardy [13]
The Homecoming Teddy [14]
Tales That Witness Madness Brian (segment 3 "Mel" )
1974 Craze Detective Sgt. Wall
The Internecine Project David Baker [15]
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

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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 [8]
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 [8]
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 TheValeyard "The Trial of a Time Lord" [1][8]
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][8]
2007-08 Foyle's War A. C. Henry Parkins 2 episodes: "Casualties of War", "Plan of Attack"
2007-08 Emmerdale Donald De Souza
2010 Tracy Beaker Returns Mr Spooner [8]
2014 Midsomer Murders Reverend Arthur Gould [1][8]

References

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  1. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzMichael Coveney (5 February 2024)."Michael Jayston obituary".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 5 February 2024.Retrieved6 February2024.
  2. ^"Michael Jayston obituary".thetimes.12 June 2024.Retrieved12 June2024.
  3. ^"The Becket School, Nottingham".2023.Archivedfrom the original on 1 January 2023.Retrieved4 January2023.
  4. ^abBrian McFarlane; Anthony Slide, eds. (2014).The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition.Manchester University Press.ISBN978-0719091384.
  5. ^Lee Goldberg (5 July 2015).Unsold Television Pilots: 1955-1989.Adventures in Television. p. 302.ISBN978-1-5115-9067-9.
  6. ^Steven Leonard Jacobs (16 May 2009).Confronting Genocide: Judaism, Christianity, Islam.Le xing ton Books. p. 209.ISBN978-0-7391-3590-7.
  7. ^James Monaco (1992).The Movie Guide.Perigee Books. p. 624.ISBN978-0-399-51780-8.
  8. ^abcdefghiVassell, Nicole (5 February 2024)."Michael Jayston death: Only Fools and Horses and Doctor Who actor dies, aged 88".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 5 February 2024.Retrieved5 February2024.
  9. ^"BBC One - Doctor Who, Series 4 - The Fourth Dimension".BBC.Archivedfrom the original on 21 November 2021.Retrieved6 February2024.
  10. ^"Full list of Record Store Day 2017 releases unveiled".NME.21 March 2017.Retrieved9 February2024.
  11. ^"RUBEN VINE PRESENTS THE LIFE & TIMES OF AN IMAGINARY ROCK STAR CD & 28 PAGE COMIC CD LTD NUMBERED EDITION AOF005CD".Analogue Seduction.Retrieved9 February2024.
  12. ^"Audible narrator=Michael Jayston".2023.Archivedfrom the original on 4 January 2023.Retrieved4 January2023.
  13. ^"Bequest to the Nation (1973)".Archived fromthe originalon 14 January 2009.
  14. ^Benson, Raymond(16 April 2009)."Remember...The American Film Theater".Cinema Retro.Archived fromthe originalon 1 June 2013.
  15. ^John Willis' Screen World.Crown Publishers. 1975. p. 165.
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