Martin Jarvis

Martin Jarvis was born on August 4, 1941 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK.

As a young lad one would never have thought Jarvis would be renown for his vocal stylings, his first performance in a school concert was that of a sound effect.  When his cue came he froze and the yodel he was supposed to let out was missed altogether.   In spite of the failed attempt Jarvis continued with acting.  By 1960 he had his professional debut and then got his "big break" by landing the role of Jon Forsyte on The Forsyte Saga in 1967, and within a very short time Jarvis was a household name.

It seemed that his career would be put off due to a throat condition which altered his voice, but with work and rest he was again healthy and made a very strong return to acting.  

Jarvis met his future wife, Rosalind Ayres, while they were in Hamlet together, she played Ophelia.  They married in 1974.

In 1998 he and his wife, Rosalind, formed Jarvis and Ayres, an radio/audio play production company.  Jarvis is England's foremost audio book narrator/reader ("King of the Spoken Word), his readings have garnered awards and accolades across the board.

Jarvis is married to actress Rosalind Ayres (1974 - present) , they have two children.

 

 

Film

The Wonderful World of Stars~2006 - Narrator, Professor Humbert Trellis (London Planetarium)

Dr. Who: The Web Planet~2005 - (V) Himself - commentary

Beginner's Luck~2001- Old luvvie

Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War~2000- JB

Kid with X-ray Eyes, The~1999- Mr. X the crime boss

Titanic~1997- Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon

Jing cha gu shi IV: Jian dan ren wu~1996- Australian Group #8

Calliope~1994- Dover's agent

Emily's Ghost~1992- Papa

Tempest, The~1992 (voice) - Narrator

Buster~1988- Inspector Jack Mitchell

Taste the Blood of Dracula~1970- Jeremy Secker

Last Escape, The~1970- Lt. Donald Wilcox 

This was an interesting poster for the film:

Secrets of a Windmill Girl~1966- Mike

Film Manager

Secrets of a Windmill Girl~1966 (stage manager)

 

TV

Much Ado About Nothing~2006 - Leonard 8/6/06

Countdown~1982- Himself in Dictionary Corner 

    10/31/05

    6/18/04

    6/17/04

    6/16/04

    6/15/04

Doctors~2000 - Brian Tennant in  Monstrous Regiment (# 11.30) 5/19/04

Queen's Nose, The~1998- Frank (2003-)

Bootleg~2002 (mini) - Mr. Blades

Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Well Schooled in Murder, The~2002 - Cowfrey Pitt

Today with Des & Mel~2002- Himself 12/19/03

By Jeeves~2001- Jeeves

Life After the Street~2001- Narrator

Micawber~2001 (mini) - Lord M

Lorna Doone~2000- Baron de Whichehalse

Sex 'n' Death~1999- Neil Biddle

Space Island One~1998 - Professor Jarvis in  Mayfly (# 2.6) 9/21/98

Supply & Demand~1998 - Farmlow

Extreme Ghostbusters~1997  (voice) - Additional Voices

Walker, Texas Ranger~1993 - Colin Draper in  The Deadliest Man Alive (# 5.12) 12/14/96

Space: Above and Beyond~1995- Major Cyril MacKendrick in  Pearly (# 1.18) 3/24/96

Touch of Frost, A~1992- Harvey Wade in  Fun Times for Swingers (# 4.4) 1/28/6

Richie Rich~1996- Cadbury, Bascomb

Absence of War, The~1995- Linus

Murder, She Wrote~1984 -

    Giles Havelock in  Deadly Bidding (# 12.9) 11/23/95

    Cyril Ruddy/Edward Montgomery in  Another Killing in Cork (# 11.20) 5/7/95

Lovejoy~1986- Adam Bailey in  Breaking the Broker (# 6.7) 11/13/94

Scarlet and the Black, The~1993 (mini) - Monsieur de Renal

Casualty~1986- Bart in  Making Waves (# 7.11) 11/21/92

Boon~1986- Malcolm Ashforth in  Message in a Bottle (# 7.6) 10/13/92

Shakespeare: The Animated Tales~1992 - (mini) (voice) (segment Macbeth) 

Shakespeare: The Animated Tales~1992 (mini)  (voice ) (segment The Tempest)

Murder Most Horrid~1991- Maurice Howling in  The Girl from Ipanema (# 1.2) 11/21/91

Inspector Morse~1987- Randall Rees in  Greeks Bearing Gifts (# 5.4) 3/30/91

Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, The~1990  (voice)

Chelworth~1989 (mini) Keith Shedden in Coming Home (#1)7/9/89 (see Actor Connections - TV)

Rumpole of the Bailey~1978- Canon Timothy Donkin in  Rumpole and the Age of Miracles (# 5.3) 12/7/88

Juliet Bravo~1980 - Clive Markham in  Friends and Neighbours (# 6.5) 10/5/85

Black Tower, The~1985 (mini) - Wilfred Anstey

Doctor Who~1963- The Governer in  Vengeance on Varos (# 22.2) 1/19/85

Who Dares Wins~1983 (# 1.4) 6/2/84

Mr. Palfrey of Westminster~1984- Armitage in  A Present From Leipzig (# 1.4) 5/8/84

Bunker, The~1981- Johannes Hentschel

Enemy at the Door~1978- Nils Borg in  The Education of Nils Borg (# 2.12) 3/22/80

Breakaway~1980- Detective Inspector Sam Harvey

Rings on Their Fingers~1978- Oliver

Within These Walls~1974 - Peter Flynn in  The Man with the Magic Touch (# 4.2) 9/11/76

Dixon of Dock Green~1955 - Vic Hallam in  The Hired Man (# 21.7) 4/5/75

Pallisers, The~1974- Frank Greystock

David Copperfield~1974 (mini) Uriah Heep

Doctor Who~1963- Butler in  Invasion of the Dinosaurs (# 11.2) 1/12/74  (see Actor Connections - TV)

Arthur of the Britons~1972- Karn in  The Swordsman (# 2.1) 9/12/3

Moonstone, The~1972 (mini) - Godfrey Ablewhite

Thirty-Minute Theatre~1965-  Death's Head (# 1.208) 5/24/71

Little Women~1970 (mini) John Brooke

Ross~1970 

Paul Temple~1969- Larry in  Missing Penny (# 1.4) 12/14/69

Nicholas Nickleby~1968 - Nickleby

Thirty-Minute Theatre~1965-  The Last Victim (# 1.119) 11/18/68

Detective~1964 - Robert Macrae in  Cork on the Water (# 2.11) 7/21/68

P. and O.~1969- Dr. Naughton

Forsyte Saga, The~1967 (mini) Jolyon 'Jon' Forsyte

Thirty-Minute Theatre~1965-  Wife in a Blonde Wig (# 1.46) 11/21/66

Doctor Who~1963- Hilio in  The Web Planet (# 2.5) 2/13/65

 

Commercials

DeBeers - Millennium Ads~2000

 

Theatre

Mary Stuart~2006 -  William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, Lord High Treasurer (LA Theatre Works, Los Angeles, CA) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

Honour~2006 -  (Wyndham's Theatre, London, UK)

Shadowlands~2005 - C.S. Lewis (LA Theatre Works, Los Angeles, CA)

Men In Scarlet~2000 - 

By Jeeves~2001 - Jeeves (Helen Hayes Theatre, NY, NY)

A Woman of No Importance~ - Lord Illingworth (LA Theatre Works, Los Angeles, CA) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

Passion Play~ - Jim (Donmar Warehouse, London, UK)

John Gielgud Centenary~ - Jack (Gielgud Theatre, London, UK)

Skylight~ - Tom (SCR Theater, US)

Doctor's Dilemma, The - Cutler Walpole (Almeida Theatre, )

Just Between Ourselves~ - Dennis (Greenwich Theatre, )

Leo in Love~ - Leo (Nuffield Theater, )

Twelfth Night~ - Andrew Agnecheek (Playhouse Theatre, )

Henceforward~ - Jerome (Vaudeville Theatre, )

Perfect Party, THe~ - Tony (Greenwich Theatre, )

Trojan War, The~- Hector (National Theatre, )

Importance of Being Earnest~ - John Worthing (National Theatre, )

Caught in the Act~ - Martin (Garrick Theatre, )

Circle, The~ - Arnold (Haymarket Theater/Chichester, )

On Approval~ -  Duke of Bristol (Playhouse Theatre, London, UK)

Woman In Mind~ - Gerald (Vaudeville Theatre, London, UK)

Exchange~ - Viktor (Vaudeville Theatre, London, UK)

Hamlet~ - Hamlet (Theatre Royal, UK)

Just William - Live on Stage (Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, England, UK)

Other Places: Victoria Station~1982 - Driver 274 (The National Theatre, Cottesloe, England, UK)

Romeo and Juliet~ - Lady Capulet (he was a young man)

 

Live Appearances/Performances

Chester Literature Festival~2005 - guest (Chester, North Wales, UK)

The Stars Shine for Autism~2004 - Himself/reader (see Actor Connections - Live Appearances/Performances)

 

Audio Books/Plays

The Sticky Rock Cafe~2006 - read an excerpt Click HERE to hear.

First Among Equals~2007 - Narrator

Diary of a Nobody~2006 - Narrator

A Dickens Trilogy 2~2006 - Narrator

A Matter of Honour~2006 - Narrator

Short Stories: The Ultimate Modern Collection~2006 - Narrator

Spies~2006 - Narrator

A Twist in the Tale~2006 - Narrator

Best of Second World War Poetry~2005 - reader

Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare~2004 - Narrator

Piccadilly Jim~2005 - Narrator

Plain Tales from the Hills~2004 - Narrator

Three Men in a Boat~2005 - Narrator

William Again~2005 - reader

As the Crow Flies~2004 - reader

Billy Bunter and the Blue Mauritius and Bunter Does His Best~2004 - Narrator

Billy Bunter's Bank Note~2004 - Narrator

Banker~2004 - Narrator/reader

Carry On, Jeeves~2004 - Narrator

Cautionary Verses~2004 - reader

Classic Tales Travel Pack~2004 - Narrator

David Copperfield~2004 - Narrator

A Dickens Trilogy 2: A Christmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby and A Tale of Two cities~2004 - Narrator

Fantastic Mr. Fox and Other Stories~2004 - Narrator

First Among Equals~2004 - reader

Jarvis's Frayn~2004 Narrator/reader

Jarvis & Frayn Incorporated~2004

Just William - Home for the Holidays~2004 - Narrator/reader

Nicholas Nickleby~2004 - Narrator

Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less~2004 - reader

Sons of Fortune~2004 - Narrator

A Tale of Two Cities~2004 - Narrator

Bunter Does His Best~2003 - Narrator

The Ghost-seer~2003 - Narrator

Just William At Christmas~2003 - Narrator

Metamorphosis~2003 -  Narrator/reader

More William~2003 Narrator/reader

Richmal Crompton: The Woman Behind William~2003 - Foreword

101 Dalmatians~2002 - reader

Bootleg~2002 - Narrator

Classic Love Stories~2002 - Narrator/reader

The Orchard Book of Fairy Tales~2002 - Narrator

Stig of the Dump~2002 - Narrator

Trent's Last Case: AND the Best Must Die~2002 - Narrator

Who Killed Zebedee~2002 - Narrator

The Wind in the Willows~2002 - Narrator

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club: Starring Ian Carmichael~2003 - Narrator

Classic Stories of the New Testament~2001 - Narrator

Classic Stories of the Old Testament~2001 - Narrator

Goodbye Mr. Chips~2001 - Narrator/reader

Now We are Sixty~2001 - Narrator

Ovid's Art of Love: Classic Rules of Seduction~2000 - reader

Tom Jones~2001 - Narrator

A Falcon Flies~2000 - Narrator

Complete Tales of Narnia~2000 - ensemble (from the radio show)

Fairy Tales~2000 - Narrator

Headlong~2000 - Narrator

Men of Men~2000 - Narrator

Merchant of Venice~2000 - Ensemble (from BBC Radio production)

The Nations Favourite Poems of Childhood~2000 - Narrator

Shattered~2000 - Narrator/reader

Ten By Maugham~2000  Narrator/reader (Earphones Award) 

Trials of Oscar Wilde~2000 - Narrator

Twice Shy~2000 - Narrator

A Christmas Carol~1999 - Narrator

The Dickens Trilogy: Oliver Twist; David Copperfield; Great Expectations Pt 1~1999 - Narrator

Jimmy~1999 - Narrator

Longshot~1999 - Narrator

Odds Against~1999 - Narrator

Oscar Wilde: Adapted by Gyles Brandreth (Great Trials S.)~1999 - Narrator

Pinocchio~1999 - Narrator

Second Wind~1999 - Narrator

William's Birthday~1999 - Narrator/reader

William and the Hidden Treasure and Other Stories~1999 - Narrator

William and the Prize Cat and Other Stories~1999 - Narrator

William's Wonderful Plan and Other Stories~1999 - Narrator

Billy Bunter's Postal Order~1998 - Narrator

Chinese Classic Stories~1998 - Narrator

Felix in the Underworld: Complete & Unabridged~1998 - Narrator

Third Man, The~1998 - Narrator/reader

Hard Times~1998 Narrator/reader

Jeffrey Archer Selected Stories~1998 - Narrator/reader

England, Their England~1998 - Narrator

Fantastic Mr. Fox~1998 - Narrator

Field of Thirteen~1998 - Narrator

Hard Times~1998 - Narrator

In the Frame~1998 - Narrator

A Night to Remember~1998 Narrator/reader

Oliver Twist~1998 Narrator/reader

Reflex~1998 - Narrator

Risk~1998 - Narrator

Tale of Two Cities~1998 Narrator/reader (LA Theatre Works)

Trial Run~1998 - Narrator

10 LB. Penalty~1997 - reader

Black Beauty~1997 - Narrator

Blood Sport~1997 - Narrator

Carry On, Jeeves In New York~1997 - Narrator

Enquiry~1997 - Narrator

Forfeit~1997 - Narrator

Goodbye Mr. Chips~1997 - Narrator

Kowlong Tong~1997 - Narrator

Bonecrack~1996 - Narrator

Heavy Weather~1996 - Narrator

Ralph Richardson: The Authorized Biography~1996 - Narrator

Slay-Ride~1996 - Narrator

Speak After the Beep: Studies in the Art of Communicating with Inanimate and Semi-animate Objects~1996 - Narrator

Straight~1996 - Narrator

To the Hilt~1996 - Narrator

Battles of the Oceans1940-44~1995 - Narrator

Billy Bunter at Greyfriar's School~1995 - Narrator

Cakes and Ale~1995 - Narrator

Confessions of Adrian Mole~1995 - Narrator

The Crystal Prison~1995 - Narrator

A Dog's Life~1995 - Narrator

The Forsytes~1995 - Narrator

The History of World War Two~1995 - Narrator

Leave It Up To Psmith~1995 - Narrator

A Pelican at Blandings~1995 - Narrator

A Matter of Honour~1995 - Narrator

Long Journey Home 1944-45~1995 - Narrator

Overture and Beginners 1938-39~1995 - Narrator

Parry and Riposte 1942-44~1995 - Narrator

A Quiver Full of Arrows: Henry's Hiccough/A Matter of Principle/The Hungarian Professor/The Perfect Gentleman/The Century/The First Miracle v.2~1995 - Narrator

Trials of Strength 1939-41~1995 - Narrator

World Will Hold Its Breath 1940-41~1995

Leave it to Psmith~1994 - Narrator

Lucky Jim~1994 - Narrator

Daily Telegraph Short Stories: Unabridged No. 1~1994 - Narrator

Martin Chuzzlewit~1994 - Narrator

Tales from Shakespeare No. 2~1994 - Narrator

Uncle Fred in the Springtime~1994 - Narrator

Dunster: Complete & Unabridged~1993 - Narrator

Emily's Ghost~1993 - Narrator

Fourways Farm: Moonstruck and Other Stories~1993 - Narrator

Henry's Leg~1993 - Narrator

Scarlet and Black~1993 - Narrator

Selected British Folk Tales~1993 - Narrator

Service With A Smile~1993 - Narrator

Tales from Shakespeare~1993 - Narrator

The Trick of It~1993 - Narrator

Blandings Castle~1992 - Narrator

Lord Emsworth and Others~1992 - Narrator

Pigs Have Wings~1992 - Narrator

Reviewing Romanticism~1992 - Narrator

Stormsearch~1992 - Narrator

My Girl in Skin Tight Jeans~1991 - Narrator

Take My Youth: An Anthology of Poetry from the Great War~1991 - Narrator

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar~1990

Merry Go Round in Oz~1989 - Narrator

Summer's Lease~1989 - Narrator

Great Piratical Rumbustification AND Librarian and the Robbers~1988

Happy Families~1988 - Narrator:

     Mrs. Wobble the Waitress

     Master Salt the Sailor's Son

     Mrs. Plug the Plumber

     Mr. Biff the Boxer

     Mrs. Lather's Laundry

     Mr. Cosmo the Conjuror

Christmas Carol~1988 - Narrator

Just William's Luck~1988 - Narrator

Sweet Dreams~1986

Lines on the Underground~ - Narrator

Les Miserables~ - Narrator

The Essential King James Bible: Complete Stories from the Old & New Testaments~ - reader

Code of Woosters~ - Narrator/reader (LA Theatre Works)

An Ideal Husband~ - Narrator/reader (LA Theatre Works)

Living Together~ - Narrator/reader (LA Theatre Works)

Round and Round the Garden~ - Narrator/reader (LA Theatre Works)

Table Manners~ - Narrator/reader (LA Theatre Works)

A Woman of No Importance~ - Narrator/reader  (LA Theatre Works)

Orson's Shadow~ - Narrator/reader (LA Theatre Works)

His Last Bow~ - Narrator

Huxley Pig - Here Comes Huxley Pig~ - Narrator/reader

Checkmate~ - Narrator/reader

Titanic~ - Narrator/reader

The Story of D-Day~ - Narrator

OUCH!~ - Narrator/reader

Family Matters~ - Narrator/reader  (Nom for Booker Award)

The Doctor's Dilemma~ - Narrator/reader

The Drowning People~ - Narrator/reader

 

Radio

Tom Jones~ - Henry Fielding (see Actor Connections - Radio)

Pack of Lies~2006 -

A Woman of No Importance~2005 - Lord Illingworth (see Actor Connections - Radio)

Old & New Testament~2001 (selections - King James version)

A Night To Remember~1998 - reader (10 part series)

2000x Tales of the Next Millenia~1999 (see Actor Connections - Radio)

Acting Strangely~1999 (5 part series) - reader

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Radio Drama~1996 - Barada - Weequay Skiff Guard (Jabba's Sail Barge)

Merchant of Venice~199? - 

Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful~1982 to 1986 - Ken Handley

The Complete Tales of Narnia~19?? - 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow~ - 

The Highway Code

Dr. Who

Modern Gal (play - produced)

 

Books

Broadway, Jeeves?: The Diary of a Theatrical Adventure~2003

Who Killed Zebedee?~2003 - Foreword

Acting Strangely: A Funny Kind of Life~1999

Bright Boy~1977

 

Awards, Honors and Nominations

Audio File Awards

Rec'd AudioFile Golden Voice

Audie Award

Rec'd for Carry on Jeeves

Rec'd for The Third Man

British Talkies Award

Rec'd 

Critics Awards

Rec'd for Hamlet

OBE (Officer British Empire)

Rec'd 2000

Talkie Awards

Rec'd Reader of the Year for 

Theatre World Award

Rec'd Best Performance for By Jeeves

RADA Awards

Rec'd RADA Vanbrugh and Silver Medal

Archives

CONTESTS

Coming Soon!

LINKS

See Rare personal Star Wars photos!

Other

Stuff!

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