Martin Jarvis (actor)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:38:10 PM Wikipedia source
Martin Jarvis OBE (born 4 August 1941) is an English actor. Described by the BBC as "one of Britain's most distinguished and versatile actors", he has had a varied career in theatre, film and television, and is particularly noted for radio acting and voicing audiobooks.
Infobox
Born
(1941-08-04) 4 August 1941 (age 84)Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Alma mater
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation
Actor
Years active
1964–present
Spouse
mw- Rosalind Ayres (m. 1974)
Children
2
Tables
· Filmography › Film
1992
Emily's Ghost
Role(s)
Papa
1993
Calliope
Role(s)
O'Brien, Dover's Agent
Notes
Short film noir, co-starring with Phil Collins
1996
Role(s)
Australian Group #8
Notes
Alongside his real life wife Rosalind Ayres as "Australian Group #1"
1999
The Kid with X-ray Eyes
Role(s)
Mr. X
Notes
Direct-to-video film
2008
Framed
Role(s)
Richard
2011
Neander-Jin: The Return of the Neanderthal Man
Role(s)
Peter Blodnik
Role(s)
Birger
2014
Role(s)
Sir Stanley Rous
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1966 | Secrets of a Windmill Girl | Mike, Windmill Stage Manager | |
| 1970 | The Last Escape | Lt. Donald Wilcox | |
| Taste the Blood of Dracula | Jeremy Secker | ||
| 1988 | Buster | Inspector Mitchell | |
| 1992 | Emily's Ghost | Papa | |
| 1993 | Calliope | O'Brien, Dover's Agent | Short film noir, co-starring with Phil Collins |
| 1996 | Police Story 4: First Strike | Australian Group | Alongside his real life wife Rosalind Ayres as "Australian Group " |
| 1997 | Titanic | Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon | Alongside Rosalind Ayres as Lady Duff-Gordon |
| 1999 | The Kid with X-ray Eyes | Mr. X | Direct-to-video film |
| 2001 | Beginner's Luck | Old luvvie | |
| 2002 | Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War | JB | |
| 2006 | Eragon | (voice) | |
| 2008 | Framed | Richard | |
| 2011 | Neander-Jin: The Return of the Neanderthal Man | Peter Blodnik | |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | Birger | ||
| 2012 | Wreck-It Ralph | Saitine (voice) | |
| 2014 | Batman: Assault on Arkham | Alfred Pennyworth (voice) | Direct-to-video film |
| United Passions | Sir Stanley Rous | ||
| 2023 | Brave the Dark | Henry V (voice) |
· Filmography › Television
1964
The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling
Role(s)
Little Mildred
Notes
Episode 25: "The Man Who Was"
1965
The Rise and Fall of César Birotteau
Role(s)
Maxime de Trailles
Notes
Episodes 1 & 3: "Chavalier of the Legion" and "Land Near the Madeleine"
Role(s)
Ernest (as a young man)
Notes
Series 10; episode 50: "The Way of All Flesh"
1967
Role(s)
Himself - Storyteller
Notes
Series 3; episodes 26–30: "Tom's Midnight Garden: Parts 1–5"
Escape
Role(s)
Peter
Notes
Episode 4: "Private Enterprise"
1968
1969
1970
1972
Crime of Passion
Role(s)
Daniel
Notes
Series 3; episode 2: "Daniel"
Full House
Role(s)
Actor in After Liverpool
Notes
Episode 4
1973
Role(s)
Philip Marsden
Notes
Series 2; episode 2: "Five Hundred Carats"
1974
1974–1987
Role(s)
Jackanory
Notes
Himself - Storyteller
1975
1976
Killers
Role(s)
Alfred Arthur Rouse
Notes
Episode 5: "The Blazing Car Murder"
Play from 'A'
Role(s)
The Journalist
Notes
Episode 3: "Initiative Test"
1977
Seven Faces of Woman
Role(s)
James Thurley
Notes
Series 2; episode 6: "She: The Barfly"
BBC2 Play of the Week
Role(s)
Klaus
Notes
Series 1; episode 5: "True Patriot"
The Savage
Role(s)
(voice)
Notes
Television film
1978
The Sunday Drama
Role(s)
The Narrator
Notes
Series 2; episode 4: "The Marrying Kind"
1978–1980
Role(s)
Rings on Their Fingers
Notes
Oliver Pryde
1980
Breakaway
Role(s)
Detective Inspector Sam Harvey
Notes
Episodes 1–12
1981
Notes
Series 19; episode 4
Sunday Night Thriller
Role(s)
Stone
Notes
Episodes 6 & 7: "The Business of Murder: Parts 1 & 2"
1984
Notes
Series 1; episode 4
Let's Parlez Franglais
Notes
Episode 8
1985
1986
Artists and Models
Role(s)
(voice)
Notes
Episodes 1 & 2: "The Passing Show" and "Slaves of Fashion"
1987
1988
Role(s)
Canon Timothy Donkin
Notes
Series 5; episode 3: "Rumpole and the Age of Miracles"
1989
Chelworth
Role(s)
Keith Shedden
Notes
Mini-series; episodes 1–4
1989–1990
Role(s)
Huxley Pig
Notes
Narrator (voice)
1990
Role(s)
Sharp Shooter / Lightning (voice)
Notes
Television film
1991
1992
1993
1994
1994–1995
Role(s)
Fourways Farm
Notes
Narrator (voice)
1995
Notes
Series 2; episode 3
Role(s)
Cyril RuddyGiles Havelock
Notes
Series 11; episode 20: "Another Killing in Cork"Series 12; episode 9: "Deadly Bidding"
1996
Role(s)
Himself - Storyteller
Notes
Series 34; episodes 19 & 20: "Fantastic Mr. Fox: Parts 1 & 2"
1998
1999
Sex 'n' Death
Role(s)
Neil Biddle
Notes
Television film
2000
2000–2001
Role(s)
Max Steel
Notes
John Dread (voice)
2001
2002
Role(s)
Cowfrey Pitt
Notes
Series 1; episode 1: "Well Schooled in Murder"
2003
2003–2007
Role(s)
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
Notes
Nergal / Old Man (voice)
2005
2005, 2006
Role(s)
The Life and Times of Juniper Lee
Notes
William / Bortek / King Teddy (voice)
2006
Role(s)
Captain Lockhart (voice)
Notes
Television film (Shown as an episode in Masterpiece series in the U.S.)
2007
2008
2009
2010
Role(s)
Vincent Hogg
Notes
Series 5; episode 4: "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side"
2013
2014
Role(s)
Sir Humphry Davy (voice)
Notes
Documentary series; episode 10: "The Electric Boy"
2017
Election Spy
Role(s)
Brian
Notes
Episodes 1–9
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1964 | The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling | Little Mildred | Episode 25: "The Man Who Was" |
| 1965 | Doctor Who | Hilio | The Web Planet (episodes 4–6) |
| The Rise and Fall of César Birotteau | Maxime de Trailles | Episodes 1 & 3: "Chavalier of the Legion" and "Land Near the Madeleine" | |
| ITV Play of the Week | Ernest (as a young man) | Series 10; episode 50: "The Way of All Flesh" | |
| 1966 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | Chris | Series 2; episode 8: "Wife in a Blonde Wig" |
| 1967 | Jackanory | Himself - Storyteller | Series 3; episodes 26–30: "Tom's Midnight Garden: Parts 1–5" |
| Emergency Ward 10 | Alan Brown | Series 3; episode 17: "A Matter of Will" | |
| The Forsyte Saga | Jolyon 'Jon' Forsyte | 8 episodes | |
| Escape | Peter | Episode 4: "Private Enterprise" | |
| ITV Playhouse | David Bryant | Series 1; episode 14: "A Whistle and a Funny Hat" | |
| 1968 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | Father Ramon | Series 4; episode 10: "The Last Victim" |
| Nicholas Nickleby | Nicholas Nickleby | Mini-series; episodes 1–13 | |
| Detective | Robert Macrae | Series 2; episode 11: "Cork on the Water" | |
| 1969 | W. Somerset Maugham | Dr. Naughton | Series 1; episode 7: "P. and O." |
| Paul Temple | Larry | Series 1; episode 4: "Missing Penny" | |
| 1970 | BBC Play of the Month | Aircraftman Dickinson | Series 6; episode 2: "Ross" |
| Little Women | John Brooke | Mini-series; episodes 1–9 | |
| 1971 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | Lutzke | Series 6; episode 27: "Death's Head" |
| 1972 | The Moonstone | Godfrey Ablewhite | Episodes 1–3 & 5 |
| Omnibus | Alan | Series 5; episode 22: "Actor, I Said" | |
| Crime of Passion | Daniel | Series 3; episode 2: "Daniel" | |
| ITV Sunday Night Theatre | Godfrey Footman | Series 5; episode 5: "The Samaritan" | |
| Full House | Actor in After Liverpool | Episode 4 | |
| 1973 | Jackanory Playhouse | Prince Fustian | Episode: "The Long-Nosed Princess" |
| The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes | Philip Marsden | Series 2; episode 2: "Five Hundred Carats" | |
| Arthur of the Britons | Karn | Series 2; episode 1: "The Swordsman" | |
| 1974 | Doctor Who | Butler / Voice in Reminder Room | Invasion of the Dinosaurs (episodes 3–6) |
| The Pallisers | Frank Greystock | Mini-series; episodes 12–14 | |
| David Copperfield | Uriah Heep | Mini-series; episodes 2–5 | |
| 1974–1987 | Jackanory | Himself - Storyteller | Series 12–25; 47 episodes |
| 1975 | Dixon of Dock Green | Vic Hallan | Series 21; episode 8: "The Hired Man" |
| Zigger Zagger | Les | Episodes 1–3 | |
| Softly, Softly: Task Force | Mr. Davenant | Series 7; episode 7: "And with What Measure?" | |
| Jackanory Playhouse | Sir Cleges | Episode: "The Christmas Cherries" | |
| 1976 | Killers | Alfred Arthur Rouse | Episode 5: "The Blazing Car Murder" |
| Within These Walls | Peter Flynn | Series 4; episode 2: "The Man with the Magic Touch" | |
| Play from 'A' | The Journalist | Episode 3: "Initiative Test" | |
| 1977 | Seven Faces of Woman | James Thurley | Series 2; episode 6: "She: The Barfly" |
| BBC2 Play of the Week | Klaus | Series 1; episode 5: "True Patriot" | |
| The Savage | (voice) | Television film | |
| Play for Today | Sir Fergus / Sir James | Series 8; episode 9: "Charades" | |
| 1978 | The Sunday Drama | The Narrator | Series 2; episode 4: "The Marrying Kind" |
| 1978–1980 | Rings on Their Fingers | Oliver Pryde | Series 1–3; 20 episodes |
| 1979 | Ike | King George VI | Mini-series; episode 2: "Part II" |
| 1980 | Enemy at the Door | Nils Borg | Series 2; episode 12: "The Education of Nils Borg" |
| Breakaway | Detective Inspector Sam Harvey | Episodes 1–12 | |
| 1981 | The Dick Emery Show | Series 19; episode 4 | |
| The Bunker | Johannes Hentschel | Television film | |
| Sunday Night Thriller | Stone | Episodes 6 & 7: "The Business of Murder: Parts 1 & 2" |
· Filmography › Video games
2009
Role(s)
Gandalf
2011
Role(s)
Finn McMissile
Role(s)
Alfred Pennyworth
Role(s)
Dorian / Inquisitor Zyn / Lord Alaric
2012
Role(s)
Various characters
Role(s)
Finn McMissile
2013
Role(s)
Energy Center Scientist
Notes
Expansion pack for Star Wars: The Old Republic
Role(s)
Finn McMissile
| Year | Title | Role (voice) | Notes |
| 2003 | Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown | Sheriff of Nottingham | |
| 2006 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Nergal | |
| 2007 | The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night | The Chronicler | |
| 2008 | The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon | ||
| 2009 | The Lord of the Rings: Conquest | Gandalf | |
| Dragon Age: Origins | Avernus | Warden's Keep DLC | |
| 2010 | Mass Effect 2 | Admiral Zaal'Koris vas Qwib Qwib | |
| 2011 | Cars 2: The Video Game | Finn McMissile | |
| Batman: Arkham City | Alfred Pennyworth | ||
| Star Wars: The Old Republic | Dorian / Inquisitor Zyn / Lord Alaric | ||
| 2012 | Mass Effect 3 | Various characters | |
| Kinect Rush: A Disney–Pixar Adventure | Finn McMissile | ||
| 2013 | Star Wars: The Old Republic - Rise of the Hutt Cartel | Energy Center Scientist | Expansion pack for Star Wars: The Old Republic |
| Disney Infinity | Finn McMissile | ||
| Batman: Arkham Origins | Alfred Pennyworth | Cold, Cold Heart DLC (2014) | |
| 2014 | Cars: Fast as Lightning | Finn McMissile | |
| 2015 | Batman: Arkham Knight | Alfred Pennyworth | |
| 2023 | Harry Potter: Magic Awakened | (voice) | |
| 2024 | Batman: Arkham Shadow | Alfred Pennyworth |
References
- British Comedy Guidehttps://www.comedy.co.uk/pro/blackbook/companies/jarvis_and_ayres_productions/
- BBC Onlinehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/11_november/14/bootleg_biographies.shtml
- "CV for Martin Jarvis"http://www.amandahowardassociates.co.uk/cv/jarvis-martin.pdf
- Playbillhttp://www.playbill.com/production/by-jeeves-helen-hayes-theatre-vault-0000006705
- Radio Times listings 28/12/1981: BBC Radio 4https://web.archive.org/web/20141017074748/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio4/fm/1981-12-28
- LATWhttps://latw.org/title/code-woosters
- BBC Radio 4https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0414qty
- BBC Radio 4https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09z1dr6
- BBC Radio 4https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03xsnjn/episodes/guide
- "BBC Drama: Much Ado About Nothing"https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/shakespeare/muchadoaboutnothing/martin_jarvis.shtml
- Digital Spyhttp://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a205935/martin-jarvis-joins-eastenders.html
- What to Watchhttps://www.whattowatch.com/spoilers/doctors-spoilers-are-jimmi-clay-and-maeve-ludlow-getting-married
- "Up Close with Martin Jarvis (Part 1) - Mormon Tabernacle Choir"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSMTA5bpieo
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/first-look-at-batman-vr-game-arkham-shadow-gameplay-voice-cast-revealed-gamescom-2024