Born in India, raised in Scotland, James Hayter’s jovial rotund appearance
looked every inch a Dickens character come to life. A graduate of the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Hayter made his debut stage appearances
in 1925 in My Fair Lady. His film debut came in 1936, in Brian Desmond’s
unexceptional film Sensation. After serving in the Royal Armoured Corps
during WWII, Hayter returned to continue a film career as one of the
busiest character actors in the British film industry. In addition to
his perfect Mr. Pickwick in The
Pickwick Papers (1952), Hayter also made notable appearance in Morning
Departure (1950), The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952)
and The Big Money
(1956). Later in his career, Hayter became the recognisable voice of
the Mr. Kipling's Cakes adverts, and gained television fame for a short
stint starring in the BBC series Are You Being Served?
