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Biography
Michael Jayston was born 'Michael James' on 29 October 1935 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England to Vincent and Myfanwy (Llewelyn) James. At the age of one, his father died of pneumonia after being booted in the chest while playing rugby with a bad cold, and at age 14, his mother also passed away, leaving him, an only child, to be brought up by his grandmother and uncle. He was educated at the Catholic Becket Grammar School and then at the Nottingham University. He served in the National Service for a time and was stationed in Germany where he participated in several plays, but returned to Nottingham to train as an accountant for the National Coal Board.But after seeing a touring company perform, he decided to pursue acting and obtained a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama while also working at the Nottingham fish market during his holidays. He made his professional debut in "The Amorous Prawn" at the age of 27 and went on to join the Salisbury Repertory (1962-63), the Bristol Old Vic (1963-65) and the Royal Shakespeare Comapany (1965, Associate Artist 1966-69).
Around this time he married his first wife, Lynn Farleigh, with whom he had three children. He had two sons and an adopted daughter with his second wife, Heather Mary Sneddon, whom he divorced in 1977. In 1979, he moved with his present wife, Elizabeth Ann Smithson, and their two kids, Richard and Katy, to Brighton where he still resides. He is president of and plays with the Rottingdean Cricket Club and also enjoys (keeping in mind his most charming sense of humour which he apparently inherited from his father) listening to drains. His other interests include darts, riding, watching TV sports, gardening and gambling. He is a member of the MMC, Lord's Taverners, Eccentrics, and S.P.A.R.K.S.
Michael Jayston
c/o Diamond Management
31 Percy Street
London
W1T 2DD
United Kingdom
Sources:
Internet Movie Database
First Person Quiz
Audiobook Collection
'The Insight' 2006 article
And an old copy of "Who's Who in the Theatre" I turned up in my old university library