Martin Jarvis Biography: Age, Wife, Net Worth, Movies, TV Shows, Awards, Radio

Martin Jarvis OBE is an English actor, voice actor, and producer, celebrated for his versatile career across theatre, film, television, radio, and audiobooks.

Renowned for his role as Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon in Titanic (1997) and his extensive work with BBC Radio 4, particularly narrating Just William stories, Jarvis is a distinguished figure in the entertainment industry.

Profile

• Full Name: Martin Jarvis
• Stage Name: Martin Jarvis
• Born: August 4, 1941
• Age: 83 years old
• Birthplace: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
• Nationality: British
• Occupation: British Actor, Voice Actor, Producer, Writer
• Height: 6 feet
• Parents: Denys Harry Jarvis (d. 2006), and Margot Lillian Scottney
• Siblings: unknown
• Spouse: Rosalind Ayres (m. November 23, 1974–present)
• Children: Two sons, Toby Jarvis and Oliver Jarvis (from first marriage)
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $10 million

Early Life and Education

Martin Jarvis was born on August 4, 1941, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, to Denys Harry Jarvis and Margot Lillian Scottney. He grew up in South Norwood and Sanderstead, north Surrey, in a middle-class family. His father passed away in 2006, but little is known about his mother or potential siblings.

Jarvis attended Whitgift School, an independent school in Croydon, where he developed an early interest in performance. He later trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, graduating in 1962 with a diploma (with honors), the Vanbrugh Award, and a silver medal, laying the foundation for his distinguished career.

Career

Jarvis began his professional career in 1964 with the Manchester Library Theatre, making his West End debut that year. He joined the Royal National Theatre for three years, gaining stage experience. His television breakthrough came at age 25 with the role of Jon in the BBC’s The Forsyte Saga (1967), a landmark costume drama that made him a household name.

He played the title role in Nicholas Nickleby (1968), Uriah Heep in David Copperfield (1974), and starred in the sitcom Rings on Their Fingers (1978–1980) with Diane Keen. His film roles include Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970), Buster (1988), and Titanic (1997) as Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon, alongside his wife Rosalind Ayres.

Jarvis is a prolific radio performer, particularly with BBC Radio 4, where he is celebrated for narrating Richmal Crompton’s Just William stories and Frank Richards’ Billy Bunter series. He adapted and performed Michael Frayn’s columns for Radio 4 in the 1980s and has voiced roles in dramas like David Mamet’s Mind Your Pantheon.

His audiobook work includes P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves series, Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant, and Wilbur Smith’s The Leopard Hunts in Darkness, earning him multiple Audie and Earphones Awards. He voiced characters in video games, including The Chronicler in Spyro the Dragon (2007) and Admiral Zaal’Koris in Mass Effect 2 (2010) and Mass Effect 3 (2012).

In theatre, Jarvis starred in By Jeeves on Broadway (2001), earning a Theatre World Award, and performed alongside Diana Rigg and Natascha McElhone in Honour (2006) at Wyndham’s Theatre. He co-founded Jarvis & Ayres Productions with his wife, producing award-winning radio dramas for the BBC and NPR, working with stars like Judi Dench and Ian McKellen.

Recent projects include voice work in Wreck-It Ralph (2012) as Saitine and Batman: Arkham City (2011). X posts from @archivetvmus71 in 2021 and 2022 celebrate his birthday, highlighting his enduring relevance.

Awards and Nominations

• Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) (2000): For services to drama
• Theatre World Award (2002): Won for By Jeeves on Broadway
• Sony Radio Award Nomination (1991): Best Actor
• George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award (1994): For Fourways Farm
• New York International Radio Award (1994)
• British Talkies Award (1995): Audiobook Publishing Association
• Audie Award (2001): For P.G. Wodehouse audiobooks
• Earphone Awards (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006): For Metamorphosis, The Wind in the Willows, Spies, Acting Strangely, Diary of a Nobody
• Sony DAB Rising Star Award (2010): For BBC Radio 6 Music’s Jarvis Cocker’s Sunday Service (unrelated to Martin Jarvis) Note: Some sources confuse awards with Jarvis Cocker; only Martin Jarvis’ awards are listed.

Social Media

Martin Jarvis’ social media account is unknown to the media

Personal Life

Martin Jarvis, splits his time between homes in West Hollywood, California, and London, UK. He married actress Rosalind Ayres on November 23, 1974, after meeting her during a production of Hamlet where she played Ophelia.

He has two sons, Toby and Oliver, from a previous marriage, but details about his first wife are undisclosed. His hobbies include cooking and music, and he is an associate member of RADA and a member of the British Actors’ Equity Association.

Jarvis avoids controversies, maintaining a professional image. His long collaboration with Ayres through Jarvis & Ayres Productions underscores their strong personal and professional bond.

Filmography

• The Forsyte Saga (1967, Series) – Jon
• Nicholas Nickleby (1968, Series) – Nicholas Nickleby
• Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970, Film) – Jeremy Secker
• The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1970, Series) – Supporting Role
• David Copperfield (1974, Series) – Uriah Heep
• Doctor Who (1965–1985, Series) – Hilio (The Web Planet, 1965), Dr. Butler (Invasion of the Dinosaurs, 1974), Governor (Vengeance on Varos, 1985)
• Rings on Their Fingers (1978–1980, Series) – Male Lead
• Buster (1988, Film) – Inspector Jack Mitchell
• Titanic (1997, Film) – Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon
• Taking the Flak (2009, Series) – David Bradburn
• Neander Jin: Return of the Neanderthal Man (2010, Film) – Peter Blodnik
• Wreck-It Ralph (2012, Film) – Saitine (Voice)
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011, Film) – Supporting Role

Discography

• Just William series by Richmal Crompton (BBC Audiobooks)
• My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse (CSA Word, 2002)
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (AudioFile Best of 2003)
• Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (Earphone Award, 2003)
• The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde (2011)
• The Leopard Hunts in Darkness by Wilbur Smith (2011)
• Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (Naxos, 2005)
• The Complete Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (BBC Audiobooks, 2000)

Net Worth

Martin Jarvis’ estimated net worth is approximately $10 million, This wealth stems from his extensive acting career in film (Titanic), television (The Forsyte Saga), and theatre (By Jeeves), as well as his prolific audiobook narrations and radio work with BBC. His production company, Jarvis & Ayres Productions, also contributes through award-winning dramas.