David Janson

David Janson (born David Jackson, 30 March 1950) is an English actor and theatre director whose stage debut was in Oliver! in 1962. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963 in A Midsummer Night's Dream and appeared as the young boy (during Ringo's walk) in The Beatles film A Hard Day's Night (billed as "David Jaxon").

David Janson
Born
David Jackson

(1950-03-30) 30 March 1950 (age 74)
Clapham, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1964–present
Spouse
(m. 1989; div. 2002)
Children2; including Ciara

Notable roles

Janson became well known for his role as Jimmy Harker in the 1960s British soap opera The Newcomers. He later starred in the sitcom Get Some In!. He also replaced Richard Gibson as the Gestapo officer Herr Otto Flick in the BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! in its final 1992 series, after playing Adolf Hitler's double in an episode of series 8.

He has also appeared in a variety of other roles including in Softly, Softly, Doomwatch, Jason King, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, Brush Strokes, T-Bag Strikes Again, Ever Decreasing Circles, the postman in Keeping Up Appearances, The Upper Hand and Don't Rock the Boat.

In 2019 he directed the stage show Hormonal Housewives.[1]

Personal life

Janson was married to actress Debbie Arnold, who played April Branning in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders in 1996. They were married for 13 years, divorcing in 2002. The couple have two daughters, including Hollyoaks actress Ciara Janson. The couple worked on the Streamline English as a Foreign Language video series. He played the role of Kevin Smith, with Arnold playing his wife Sharon Smith.

Television roles

YearTitleRole
1975–1978Get Some In!Ken Richardson
1980GrundyMurray
1982–1983Don't Rock the BoatBilly Hoxton
1987–1988Brush StrokesSteve
1991–1992'Allo 'Allo!Adolf Hitler double, Herr Otto Flick
1992–1995Keeping Up AppearancesMichael the Postman
2023Keeping Up Appearances - 30 Years Of LaughsHimself

References