Melvyn Hayes is an English actor and voice artist with a career that has lasted more than 75 years. He is best known for playing Gunner “Gloria” Beaumont in the BBC sitcom It Ain’t Half Hot Mum from 1974 to 1981. Born in London in 1935, he began as a child performer and went on to appear in films, television, and animation.
His work in Hammer Horror, children’s animation, and prime-time sitcoms made him a familiar presence across several generations of viewers. The British Comedy Guide maintains a detailed profile of his television career, and his longevity in the business is one of the most striking parts of his record.
As of 2025, Hayes is 90 years old and remains a public figure. He has written an autobiography, It Aint Half Late Mum, which his official website says took 36 years to complete and is planned for publication in January 2026.
Who Is Melvyn Hayes?
Melvyn Hayes, born Melvyn Hyams, is an English actor and voice artist whose credited career runs from the early 1950s to the present. Wikipedia records his birth on 11 January 1935 in Wandsworth, London, along with his extensive list of screen credits.
Several points stand out across his long career:
- Hayes has spent more than 75 years in entertainment, beginning as a child performer.
- His most famous role is Gunner “Gloria” Beaumont in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum (1974–1981).
- He appeared in the Hammer Horror classic The Curse of Frankenstein (1957).
- His autobiography, It Aint Half Late Mum, took 36 years to write and is planned for publication in January 2026.
- He has been married three times and, according to his official website, has six birth children and two adopted sons.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Melvyn Hyams |
| Date of Birth | 11 January 1935 |
| Place of Birth | Wandsworth, London, England |
| Profession | Actor and voice artist |
| Years Active | 1940s–present, more than 75 years in show business |
| Famous Role | Gunner “Gloria” Beaumont (It Ain’t Half Hot Mum) |
| Autobiography | It Aint Half Late Mum (publication planned for January 2026) |
Hayes was the third of four children born to Isaac and Queenie Hyams, a Jewish family in South London. He has said he spent more than 75 years in show business, starting as a child performer, with his professional credits documented from the early 1950s onward.
Who Were Melvyn Hayes’s Wives, and Does He Have Children?
Hayes has been married three times. The details of his marriages and family are the most frequently asked questions about his private life, and the available sources do not always agree.
Who Were Melvyn Hayes’s Wives?
His first wife was Rosalind Allen, whom he married in 1962; that marriage ended in divorce. His second wife was Wendy Padbury, married in 1974 and divorced in 1987. His third wife was Jayne Male, whom he married in 1992.
Records differ on the later years of the third marriage. IMDb lists Jayne Male as his wife from 2010, while his official website records her death in 2022. Given the conflicting records, the safest conclusion is that Hayes had three marriages and that his third wife, Jayne, died in 2022. No current partner is named in the available sources.
Does Melvyn Hayes Have Children?
Sources consistently state that Hayes has six children. Famous Birthdays repeats the figure, and his official website confirms six birth children. The official site also says he adopted two sons.
Named children reported in the media include Sacha, Talla, Damian, Jo, Charlie, and Lily, according to the Daily Mirror. Charlie Hayes also appears in IMDb’s family listing.
Sources disagree on some details of Hayes’s personal life. IMDb lists Jayne Male as his wife from 2010, while his official website records her death in 2022. His official site also mentions two adopted sons, a detail not repeated in most other sources.
What Movies and TV Shows Has Melvyn Hayes Been In?
What Was Melvyn Hayes’s Role in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum?
Hayes played Gunner “Gloria” Beaumont in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, a cross-dressing role that became his best-known work. The sitcom ran from 1974 to 1981, and the part turned him into one of the most recognisable faces in British comedy. A 2024 Guardian profile looked back at the role and its cultural impact.
Which Films Did Melvyn Hayes Make in the 1950s?
Before sitcom fame, Hayes worked steadily in film. His early credits include The Man Who Loved Redheads (1955), Woman in a Dressing Gown (1957), and The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). Rotten Tomatoes lists these among his screen roles. In 1963 he appeared in the film Summer Holiday with Cliff Richard.
Where Did Melvyn Hayes Appear on Television?
Hayes voiced characters in the children’s series SuperTed and The Further Adventures of SuperTed. His other television credits include the science-fiction serial Quatermass II and the children’s comedy Here Come the Double Deckers!. The Movie Database provides a fuller overview of his work across film and television.
In later decades, Hayes appeared in Drop the Dead Donkey (1998), joined EastEnders in 2005, and took a role in Benidorm in 2011. A separate list covers the full cast of that series in Benidorm Actors – Complete Cast List and Who Has Died.
IMDb and The Movie Database both carry extensive filmographies for Melvyn Hayes. His listed credits run from the early 1950s through the 2010s and include film, television, and voice work.
What Is Melvyn Hayes’s Net Worth?
No reliable, sourced figure for Melvyn Hayes’s net worth is available in the public record. Several websites publish estimates, but none of the higher-quality sources provides a verifiable number. Any exact figure found online is therefore speculation.
Celebrity net worth websites offer unsourced estimates for Hayes, but the available records do not support a precise calculation. His earnings from more than 75 years in film, television, and voice work have not been publicly disclosed in the sources examined.
What Is Melvyn Hayes Doing Now, and Did He Write a Book?
Is Melvyn Hayes Still Active in 2025?
Hayes is alive and remains a public figure in 2025. PopCulture Daily reports that he continues to feature in media coverage. A Guardian profile published in July 2024 described him as still giving interviews and reflecting on his career, especially It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
What Is the Title of Melvyn Hayes’s Autobiography?
Hayes has written an autobiography titled It Aint Half Late Mum. According to his official website, the book took 36 years to write and was set for publication in January 2026. The same source says the book covers his three marriages, six birth children, his adopted sons, and the loss of his third wife, Jayne.
How Long Has Melvyn Hayes Been Acting?
The key dates of Hayes’s career trace a path from child performer to veteran character actor.
- — Born in London as Melvyn Hyams on 11 January.
- — Began acting as a child performer.
- — Appeared in The Curse of Frankenstein.
- — Appeared in Summer Holiday with Cliff Richard.
- — Played Gunner “Gloria” Beaumont in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
- — Appeared in EastEnders.
- — Appeared in Benidorm.
- — Completed his autobiography after 36 years of writing.
- — Still a public figure, aged 90.
- — Autobiography planned for publication in January.
What Is Confirmed About Melvyn Hayes, and What Remains Unclear?
Some parts of Hayes’s life are firmly documented, while others are not. The record includes established facts alongside details that remain uncertain.
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Born 11 January 1935, confirmed by multiple sources. | His exact net worth is not publicly documented. |
| His role in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum is well documented. | His current marital status is not publicly confirmed. |
| His filmography is extensively listed on IMDb and other databases. | Details about his children’s private lives are not public. |
| His autobiography was completed and planned for publication in January 2026. | Specific plans for 2025 projects have not been widely announced. |
What Is Melvyn Hayes’s Legacy in British Entertainment?
Hayes connects the era of classic British cinema with the sitcom boom of the 1970s. His work in Hammer Horror links him to one of the most famous chapters in British film history, while his role in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum remains a frequent topic in discussions of 1970s television.
His longevity is rare. A career that moved from child performer to beloved character actor over more than seven decades crosses genres that are usually separate: horror, musicals, children’s animation, soap opera, and prime-time sitcom.
His late-career achievement is equally notable. Completing an autobiography after 36 years and preparing it for publication is a distinctive way of documenting his legacy. Another performer with a similarly long career in British comedy is Hattie Jacques. Her life and work are covered in Hattie Jacques – Life, Death and Legacy of a Carry On Icon.
What Sources Document Melvyn Hayes’s Life and Career?
The main references for Hayes’s life include Wikipedia, his official website, and interviews published in the British press.
Melvyn Hayes is an English actor and voice-over performer with a career spanning more than seven and a half decades.
Wikipedia
Melvyn Hayes has spent over 75 years in show business, carving out a unique path from child performer to beloved character actor.
Official website, melvynhayes.com
At the age of 91 and after 75 years in showbiz, actor Melvyn Hayes has finally written his autobiography.
Graham Rogers Radio, via Facebook
Hayes’s documented birth date of 11 January 1935 puts him at 90 in 2025 and 91 from January 2026. The age cited in the social media post above would fit a statement made from that point onward.
Who Is Melvyn Hayes in 2025?
Melvyn Hayes in 2025 is a 90-year-old actor whose career has touched some of the best-known corners of British entertainment. He remains best remembered for Gunner “Gloria” Beaumont in It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, while his 1950s film work connects him to the Hammer Horror era. His autobiography, It Aint Half Late Mum, is planned for publication in January 2026. According to his official website, it covers his marriages, children, and decades in show business.
Frequently Asked Questions About Melvyn Hayes
Is Melvyn Hayes still alive?
Yes, Melvyn Hayes is still alive as of 2025. He was born on 11 January 1935 and is 90 years old.
What is Melvyn Hayes’s real name?
His birth name is Melvyn Hyams. He became known professionally as Melvyn Hayes.
How old is Melvyn Hayes?
He was born on 11 January 1935, which makes him 90 in 2025. He turns 91 in January 2026.
Did Melvyn Hayes appear in Carry On films?
No. Melvyn Hayes is not known for appearing in the Carry On film series, though he worked extensively in British comedy, horror, and television.
When did Melvyn Hayes appear in EastEnders?
Melvyn Hayes appeared in EastEnders in 2005.
When is Melvyn Hayes’s autobiography being published?
His official website says It Aint Half Late Mum, written over 36 years, is planned for publication in January 2026.
Freddie Arthur Cooper Harrison is Editor-in-Chief of PopCulture UK, covering film, TV, music and celebrity news. He is accountable for the newsroom's editorial standards, and leads its sourcing and fact-checking process so that every article separates verified fact from rumour and is reviewed before publication.