WA
William Austin
Actor, Editor
Died June 15, 1975 (91 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
William Austin (12 June 1884 – 15 June 1975) was a British character actor who was born on a sugar plantation in Georgetown in British Guiana (now Guyana). On the death of his father he was brought to England to complete his education. He later filled a business post in Shanghai and on being sent to San Francisco by the company he worked for, he decided to stay in America and take up acting on the stage and later in films. He appeared in many American films and serials between the 1920s and the 1940s, though the vast majority of his roles were small and uncredited. He was the brother of actor Albert Austin. He died in Newport Beach, California.
Of the numerous silent films Austin appeared in, he is best remembered as the sidekick friend of Clara Bow in Bow's best known film It (1927).
Mr. Austin's portrayal in the 1943 Batman serial of Batman's butler Alfred is the iconic portrayal still used in the comics. Previous to being played by Mr. Austin, the character was fat and had no facial hair. Performed by Mr. Austin, the character was thin with a mustache. Shortly after the serial was released, Alfred in the comics was changed to match the look of the serial; this representation of the character has for the most part continued to this day except for the live action films, the Birds of Prey series, and the Deadshot short in Batman: Gotham Knight where he has no moustache.
Description above from the Wikipedia article William Austin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
William Austin (12 June 1884 – 15 June 1975) was a British character actor who was born on a sugar plantation in Georgetown in British Guiana (now Guyana). On the death of his father he was brought to England to complete his education. He later filled a business post in Shanghai and on being sent to San Francisco by the company he worked for, he decided to stay in America and take up acting on the stage and later in films. He appeared in many American films and serials between the 1920s and the 1940s, though the vast majority of his roles were small and uncredited. He was the brother of actor Albert Austin. He died in Newport Beach, California.
Of the numerous silent films Austin appeared in, he is best remembered as the sidekick friend of Clara Bow in Bow's best known film It (1927).
Mr. Austin's portrayal in the 1943 Batman serial of Batman's butler Alfred is the iconic portrayal still used in the comics. Previous to being played by Mr. Austin, the character was fat and had no facial hair. Performed by Mr. Austin, the character was thin with a mustache. Shortly after the serial was released, Alfred in the comics was changed to match the look of the serial; this representation of the character has for the most part continued to this day except for the live action films, the Birds of Prey series, and the Deadshot short in Batman: Gotham Knight where he has no moustache.
Description above from the Wikipedia article William Austin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Filmography
| 1986 | Laurel & Hardy (TV Series) · as Ollie's Room Mate (1986) |
| 1946 | Alias Mr. Twilight · as Forbes (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Murder in the Music Hall · as Clerk |
| 1945 | She Wouldn't Say Yes · as Receptionist |
| 1944 | National Velvet · as Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Dancing in Manhattan · as Mr. Morningstar |
| 1944 | Once Upon a Time · as Assistant Hotel Manager |
| 1943 | The Return of the Vampire · as Detective Gannett |
| 1943 | Holy Matrimony · as Critic |
| 1943 | Batman · as Alfred |
| 1941 | Charley's Aunt · as Spectator |
| 1939 | The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes · as Inquisitive Stranger |
| 1938 | Topper Takes a Trip · as Seated Roulette Player |
| 1938 | Mysterious Mr. Moto · as Art Admirer |
| 1938 | Doctor Rhythm · as Mr. Martingale |
| 1937 | Every Day's a Holiday · as Undetermined Secondary Role |
| 1937 | Live, Love and Learn · as Bob's Butler (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Renfrew of the Royal Mounted · as Constable Holly |
| 1936 | The Garden Murder Case · as Sneed, Hammle's Butler (uncredited) |
| 1935 | $1000 a Minute · as Salesman |
| 1935 | The Goose and the Gander · as Arthur Summers |
| 1935 | The Bishop Misbehaves · as Percy Cloud, Man Reading Book |
| 1935 | Oil for the Lamps of China · as Clerk In Chase's Office |
| 1934 | Imitation of Life · as Englishman At Party (uncredited) |
| 1934 | The Gay Divorcee · as Cyril Glossop |
| 1934 | A Duke for a Day · as Algernon Montmorency Smythe |
| 1934 | Gambling Lady · as Sargey - Fallon's Secretary |
| 1933 | Alice in Wonderland · as Gryphon |
| 1933 | College Coach · as Finch - Biography Writer |
| 1933 | The Private Life of Henry VIII · as Duke Of Cleves |
| 1933 | Three Men in a Boat · as Harris |
| 1932 | Don't Be a Dummy · as Lord Tony Probus |
| 1932 | County Hospital · as Ollie's Hospital Roommate |
| 1932 | Rule 'Em and Weep · as Duke |
| 1931 | Corsair · as Richard Bentinck |
| 1931 | A Tailor Made Man · as Jellicott |
| 1930 | Let's Go Native · as Basil Pistol |
| 1930 | The Flirting Widow · as James Raleigh |
| 1930 | The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu · as Sylvester Wadsworth |
| 1930 | Paramount on Parade · as Partygoer (impulses) |
| 1930 | The Man from Blankley's · as Mr. Poffley |
| 1929 | The Marriage Playground · as Lord Wrench |
| 1929 | Sweetie · as Prof. Percy Willow |
| 1929 | The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu · as Sylvester Wadsworth |
| 1928 | Someone to Love · as Aubrey Weems |
| 1928 | Drums of Love · as Raymond Of Boston |
| 1928 | Red Hair · as Dr. Eustace Gill |
| 1928 | The Five O'Clock Girl · as Cast |
| 1927 | The Small Bachelor · as Cast |
| 1927 | Silk Stockings · as George Bagnall |
| 1927 | Duck Soup · as Lord Tarbotham |
| 1927 | It · as Monty Montgomery |
| 1926 | Her Big Night · as Harold Crosby |
| 1926 | Fig Leaves · as Andre's Assistant |
| 1925 | What Happened to Jones? · as Henry Fuller |
| 1925 | The Night Club · as Gerly - The Valet |
| 1924 | The Reckless Age · as Lord Allan Harrowby |