William Austin
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- June 10, 1884
- Died
- June 15, 1975 (aged 91)
- Birthplace
- Georgetown, British Guiana [now Guyana]
Biography
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
Known For
Filmography
The Ghost Goes Wild
Movie · as Barnaby
Alias Mr. Twilight
Movie · as Forbes (uncredited)
National Velvet
Movie · as Reporter (uncredited)
Swingin' on a Rainbow
Movie · as Musician (uncredited)
Batman
Movie · as Alfred
The Return of the Vampire
Movie · as Detective Gannett
Charley's Aunt
Movie · as Spectator
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Movie · as Inquisitive Stranger
Doctor Rhythm
Movie · as Mr. Martingale
Renfrew of the Royal Mounted
Movie · as Constable Holly
Live, Love and Learn
Movie · as Bob's Butler (uncredited)
The Garden Murder Case
Movie · as Sneed, Hammle's Butler (Uncredited)
The Goose and the Gander
Movie · as Arthur Summers
Oil for the Lamps of China
Movie · as Clerk in Chase's office
$1,000 a Minute
Movie · as Salesman
Redheads on Parade
Movie · as Trelawney Redfern
The Gay Divorcee
Movie · as Cyril Glossop
Imitation of Life
Movie · as Englishman at Party (uncredited)
Once to Every Bachelor
Movie · as Mathews
Alice in Wonderland
Movie · as Gryphon
The Private Life of Henry VIII
Movie · as Duke of Cleves
Three Men in a Boat
Movie · as Harris
County Hospital
Movie · as Ollie's Hospital Roommate
Rule 'Em and Weep
Movie · as Duke
High Society
Movie · as Wilberforce Strangeways
Corsair
Movie · as Richard Bentinck
A Tailor-Made Man
Movie · as Jellicott
Embarrassing Moments
Movie · as Jasper Hickson
The Flirting Widow
Movie · as James Raleigh
Let's Go Native
Movie · as Basil Pistol
Along Came Youth
Movie · as Lord Eustace
The Man from Blankley's
Movie · as Mr. Poffley
The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
Movie · as Sylvester Wadsworth
Paramount on Parade
Movie · as Partygoer ('Impulses') (uncredited)
Sweetie
Movie · as Prof. Percy Willow
The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu
Movie · as Sylvester Wadsworth
Illusion
Movie · as Mr. Z
The Marriage Playground
Movie · as Lord Wrench
Drums of Love
Movie · as Raymond of Boston
The Fifty-Fifty Girl
Movie · as Engineer
Red Hair
Movie · as Dr. Eustace Gill
Just Married
Movie · as Percy Jones
What a Night!
Movie · as Percy Penfield
Someone to Love
Movie · as Aubrey Weems
The World At Her Feet
Movie · as Det. Hall
It
Movie · as Monty Montgomery
Duck Soup
Movie · as Lord Tarbotham
Swim Girl, Swim
Movie · as Mr. Spangle PhD.
Silk Stockings
Movie · as George Bagnall
One Hour of Love
Movie · as Louis Carruthers
Ritzy
Movie · as Algy
Honeymoon Hate
Movie · as Banning-Green
What Happened to Jones?
Movie · as Henry Fuller
Fig Leaves
Movie · as Andre's Assistant
The Flaming Forest
Movie · as Alfred Wimbledon
Her Big Night
Movie · as Harold Crosby, cub reporter
The Far Cry
Movie · as Eric Lancefield
West of Broadway
Movie · as Mortimer Allison
The Best People
Movie · as Arthur Rockmere
Seven Days
Movie · as Dal Brown
Head Winds
Movie · as Theodore Van Felt
The Night Club
Movie · as Gerly - The Valet
Who Cares
Movie · as Dr. Harry Oldershaw
The Fate of a Flirt
Movie · as Riggs
The Garden of Weeds
Movie · as Archie
The Reckless Age
Movie · as Lord Allan Harrowby
In Love with Love
Movie · as George Sears
The Enemy Sex
Movie · as Joe's Friend (uncredited)
Ruggles of Red Gap
Movie · as Mr. Belknap-Jackson
Handle with Care
Movie · as Peter Carter
The Cowboy King
Movie · as Wilbur
Rich Men's Wives
Movie · as Reggie
Common Sense
Movie · as Reggie Barrett