William Crosby Percy Austin (12 June 1884 – 15 June 1975) was an English

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

. He was the first actor to play

Alfred Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *'' Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interl ...

in a

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on March 30, 1939. I ...

adaptation.

Early years

William Austin was born in Georgetown in

British Guiana British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana. The first European to encounter Guiana was ...

. His parents were Charles Percy Austin and Rosalie Ann Sarah Austin. On the death of his father, he was brought to the United Kingdom to complete his education. He was the brother of actor

Albert Austin Albert Austin (13 December 1882 – 17 August 1953) was an English actor, film star, director, and script writer, remembered for his work in Charlie Chaplin films. Biography Austin was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, and was a m ...

. Austin attended Reading College in England and gained theatrical experience via Little Theatre and Drama Shop plays.

Career

Austin 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. Beginning in 1919, Austin acted at the Morosco Theatre in Los Angeles for three years. He began working in films in 1922. 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. Of the silent films Austin appeared in, he is best remembered as the sidekick friend of

Clara Bow Clara Gordon Bow (; July 29, 1905 – September 27, 1965) was an American actress who rose to stardom during the silent film era of the 1920s and successfully made the transition to " talkies" in 1929. Her appearance as a plucky shopgirl in the ...

in Bow's best known film '' It'' (1927). He supported

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo in t ...

in two of their films, '' Duck Soup'' and '' County Hospital''. Austin worked as a film editor from 1928 to 1930, primarily working with Westerns.

Batman

Austin's portrayal of

's butler,

, in the 1943 ''Batman'' serial is the iconic portrayal still used in the comics. Previous to being played by Austin, the character was fat and had no facial hair. Performed by Austin, the character was thin with a moustache. 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 Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds). In addition to speed and strength, these predat ...

'' series, and the

Deadshot Deadshot (Floyd Lawton) is a supervillain and antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by David Vern Reed, Lew Schwartz and Bob Kane, the character made his first appearance in '' Batman'' #59 (June–July 1950). ...

short in '' Batman: Gotham Knight'' where he has no

moustache A moustache (; en-US, mustache, ) is a strip of facial hair grown above the upper lip. Moustaches have been worn in various styles throughout history. Etymology The word "moustache" is French, and is derived from the Italian ''mustaccio'' ...

Death

On 15 June 1975, Austin died in Newport Beach, California, three days after his 91st birthday. He was buried in

Pacific View Memorial Park Pacific View Memorial Park is a cemetery located in the Corona del Mar neighborhood of Newport Beach, in Orange County, California. It first opened in 1958, and is known as the final resting place of Academy Award winning actor John Wayne and ba ...

Corona del Mar, California Corona del Mar ( Spanish for "Crown of the Sea") is a seaside neighborhood in the city of Newport Beach, California. It generally consists of all the land on the seaward face of the San Joaquin Hills south of Avocado Avenue to the city limits, ...

Selected filmography

* ''Common Sense'' (1920) – Reggie Barrett * '' Handle with Care'' (1922) – Peter Carter * ''

The Cowboy King ''The Cowboy King'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Charles R. Seeling and starring Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Patricia Palmer and Elizabeth De Witt. Cast * Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Dud Smiley * Patricia Palmer as Eth ...

'' (1922) – Wilbur * ''

Rich Men's Wives ''Rich Men's Wives'' is a lost 1922 American silent drama film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring House Peters, Claire Windsor and Gaston Glass. Synopsis A bored wife of a wealthy man is irritated by his neglect, and is drawn into a fli ...

'' (1922) – Reggie * '' Ruggles of Red Gap'' (1923) – Mr. Belknap–Jackson * '' The Reckless Age'' (1924) – Lord Harrowby * ''

The Garden of Weeds ''The Garden of Weeds'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by James Cruze and starring Betty Compson. It is based on the Broadway play ''Garden of Weeds'' by Leon Gordon and Doris Marquette. Famous Players-Lasky produced and Paramoun ...

'' (1924) – Archie * ''

In Love with Love "In Love with Love" is a 1987 song recorded by the American singer Debbie Harry. It was taken from her second solo album ''Rockbird'' and released as the third single in 1987. Song information Lyrically, the song is the sequel to Blondie's " He ...

'' (1924) – George Sears * ''

The Night Club ''The Night Club'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Paul Iribe and Frank Urson and written by Cecil B. DeMille, Keene Thompson, Walter Woods, and William C. deMille. The film stars Raymond Griffith, Vera Reynolds, Wallace ...

'' (1925) – Gerly – The Valet * '' Who Cares'' (1925) – Dr. Harry Oldershaw * ''

Head Winds A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple animals m ...

'' (1925) – Theodore Van Felt * '' Seven Days'' (1925) – Dal Brown * '' The Best People'' (1925) – Arthur Rockmere * '' The Fate of a Flirt'' (1925) – Riggs * '' What Happened to Jones'' (1926) – Henry Fuller * ''

The Far Cry ''The Far Cry'' (Portuguese title: ''Um Divorcio Feliz'') is a 1926 American silent epic drama film produced and distributed by the First National Pictures. The film was directed by Silvano Balboni, the husband of writer June Mathis, and sta ...

'' (1926) – Eric Lancefield * '' Fig Leaves'' (1926) – André's Assistant * '' Collegiate'' (1926) – G. Horace Crumbleigh * ''

Her Big Night ''Her Big Night'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Melville W. Brown and written by Brown, Rex Taylor, and Nita O'Neil. It is based on the 1925 short story, ''Doubling for Lora'', by Peggy Gaddis that was originally seriali ...

'' (1926) – Harold Crosby * ''

West of Broadway ''West of Broadway'' is a lost 1926 American silent romantic comedy Western film directed by Robert Thornby and starring Priscilla Dean. It was released through Producers Distributing Corporation. The film was based on the short story "New Yo ...

'' (1926) – Mortimer Allison * '' The Flaming Forest'' (1926) – Alfred Wimbledon * ''

One Hour of Love ''One Hour of Love'' is a 1927 American silent romantic drama film directed by Robert Florey and starring Jacqueline Logan, Robert Frazer and Montagu Love.Munden p.568 It is now considered to be a lost film. The film's sets were designed by the ...

'' (1927) – Louis Carruthers * '' It'' (1927) – 'Monty' Montgomery * '' Ritzy'' (1927) – Algy * '' The World at Her Feet'' (1927) – Det. Hall * '' Swim Girl, Swim'' (1927) – Mr. Spangle, PhD * ''

Silk Stockings ''Silk Stockings'' is a musical with a book by George S. Kaufman, Leueen MacGrath, and Abe Burrows and music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The musical is loosely based on the Melchior Lengyel story ''Ninotchka'' and the 1939 film adaptation it i ...

'' (1927) – George Bagnall * '' The Small Bachelor'' (1927) * ''

Honeymoon Hate ''Honeymoon Hate'' is a lost 1927 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Luther Reed and written by Doris Anderson, Ethel Doherty, Herman J. Mankiewicz, George Marion Jr., and A.M. Williamson. The film stars Florence Vidor, Tullio ...

'' (1927) – Banning–Green * '' Drums of Love'' (1928) – Raymond of Boston * ''

Red Hair Red hair (also known as orange hair and ginger hair) is a hair color found in one to two percent of the human population, appearing with greater frequency (two to six percent) among people of Northern or Northwestern European ancestry and ...

'' (1928) – Dr. Eustace Gill * ''

The Fifty-Fifty Girl ''The Fifty-Fifty Girl'' is a lost 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Clarence Badger and starring Bebe Daniels and James Hall as co-owners of a gold mine.Just Married'' (1928) – Percy Jones * '' Someone to Love'' (1928) – Aubrey Weems * '' What a Night!'' (1928) – Percy Penfield * ''

The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu ''The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu'' is a 1929 American pre-Code drama film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Warner Oland as Dr. Fu Manchu. It was the first Fu Manchu film of the talkie era. Since this was during the transition period to so ...

'' (1929) – Sylvester Wadsworth * ''

Illusion An illusion is a distortion of the senses, which can reveal how the mind normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. Although illusions distort the human perception of reality, they are generally shared by most people. Illusions may oc ...

'' (1929) – Mr. Z * '' Sweetie'' (1929) – Prof. Willow * ''

The Marriage Playground ''The Marriage Playground'' is a 1929 American pre-Code drama film directed by Lothar Mendes, and written by Doris Anderson, J. Walter Ruben, and Edith Wharton. The film stars Mary Brian, Fredric March, Lilyan Tashman, Huntley Gordon, Kay Franc ...

'' (1929) – Lord Wrench * '' Embarrassing Moments'' (1929) – Jasper Hickson * ''

The Man from Blankley's ''The Man from Blankley's'' is a lost 1930 American pre-Code comedy film, directed by Alfred E. Green. It starred John Barrymore and Loretta Young. The film was based on the 1903 play by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, writing under the pseudonym "F. ...

'' (1930) – Mr. Poffley * ''

The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu ''The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu'' is a 1930 American pre-Code film directed by Rowland V. Lee. It is the second of three films starring Warner Oland as the fiendish Fu Manchu, who returns from apparent death in the previous film, '' The Mysterious ...

'' (1930) – Sylvester Wadsworth * '' The Flirting Widow'' (1930) – James Raleigh * '' Let's Go Native'' (1930) – Basil Pistol * '' Along Came Youth'' (1930) – Eustace * ''

A Tailor Made Man ''A Tailor Made Man'' is a 1931 American MGM pre-Code comedy film directed by Sam Wood. Adapted from the 1908 Hungarian play ''A Szerencse Fia'' by Gábor Drégely (staged in English in New York in 1917), the film stars William Haines and Dor ...

'' (1931) – Jellicott * '' Corsair'' (1931) – Richard Bentinck * '' High Society'' (1932) – Wilberforce Strangeways * ''

Don't Be a Dummy ''Don't Be a Dummy'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Frank Richardson and starring William Austin, Muriel Angelus and Garry Marsh. The film was a quota quickie made by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers at their Teddington ...

'' (1932) – Lord Tony Probus * ''

The Private Life of Henry VIII ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' is a 1933 British film directed and co-produced by Alexander Korda and starring Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Merle Oberon and Elsa Lanchester. It was written by Lajos Bíró and Arthur Wimperis for London F ...

'' (1933) – Duke of Cleves * ''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...

'' (1933) – Gryphon * ''

Three Men in a Boat ''Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)'',The Penguin edition punctuates the title differently: ''Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog!'' published in 1889, is a humorous account by English writer Jerome K. Jerome of a two ...

'' (1933) – Harris * ''

Once to Every Bachelor ''Once to Every Bachelor'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by William Nigh and starring Marian Nixon, Neil Hamilton and William Austin.Goble p.895 Synopsis In order to avoid her connection to the murder of a gangster and his desire to av ...

'' (1934) – Mathews * ''

The Gay Divorcee ''The Gay Divorcee'' is a 1934 American musical film directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It also features Alice Brady, Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore, and Erik Rhodes. The screenplay was written by ...

'' (1934) – Cyril Glossop * '' Thirty-Day Princess'' (1934) * ''

Redheads on Parade ''Redheads on Parade'' is a 1935 American musical film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and written by Don Hartman and Rian James. The film stars John Boles, Dixie Lee, Jack Haley, Raymond Walburn, Alan Dinehart and Patsy O'Connor. The film was re ...

'' (1935) – Trelawney Redfern * '' The Goose and the Gander'' (1935) – Arthur Summers * '' $1000 a Minute'' (1935) – Salesman * ''

Renfrew of the Royal Mounted ''Renfrew of the Royal Mounted'' was a popular series of boy's adventure books written by Laurie York Erskine that were later filmed and became a series on both radio and television. Canon 'Inspector Douglas Renfrew' was a former Royal Flying Cor ...

'' (1937) – Constable Kelly * '' Doctor Rhythm'' (1938) – Mr. Martingale (The Floorwalker) * '' The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'' (1939) – Inquisitive Stranger * ''

Charley's Aunt ''Charley's Aunt'' is a farce in three acts written by Brandon Thomas. The story centres on Lord Fancourt Babberley, an undergraduate whose friends Jack and Charley persuade him to impersonate the latter's aunt. The complications of the plot in ...

'' (1941) – Cricket Match Spectator * ''

'' (1943, Serial) – Alfred Beagle (uncredited) * ''

My Kingdom for a Cook ''My Kingdom for a Cook'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Richard Wallace, which stars Charles Coburn, Marguerite Chapman, and Bill Carter. Synopsis A visiting British emissary on a goodwill tour of the United States struggles to r ...

'' (1943) – Brooks * ''

The Return of the Vampire ''The Return of the Vampire'' is a 1943 American horror film directed by Lew Landers and starring Bela Lugosi, Frieda Inescort, Nina Foch, Miles Mander, Roland Varno, and Matt Willis. Its plot follows a vampire named Armand Tesla, who has two en ...

'' (1943) – Detective Gannett * ''

The Ghost Goes Wild ''The Ghost Goes Wild'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by George Blair and written by Randall Faye. The film stars James Ellison, Anne Gwynne, Edward Everett Horton, Ruth Donnelly, Stephanie Bachelor and Grant Withers. It was released ...

'' (1947) – Barnaby (final film role)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Austin, William 1884 births 1975 deaths English male film actors English male silent film actors 20th-century English male actors British expatriate male actors in the United States