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