William Austin

William Austin was an American actor known for his roles in It, Redheads on Parade, and In Love with Love. He gained fame as the first live-action portrayal of Alfred the Butler in the 1943 Batman serial.

Personal and Family Life

Born on June 12, 1884, in Georgetown, British Guiana, William Austin came from a wealthy English family, as his father owned a sugar plantation. He had a brother named Albert Austin, who was also an actor. He started his career in theater before transitioning to film.

Career

Austin’s acting career spanned several decades. He signed a five-year contract with Paramount Pictures in 1927, often playing the role of upper-class British characters. His portrayal of Alfred in the Batman serial significantly altered the character’s future representations in comics and film.

Death and Legacy

William Austin passed away on June 15, 1975, in Newport Beach, California. His legacy continues through the iconic role of Alfred, impacting the portrayal of the character in subsequent adaptations of Batman. He is remembered as a talented actor who contributed to the evolution of film character representations.

Filmography

Title	Release Date	Character
Alice in Wonderland	1933-12-18	Gryphon
The Gay Divorcee	1934-10-12	Cyril Glossop
The Private Life of Henry VIII	1933-08-17	Duke of Cleves
County Hospital	1932-06-25	Ollie’s Hospital Roommate
The Ghost Goes Wild	1947-08-08	Barnaby
Corsair	1931-11-28	Richard Bentinck
It	1927-02-05	Monty Montgomery
Batman	1943-07-16	Alfred
The Cowboy King	1922-05-01	Wilbur
Renfrew of the Royal Mounted	1937-09-29	Constable Holly
Three Men in a Boat	1933-04-30	Harris
The Flirting Widow	1930-05-11	James Raleigh
Live, Love and Learn	1937-10-29	Bob’s Butler (uncredited)
Sweetie	1929-10-25	Prof. Percy Willow
Doctor Rhythm	1938-05-06	Mr. Martingale
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes	1939-09-01	Inquisitive Stranger
Let’s Go Native	1930-08-15	Basil Pistol
What Happened to Jones	1926-02-08	Henry Fuller
Drums of Love	1928-01-24	Raymond of Boston
The Goose and the Gander	1935-09-21	Arthur Summers
Duck Soup	1927-03-13	Lord Tarbotham
Fig Leaves	1926-08-22	Andre’s Assistant
$1,000 a Minute	1935-10-21	Salesman
Oil for the Lamps of China	1935-06-08	Clerk in Chase’s office
The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu	1929-08-10	Sylvester Wadsworth
Common Sense	1920-06-01	Reggie Barrett
Head Winds	1925-03-29	Theodore Van Felt
Red Hair	1928-03-10	Dr. Eustace Gill
The Night Club	1925-04-26	Gerly – The Valet
A Tailor-Made Man	1931-03-28	Jellicott
The Return of the Vampire	1943-11-11	Detective Gannett
High Society	1932-07-27	Wilberforce Strangeways
National Velvet	1945-01-26	Reporter (uncredited)
Redheads on Parade	1935-09-07	Trelawney Redfern
What a Night!	1928-12-22	Percy Penfield
Just Married	1928-08-18	Percy Jones
Illusion	1929-09-21	Mr. Z
The Reckless Age	1924-08-16	Lord Allan Harrowby
The Flaming Forest	1926-11-21	Alfred Wimbledon
Along Came Youth	1930-12-20	Lord Eustace
Imitation of Life	1934-11-23