British actor Michael Gough died 17 March 2011. Born 23 November (there is some question as to the year of his birth: 1916 or 1917) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to British parents, he may be best remembered as Alfred Pennyworth, Batman’s butler, in the four Batman films starting with Tim Burton’s in 1989. He won a BAFTA television award for best actor in 1957, and was nominated for a BAFTA film award for best supporting actor in 1972. He also won a Tony Award for best featured actor in a play in 1979, and was nominated for another in 1988.
After serving in the home guard as a conscientious objector during World War II, his first professional acting role was in the television movie Androcles and the Lion (1946). From that point, he appeared frequently in the movies and on television, in addition to stage appearances. His last film appearance was as the voice of the Dodo Bird in Alice in Wonderland (2010).
In 1989, Tim Burton cast him as the ever-steady butler Alfred in his relaunching of the Batman series, and Gough repeated the role in Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995), and Batman & Robin (1997), becoming one of only two actors to appear in all four films (the other was Pat Hingle). In 1966, Gough made his first appearance in Doctor Who, playing the Celestial Toymaker in four episodes. He then returned to the series for three episodes as Councillor Hedin in 1983.
In between, his many genre roles include: Corpse Bride (2005), Sleepy Hollow (1999), The Haunting of Helen Walker (1995), The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), two episodes of The Little Vampire (1986 and 1987), Arthur the King (1985), A Christmas Carol (1984), Venom (1981), Blakes 7 (1980), The Boys from Brazil (1978), Evil Heritage (1976), The Legend of Hell House (1973), Moonbase 3 (1973), Computer Killers (1973), The Corpse (1971), Trog (1970), Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968), The Champions (1968), Journey to the Unknown (1968), Berserk (1967), They Came from Beyond Space (1967), The Skull (1965), Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965), Undermind (1965), Black Zoo (1963), The Phantom of the Opera (1962), No Place Like Homicide! (1961), Konga (1961), Horrors of the Black Museum (1959), Horror of Dracula (1958), and The Man in the White Suit (1951).
He was married four times, and is survived by his fourth wife, Henrietta, a daughter, and two sons. The Telegraph offers this obituary.