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
Acted in 70
1940s
- 1947
The Ghost Goes Wild
Barnaby
- 1946
Alias Mr. Twilight
Forbes (uncredited)
- 1945
Swingin' on a Rainbow
Musician (uncredited)
- 1943
The Return of the Vampire
Detective Gannett
- 1941
Charley's Aunt
Spectator
1930s
- 1939
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Inquisitive Stranger
- 1938
- 1937
Live, Love and Learn
Bob's Butler (uncredited)
Renfrew of the Royal Mounted
Constable Holly
- 1936
The Garden Murder Case
Sneed, Hammle's Butler (Uncredited)
- 1935
$1,000 a Minute
Salesman
The Goose and the Gander
Arthur Summers
Redheads on Parade
Trelawney Redfern
Oil for the Lamps of China
Clerk in Chase's office
- 1934
Imitation of Life
Englishman at Party (uncredited)
The Gay Divorcee
Cyril Glossop
- 1933
Three Men in a Boat
Harris
- 1932
County Hospital
Ollie's Hospital Roommate
Rule 'Em and Weep
Duke
- 1931
Corsair
Richard Bentinck
A Tailor-Made Man
Jellicott
- 1930
Along Came Youth
Lord Eustace
Let's Go Native
Basil Pistol
The Flirting Widow
James Raleigh
The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
Sylvester Wadsworth
Paramount on Parade
Partygoer ('Impulses') (uncredited)
The Man from Blankley's
Mr. Poffley
Embarrassing Moments
Jasper Hickson
1920s
- 1929
The Marriage Playground
Lord Wrench
Sweetie
Prof. Percy Willow
Illusion
Mr. Z
The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu
Sylvester Wadsworth
- 1928
What a Night!
Percy Penfield
Someone to Love
Aubrey Weems
Just Married
Percy Jones
The Fifty-Fifty Girl
Engineer
Red Hair
Dr. Eustace Gill
Drums of Love
Raymond of Boston
- 1927
Silk Stockings
George Bagnall
Swim Girl, Swim
Mr. Spangle PhD.
The World At Her Feet
Det. Hall
Ritzy
Algy
Duck Soup
Lord Tarbotham
It
Monty Montgomery
One Hour of Love
Louis Carruthers
- 1926
The Flaming Forest
Alfred Wimbledon
West of Broadway
Mortimer Allison
Her Big Night
Harold Crosby, cub reporter
The Far Cry
Eric Lancefield
What Happened to Jones?
Henry Fuller
- 1925
The Fate of a Flirt
Riggs
The Best People
Arthur Rockmere
The Night Club
Gerly - The Valet
Head Winds
Theodore Van Felt
Who Cares
Dr. Harry Oldershaw
- 1924
In Love with Love
George Sears
The Garden of Weeds
Archie
The Enemy Sex
Joe's Friend (uncredited)
The Reckless Age
Lord Allan Harrowby
- 1923
Ruggles of Red Gap
Mr. Belknap-Jackson
- 1922
Rich Men's Wives
Reggie
The Cowboy King
Wilbur
Handle with Care
Peter Carter
- 1920
Common Sense
Reggie Barrett
Edited 1
1940s
- 1948
Campus Sleuth
Editor