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Michael Gough (born November 23, 1913) is a British character actor who has appeared in over 100 films. He is perhaps best known to international audiences by his recurring role as Alfred Pennyworth[1] in all four original Batman movies, beginning with Batman (1989). Gough is one of only two actors to appear in each of the four (the other actor being Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon).
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and career
Gough was born in Malaya (now Malaysia), the son of British parents Frances Atkins (née Bailie) and Francis Berkeley Gough.[2][3][4] Gough made his film debut in 1947 in Blanche Fury, and has since appeared extensively on British television. He has guest-starred on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, most notably as the villain in the serial The Celestial Toymaker and also as Councillor Hedin in Arc of Infinity. He also appeared in The Citadel as Sir Jenner Halliday, in the Doctor Who story , and 1986's Out of Africa as Lord Delamere. He was once married to Anneke Wills, who played the Doctor's companion Polly in Doctor Who.
[edit] Achieving cult status
He has a cult status among horror fans, because of his frequent appearances in 1960s British horror films such as Hammer's Dracula (US: Horror of Dracula, 1958) and The Phantom of the Opera (1962); and Anglo-Amalgamated's Horrors of the Black Museum (1960).
[edit] Work as Alfred Pennyworth
His later roles included Alfred Pennyworth for director Tim Burton, including Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). He also reprised his role as Alfred in the 1994 BBC radio adaptation of Batman: Knightfall and in Joel Schumacher Batman films, Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997). He worked for Burton again in 1999's Sleepy Hollow and 2005's Corpse Bride. He also briefly reprised the Alfred role in six 2001 television commercials for the OnStar automobile tracking system, informing Batman of the system's installation in the Batmobile.
[edit] Awards and nominations
He won Broadway's 1979 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for Bedroom Farce. He was also nominated in the same category in 1988 for Breaking the Code.
[edit] Filmography
[edit] References
[edit] External links
