Alan Napier

Tall, gaunt, elegant, mustachioed character actor, born in England, who after considerable stage and some film experience moved to the United States in 1939. Almost invariably in gentlemanly roles connoting Britishness, Napier played a variety of noblemen, butlers, senior officers, professors and aristocrats, with an occasional villager or con man thrown in for good measure. His over 70 film credits include roles in "The House of the Seven Gables" (1940), "The Song of Bernadette" (1943), "Three Strangers" (1946), "Macbeth" (1948), "Julius Caesar" (1953), "The Court Jester" (1956), "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1959) and "Marnie" (1964). A prolific TV performer, Napier is best-known as Alfred, the perfect butler to the Caped Crusaders (and the only person to know Batgirl's true identity), on the camp classic, "Batman".

• Also Credited As:
  Alan Napier-Clavering
• Born:
  January 7, 1903 in Birmingham, England
• Died:
  August 8, 1988.
• Job Titles:
  Actor

Family

• Daughter: Jennifer Nichols.

Milestones

• 1929 Graduated to London's West End theaters and the Old Vic
• 1939 Acted in first American feature film, "We Are Not Alone"
• 1939 Immigrated to US
• 1940 Performed on the New York Stage opposite Gladys George in "Lady in Waiting"
• Began acting career with England's Oxford Repertory
• Earliest British feature film credits include "Caste" (1930), "Stamboul" (1931) and "Bitter Sweet" (1933)
• Played Alfred Pennyworth on TV series, "Batman"