Michael Gough
Francis Michael Gough (23 November 1916 – 17 March 2011) was an English character actor who as appeared in over 150 movies. He is perhaps best known world wide for his roles in the Hammer Horror Films from 1958, and for his work as Batman's loyal butler Alfred Pennyworth in Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin. Gough and actor Pat Hingle are the only two actors to appear in all 4 Batman movies directed by Tim Burton or Joel Schumacher. Gough has also been in some other Tim Burton movies, Sleepy Hollow, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, and Alice in Wonderland.
Michael Gough | |
|---|---|
_trailer_-_Michael_Gough_(cropped_%2526_flipped).png.webp) Gough in 1958 | |
| Born | Francis Michael Gough 23 November 1916 |
| Died | 17 March 2011 (aged 94) |
| Cause of death | Pneumonia complicated from prostate cancer |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Durham School |
| Alma mater | Old Vic |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1946 – 1999, 2005, 2010 |
| Employer | Hammer Film Productions |
| Known for | Alfred Pennyworth, Edmond Bancroft |
| Notable work | Dracula, Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Horrors of the Black Museum, The Phantom of the Opera, Out of Africa, Bedroom Farce, Breaking the Code, The Go-Between, Satan's Slave, Sleepy Hollow, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, Alice in Wonderland |
| Height | 5'10" (1.75 m) |
| Spouse(s) | Diana Graves (divorced) Anne Leon (m. 1950–1964, divorced) Anneke Wills (m. 1962–1979, divorced) Henrietta Lawrence (m. 1980–2011, his death) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Rachel Gurney (in-law) |
| Awards | Tony Award, BAFTA Award |
Early life
Gough was born on 23 November 1916 in Kuala Lumpur, British Malaya.[1] His parents were Frances Atkins (née Baillie) and Frances Berkely Gough.[2]
Personal life
Gough was married four times; first to Dinan Graves they divorced. Second to Anne Leon in 1950 through 1964. Third to Anneke Wills in 1962 until they divorced in 1979. Lastly to Henrietta Lawrence in 1980 until his death in 2011. Gough had 3 children; Emma, Simon, and Jasper.
Death
Gough died on 17 March 2011 in his home in Salisbury, Wiltshire from pneumonia complicated from prostate cancer. He was 94 years old.[3] He was cremated. Michael Keaton who played Batman in the first two Batman films, said "To Mick - my butler, my confidant, my friend, my Alfred. I love you. God bless. Michael (Mr. Wayne) Keaton.". Gough was cremated and his ashes were rest at sea.
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Anna Karenina | Nicholai | |
| 1948 | Blanche Fury | Laurence Fury | |
| 1948 | Saraband for Dead Lovers | Prince Charles | |
| 1949 | The Small Back Room | Capt. Dick Stuart | |
| 1951 | Blackmailed | Maurice Edwards | |
| 1951 | The Man in the White Suit | Michael Corland | |
| 1953 | Twice Upon a Time | Mr. Lloyd | |
| 1953 | The Sword and the Rose | Duke of Buckingham | |
| 1953 | Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue | Duke of Montrose | |
| 1955 | Richard III | Dighton, the first murderer | |
| 1956 | Reach for the Sky | Flying Instructor Pearson | |
| 1957 | Ill Met by Moonlight | Andoni Zoidakis | |
| 1958 | Dracula | Arthur Holmwood | |
| 1958 | The Horse's Mouth | Abel | |
| 1959 | Model for Murder | Kingsley Beauchamp | |
| 1959 | Horrors of the Black Museum | Edmond Bancroft | |
| 1961 | What a Carve Up! | Fisk, the butler | |
| 1961 | Konga | Dr. Charles Decker | |
| 1962 | The Phantom of the Opera | Ambrose D'Arcy | |
| 1963 | Black Zoo | Michael Conrad | |
| 1963 | Tamahine | Cartwright | |
| 1965 | Dr. Terror's House of Horrors | Eric Landor | Segment four: "Disembodied Hand" |
| 1965 | The Skull | Auctioneer | |
| 1966 | Alice in Wonderland | March Hare | |
| 1966 | Doctor Who: The Celestial Toymaker | Celestial Toymaker | |
| 1967 | Berserk! | Albert Dorando | |
| 1968 | Curse of the Crimson Altar | Elder | |
| 1969 | Women in Love | Tom Brangwen | |
| 1969 | A Walk with Love and Death | Mad Monk | |
| 1970 | Julius Caesar | Metellus Cimber | |
| 1970 | Trog | Sam Murdock | |
| 1970 | The Go-Between | Mr. Maudsley | |
| 1970 | The Corpse | Walter Eastwood | Also known as Velvet House and Crucible of Horror |
| 1972 | Henry VIII and His Six Wives | Norfolk | |
| 1972 | Savage Messiah | M. Gaudier | |
| 1973 | Horror Hospital | Dr. Christian Storm | |
| 1973 | The Legend of Hell House | Emeric Belasco | Uncredited |
| 1976 | Satan's Slave | Uncle Alexander Yorke | |
| 1978 | The Boys from Brazil | Mr. Harrington | |
| 1981 | Venom | David Ball | |
| 1982 | Smiley's People | Mikhel | |
| 1983 | Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity | Councillor Hedin | |
| 1983 | The Dresser | Frank Carrington | |
| 1984 | Oxford Blues | Doctor Ambrose | |
| 1984 | Top Secret! | Dr. Paul Flammond | |
| 1984 | A Christmas Carol | Mr. Poole | |
| 1985 | Out of Africa | Baron Delamere | |
| 1986 | Caravaggio | Cardinal Del Monte | |
| 1987 | Inspector Morse: The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn | Philip Ogleby | |
| 1987 | The Fourth Protocol | Sir Bernard Hemmings | |
| 1988 | The Serpent and the Rainbow | Schoonbacher | |
| 1989 | Strapless | Douglas Brodie | |
| 1989 | Batman | Alfred Pennyworth | |
| 1989 | Batman: The Lazarus Syndrome | Alfred Pennyworth | Voice |
| 1991 | Let Him Have It | Lord Goddard | |
| 1992 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Russia 1910 | Leo Tolstoy | |
| 1992 | Batman Returns | Alfred Pennyworth | |
| 1993 | The Age of Innocence | Henry van der Luyden | |
| 1993 | The Hour of the Pig | Magistrate Boniface | |
| 1993 | Wittgenstein | Bertrand Russell | |
| 1995 | Batman Forever | Alfred Pennyworth | |
| 1997 | Batman & Robin | Alfred Pennyworth | |
| 1998 | St. Ives | Comte de Saint-Yves | |
| 1999 | The Cherry Orchard | Feers | |
| 1999 | Sleepy Hollow | Notary Hardenbrook | |
| 2005 | Corpse Bride | Elder Gutknecht | Voice |
| 2010 | Alice in Wonderland | Uilleam | Voice; Final role |
References
- Michael Gough Biography
- Michael Gough Biography – Yahoo! Movies
- "Michael Gough, Batman's Alfred, dies aged 94". BBC News. 17 March 2011.