Michael Gough

English actor (1916–2011)

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
Gough in 1958
Born
Francis Michael Gough

(1916-11-23)23 November 1916
Died17 March 2011(2011-03-17) (aged 94)
Cause of deathPneumonia complicated from prostate cancer
NationalityBritish
EducationDurham School
Alma materOld Vic
OccupationActor
Years active1946 – 1999, 2005, 2010
EmployerHammer Film Productions
Known forAlfred Pennyworth,
Edmond Bancroft
Notable workDracula,
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
Height5'10" (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)
Children3
RelativesRachel Gurney (in-law)
AwardsTony Award, BAFTA Award

Early life

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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

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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.

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

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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

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  1. Michael Gough Biography
  2. Michael Gough Biography – Yahoo! Movies
  3. "Michael Gough, Batman's Alfred, dies aged 94". BBC News. 17 March 2011.

Other websites

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