- Born
- Died
- Birth nameAlan William Napier-Clavering
- Nickname
- Nape
- Height1.97 m
- A tall, distinguished-looking English character actor with aristocratic bearing and a precisely modulated voice, Alan William Napier-Clavering was born in Kings Norton, Worcestershire, England. A cousin of the former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (graduating in 1925) and spent his formative years as an actor with Oxford Repertory and, from 1924, on the London stage. During the 1930s, he found his niche in Shakespearean roles. His characterisation of Menenius in a 1954 Boston revival of "Coriolanus" was described in the Christian Science Monitor (January 23, 1954) as imbued with "benevolent distinction and with some of the comic quality of the part". However, by that time, Napier had largely forsaken the stage for the screen.
In 1939, Alan Napier immigrated to America and, in the course of nearly five decades, appeared in film and on television as noblemen, manservants and doctors. His gaunt, suave, sometimes bespectacled characters could be kindly or nefarious. He gave good support in the supernatural thriller La Falaise mystérieuse (1944) and lent gravitas to his role of Cicero in Jules César (1953). Baby boomer TV audiences will remember him fondly as Bruce Wayne's ever reliable, and very English, butler Alfred Pennyworth in Batman (1966), starring Adam West. Napier's second wife, Aileen Dickens Bouchier Hawksley (nicknamed "Gypsy"), was a great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens. Alan Napier died at age 85 of pneumonia in Santa Monica, California on August 8, 1988.- IMDb mini biography by: I.S.Mowis
- SpousesAileen Dickens Downing (Gypsy Raine)(1944 - February 12, 1961) (her death, 1 child)Emily Nancy Bevill Pethybridge(1930 - 1944) (divorced, 1 child)
- Children
- ParentsClaude Gerald Napier-ClaveringMary Millicent Kenrick
- RelativesWilfred Byng Kenrick(Aunt or Uncle)William Edmund Kenrick(Cousin)Brian Forster(Grandchild)
- Rich smooth voice with aristocratic bearing
- Towering height and slender frame
- In Tim Burton's remake Batman (1989), the Joker's alter ego is named Jack Napier, in Alan Napier's honor.
- Father of Jennifer Nichols. Maternal stepgrandfather of actor Brian Forster.
- He was initially reluctant to sign on to play Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred Pennyworth, on Batman (1966) before a friend pointed out to him that the series would make him the most famous butler in the world.
- Close friends with Michael Gough, who later played Alfred Pennyworth in Batman (1989), Batman : Le Défi (1992), Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997).
- Immigrated to the United States on April 28, 1939.
- I had never read comics before I [was hired for Batman (1966)]. My agent rang up and said, "I think you are going to play on Batman." I said, "What is Batman?" He said, "Don't you read the comics?" I said, "No, never." He said, "I think you are going to be Batman's butler." I said, "How do I know I want to be Batman's butler?" It was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard of. He said, "It may be worth over $100,000." So I said, "I was Batman's butler.".
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