If we close our eyes and ask any fan of movies (of superheroes) to give us the name of a character that is a secondary of the manual, it is very possible that in all cases we get the same answer: Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's butler and protector of Batman, who has been in his shadow since the superhero's parents were shot dead on a dark street in Gotham. But do you know all the actors who have played that role?
Alfred, 80 years next to Batman
His full name is Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth and it is a silent figure, helpful and that is for Bruce Wayne his main emotional pillar and the closest thing to a living relative he will ever have. As if that were not enough, he was officially his legal guardian, the one who took care of him throughout his childhood, so he knows all his secrets, weaknesses and strengths.
The Alfred Pennyworth character was created by DC for comics in 1943, four years after the birth of Batman himself, and quickly became one of the essential figures in the entire superhero universe thanks to his ability to serve as connection between the capricious millionaire heir and reality.
Its importance has always been fundamental, because Alfred is the point of realism in all the adventures of the bat man, his conscience, his alarm when he crosses the limits and the one that makes him see the dangers that Bruce Wayne often insists on denying. Surely, without the presence of this character, the superhero would have died many, many years ago, a victim of his impetus and youth that can only be tempered by that vital perspective that only experience is capable of giving.
See offer on AmazonSo since we are talking about one of the most covered heroes in film and television in history, there are many (renowned) actors who have played his perfect squire, for which it deserves a tribute that we are going to proceed to carry out.
These are all the faces that are already part of history and that have spoken for Alfred Pennyworth.
Alfred Pennyworth on TV
There are many productions that have been broadcast on the air about the famous DC superhero, so it was normal for his faithful squire Alfred to accompany him in all of them. Here you have all the actors who have brought him to life over the years on the small screen or, more recently, on some other streaming platform:
william austin
william austin was instrumental in how DC was going to portray Alfred in comics from that moment on, 1943, the year not only of the creation of the character himself but also of the series that was shot for television. It was because of this actor that the original idea that Pennyworth was quite left and with an uncared-for appearance, which changed to a radically different one, closer to that of an English Sir: educated, intelligent, clean and neat.
Eric Wilton
This actor was in charge of giving life to Alfred in the series Batman and robin which premiered in 1949. Just six years after its creation in DC comics.
Alan Napper
Alan Napper became Alfred for the TV series from 1966, which also included Adam West and Burt Ward. As a curiosity, to say that the character does not have a last name at this time because he was never mentioned as such in the comics. At DC they thought it would be interesting to create a certain background and then yes, that Pennyworth was added to the comics once the series itself was finished.
Ian abercrombie
This kinder-looking Alfred of Series Birds of Prey in 2002, was directed by a Hollywood classic like Ian Abercrombie.
Reed Birney
Titans was another series that in 2018 showed us some DC heroes in full youth, and among them was a fellow Batman like Robin. So Alfred Pennyworth, who also appeared at some point, was taken care of by Reed Birney.
sean pertwee
Alfred Pennyworth was a key character in Gotham, the 2014 series that tells us what happens in the city of Batman before the superhero himself is born.
Jack bannon
And we arrive at what is, surely, the only series that focuses on the figure of Albert as the main character, long before becoming part of the Wayne family. In Pennyworth We will travel through her first adventures when she was a SAS soldier, the special forces of the British army.
Alfred Pennyworth in the movies
But surely it is because of the huge number of roles that have been played in the cinema for what Alfred Pennyworth has become one of the best-known characters in the DC universe., especially in recent years when superhero movies have become the favorites of the general public and each advent of the Batman has made headlines in the media around the world. Here you have all the Alfreds in the history of cinema:
Alan Napper
Alan Napier reprized the role of Alfred for the big screen in a film version of Batman by Adam West, which was the result of the success of the television series itself.
Michael gough
We come to what is one of the most recognizable Alfreds, the one who starred in the entire series of films of Batman since 1989, the year the Tim Burton film was released with Michael Keaton as the protagonist. And despite the changes in director (Joel Schumacher) and leading actors in the role of Bruce Wayne (Val Kilmer or George Clooney), Pennyworth always remained in the guise of this veteran and renowned actor. Quite a luxury for the time that he had to suffer in his flesh the bad reviews of some of the deliveries of the 90s.
See offer on AmazonMichael caine
What to say about this Alfred. It is, by far, the one who has taken the tone the best, the most severe but understanding of all those seen in the cinema and, furthermore, the one with the most corrosive humor. It helped him achieve glory and success The dark knight in a trilogy, that of Christopher Nolan, which is one of the best things we have ever seen inspired by Batman. For many (especially the new generations) he is "the face" of Alfred in the cinema and with good reason.
See offer on AmazonJeremy Irons
This incredible actor had no qualms in universe to what would be the DC Extended Universe in a movie as risky as it is Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice. From there he appeared in all the other films in which Ben Affleck remains in the role of Bruce Wayne, which includes that League of Justice which after a rough premiere in 2017, had a kind of director's cut (Zack Snyder) in 2021 quite interesting. This Alfred is one of those who are not afraid to get down to business and touch the latest generation weapons and machinery that the bat man handles on a daily basis.
See offer on AmazonDouglas hodge
En Joker It was not so much a main character as a secondary one who makes an appearance when the life of the joker slightly intersects with that of Bruce Wayne. It is here when Alfred makes an appearance for a few minutes on screen, enough to recognize him practically without saying anything. Great movie that you should not forget to watch.
See offer on AmazonAndy Serkis
And we travel to 2022, at which time Warner takes one of his riskiest steps with The Batman. A film in which the role of Alfred is played by Andy "Gollum" Serkis, the same one who played the creature trying to recover the ring of power. This Pennyworth is the one that transmits the most bad vibes since it is noticeable almost from the first plane that he lives in a permanent conflict with Bruce Wayne that leads them to hardly speak to each other.
Serkis is also expected to play the legendary character in the film's sequel, The Batman II, a film that will once again be directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson. Its release date has recently been modified, yes, and has gone from October 3, 2025 to October 2, XNUMX. 2026. We therefore have a good season left until we see him on paper again.
The links to Amazon in this article are part of our agreement with their Affiliate Program and may earn us a small commission on their sale (without affecting the price you pay). Even so, the decision to publish and add them has been made, as always, freely and under editorial criteria, without attending to requests from the brands involved.