William Austin
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- June 10, 1884 in Georgetown, British Guiana [now Guyana]
- Died
- June 15, 1975 (aged 91)
- Active Years
- 1920–1948 (29 Years)
- Total Credits
- 74 credits in database
Biography
William Austin was a British character actor born on June 12, 1884, on a sugar plantation in Georgetown in British Guiana, which is now Guyana. Following his father's death, he was brought to England to complete his education. He later filled a business post in Shanghai and was eventually sent to San Francisco by his company, where he chose to remain in America to pursue acting on the stage and later in films. He appeared in numerous American films and serials spanning the 1920s through the 1940s, though most of his roles were small and uncredited. He was the brother of actor Albert Austin and died on June 15, 1975, in Newport Beach, California.
Career overview
William Austin was a British character actor whose life spanned significant changes in the landscape of cinema. He was born on June 12, 1884, on a sugar plantation in Georgetown in British Guiana, which is now Guyana. Following the death of his father, he was brought to England to complete his education. He later filled a business post in Shanghai and was eventually sent to San Francisco by the company he worked for. Deciding to stay in America, he pursued acting on the stage before transitioning into films.
Austin appeared in many American films and serials between the 1920s and the 1940s, though the vast majority of his roles were small and uncredited. He was recognized as a distinguished actor known for his versatility and distinctive presence in both silent and sound films. Among his known film credits are It from 1927, The Marriage Playground from 1929, and Redheads on Parade from 1935. Additionally, records note that he was the first actor to play the character Alfred in a Batman adaptation, and he was the brother of actor Albert Austin.
His extensive career in American cinema concluded before his death. William Austin died on June 15, 1975, in Newport Beach, California, at the age of ninety-one.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
74 titles- Campus Sleuth (1948) Editor
- The Ghost Goes Wild (1947) as Barnaby
- Alias Mr. Twilight (1946) as Forbes (uncredited)
- National Velvet (1945) as Reporter (uncredited)
- Swingin' on a Rainbow (1945) as Musician (uncredited)
- The Return of the Vampire (1943) as Detective Gannett
- Batman (1943) as Alfred
- Charley's Aunt (1941) as Spectator
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) as Inquisitive Stranger
- Doctor Rhythm (1938) as Mr. Martingale
- Live, Love and Learn (1937) as Bob's Butler (uncredited)
- Renfrew of the Royal Mounted (1937) as Constable Holly
- The Garden Murder Case (1936) as Sneed, Hammle's Butler (Uncredited)
- Oil for the Lamps of China (1935) as Clerk in Chase's office
- $1,000 a Minute (1935) as Salesman
- The Goose and the Gander (1935) as Arthur Summers
- Redheads on Parade (1935) as Trelawney Redfern
- The Gay Divorcee (1934) as Cyril Glossop
- Imitation of Life (1934) as Englishman at Party (uncredited)
- Once to Every Bachelor (1934) as Mathews
- The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) as Duke of Cleves
- Alice in Wonderland (1933) as Gryphon
- Three Men in a Boat (1933) as Harris
- High Society (1932) as Wilberforce Strangeways
- Rule 'Em and Weep (1932) as Duke
- County Hospital (1932) as Ollie's Hospital Roommate
- A Tailor-Made Man (1931) as Jellicott
- Corsair (1931) as Richard Bentinck
- Embarrassing Moments (1930) as Jasper Hickson
- Let's Go Native (1930) as Basil Pistol
- The Man from Blankley's (1930) as Mr. Poffley
- Paramount on Parade (1930) as Partygoer ('Impulses') (uncredited)
- The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu (1930) as Sylvester Wadsworth
- The Flirting Widow (1930) as James Raleigh
- Along Came Youth (1930) as Lord Eustace
- The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu (1929) as Sylvester Wadsworth
- Sweetie (1929) as Prof. Percy Willow
- The Marriage Playground (1929) as Lord Wrench
- Illusion (1929) as Mr. Z
- The Fifty-Fifty Girl (1928) as Engineer
- What a Night! (1928) as Percy Penfield
- Someone to Love (1928) as Aubrey Weems
- Drums of Love (1928) as Raymond of Boston
- Just Married (1928) as Percy Jones
- Red Hair (1928) as Dr. Eustace Gill
- Duck Soup (1927) as Lord Tarbotham
- It (1927) as Monty Montgomery
- One Hour of Love (1927) as Louis Carruthers
- The World At Her Feet (1927) as Det. Hall
- Honeymoon Hate (1927) as Banning-Green
- Silk Stockings (1927) as George Bagnall
- Swim Girl, Swim (1927) as Mr. Spangle PhD.
- Ritzy (1927) as Algy
- What Happened to Jones? (1926) as Henry Fuller
- The Flaming Forest (1926) as Alfred Wimbledon
- Fig Leaves (1926) as Andre's Assistant
- The Far Cry (1926) as Eric Lancefield
- Her Big Night (1926) as Harold Crosby, cub reporter
- West of Broadway (1926) as Mortimer Allison
- The Fate of a Flirt (1925) as Riggs
- The Best People (1925) as Arthur Rockmere
- Who Cares (1925) as Dr. Harry Oldershaw
- Head Winds (1925) as Theodore Van Felt
- The Night Club (1925) as Gerly - The Valet
- Seven Days (1925) as Dal Brown
- In Love with Love (1924) as George Sears
- The Garden of Weeds (1924) as Archie
- The Reckless Age (1924) as Lord Allan Harrowby
- The Enemy Sex (1924) as Joe's Friend (uncredited)
- Ruggles of Red Gap (1923) as Mr. Belknap-Jackson
- Rich Men's Wives (1922) as Reggie
- Handle with Care (1922) as Peter Carter
- The Cowboy King (1922) as Wilbur
- Common Sense (1920) as Reggie Barrett
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is William Austin best known for?
William Austin is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Land of Honor (2014), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933), The Game Caterers (2021).
When and where was William Austin born?
William Austin was born on June 10, 1884 in Georgetown, British Guiana [now Guyana]. They passed away on June 15, 1975.
How many credits does William Austin have?
William Austin has 74 film and television credits listed on archytele, with work dated between 1920 and 1948.
What is William Austin's background in cinema and television?
William Austin was a British character actor born on June 12, 1884, on a sugar plantation in Georgetown in British Guiana, which is now Guyana. Following his father's death, he was brought to England to complete his education. He later filled a business post in Shanghai and was eventually sent to San Francisco by his c...
William Austin by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) as Inquisitive Stranger — aged about 55
- The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) as Duke of Cleves — aged about 49
- Fig Leaves (1926) as Andre's Assistant — aged about 42
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