Everyone knows about Batman and his nightly escapades beating up criminals, however only rarely does his butler Alfred Pennyworth get the proper acknowledgment he deserves. This character, despite often sitting in supporting or background roles, plays a big part in the Dark Knight’s life. Known for taking over the parenting duties after Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered, Alfred has been portrayed in various forms over the years by various actors.
Alfred first appeared in comics in 1943 and was initially an overweight detective of sorts who simply showed up on Batman and Robin’s doorstep declaring himself their butler. He was often somewhat bumbling and was meant to be a foil at first for the caped duo as they tried to hide their superhero identities. As time went on, the character was re-invented to become who he’s now known to be: an ex-special forces butler who becomes Bruce Wayne’s surrogate father and confidant.
William Austin: Batman serial | 1943
This 1943 serial was one of the earliest live-action versions of Batman. This version of Batman actually inspired much of what would later become common for Batman lore. While one notable inspiration was the idea of a bat cave hidden behind a grandfather clock, Alfred as a whole was fairly inspired by this interpretation. William Austin’s portrayal as a thin, mustachioed Alfred became the inspiration for the comic character. In the comics, Alfred was shown vacationing at a health resort that slimmed him down and he began sporting a thin mustache.
Eric Wilton: Batman and Robin | 1949
This depiction of Alfred played a supporting role in this 1949 series. This series was meant to be a sequel to the original serial, however, it featured an entirely new cast. This series saw the duo facing off against a villain named The Wizard who used a device that could control cars.
Alan Napier: Batman TV series |1966-1968
This version of Alfred appeared in one of the most famous television portrayals of Batman as played by Adam West. Alan Napier played the character fairly faithfully to the comics of the time, although his character is rather different from modern portrayals. Napier played the role with a comedic, straight-man panache that makes it iconic in its own right.
Michael Gough: Batman 1989 to Batman & Robin 1997
This portrayal of Alfred is one of the longest-running live-action depictions of the character. Beginning in 1989 with Michael Keaton's Batman, he went on to serve Batmans played by Val Kilmer and later George Clooney. This version of Alfred was never quite the rough-and-tumble type, instead opting for more of a refined British butler depiction. His caring character gave the role a heart that made his portrayal last, and his send-off in 1997's Batman was certainly a tear-jerker.
Ian Abercrombie: Birds of Prey | 2002-2003
This depiction of Alfred was the second to appear in a live-action television series based on Batman. Taking place in a future where Batman has exiled himself, this series follows the Birds of Prey as they take up the mantle. This portrayal of Alfred visually fell more in line with original depictions of the character and he took up more of a background mentor role than the active role seen soon after in live-action.
Michael Caine: Dark Knight Trilogy | 2005-2012
Michael Caine took up the role in Batman Begins, and this cockney-accented take on the character showcased someone easily seen as more of a father figure than many others. This Alfred was a constant companion to Bruce Wayne and actually helped him build Batman both literally and metaphorically. While many have played the role, Michael Caine has very much cemented himself as one of the iconic depictions.
Sean Pertwee: Gotham | 2014-2019
This portrayal of Alfred came as a shock to many fans, as this series takes place far enough back for Alfred to be a much younger man. Gone were the days of an aging butler tottering around an ancient mansion, this Alfred is a recent special forces vet who is a highly-skilled fighter, swordsman, and marksman. This portrayal works excellently for the series, as this Alfred is intended to mold the young Bruce into the man he would become.
Jeremy Irons: Batman v Superman and Justice League | 2016-2017
This depiction of Alfred comes as far more of a direct partner to Bruce than a direct mentor. He takes over controls for the bat-wing, draws up plans of attack, and more to help this Batman fulfill his role as a Batman who kills. When not helping with Batman's escapades, this Alfred serves as a moral balance to Bruce Wayne. He asks questions that make the brooding hero justify his actions, and generally works to ensure that Wayne makes the best choices out of a bad situation.
Douglas Hodge: Joker | 2019
There unfortunately isn't too much to be said for this portrayal as it's more of a cameo appearance of the character rather than a full-on depiction. He seems to be very protective of the young Bruce Wayne, even though this film is set before Thomas and Martha's death.
Jack Bannon: Pennyworth | 2019-Present
This series focuses entirely on the character of Alfred, although it is an Alfred that's somewhat different from the general interpretation of the character. While still being an SAS veteran making his way through London, this young Alfred's story takes place in an alternate reality where the Nazis won World War II. This alternate reality changes many things about character backstories, such as Thomas and Martha working with Alfred in secret. Despite these oddities, that have led some critics to question why this series has a connection to the comics at all, the series has seen a fair amount of popularity and has a third season reportedly coming to HBO Max.
Andy Serkis: The Batman | 2022
This is the newest depiction of Alfred, and it looks as though Andy Serkis will be playing the role somewhat as a mix of Sean Pertwee and Jeremy Irons. He's shown in one scene warning Pattinson's Bruce Wayne about what might happen if he lets himself get too deep into the darkness of Gotham, yet this is also early enough into Batman's career this Alfred might see some action as well.
There have been many live-action depictions of Alfred over the years, and each to varying degrees of success. While some portrayals have kept the character to the background, more recent depictions have begun giving the character far more leading roles. While this can be hit-or-miss depending on the writing and actor, it is an interesting method by which to give Bruce Wayne someone to bounce off with his various moral dilemmas. It'll be exciting to see what Andy Serkis does with the character next year.