Alan Napier Biography (1903-1988)

Born Alan Napier-Clavering, January 7, 1903, in Birmingham, England; died ofpneumonia, August 8, 1988, in Santa Monica, CA; son of Claude Gerald and Millicent Mary (Kendrick) Napier-Clavering; married Emily Nancy Bevill Pethybridge; children: one daughter, one stepdaughter.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Birth Details
January 7, 1903
Birmingham, England
Death Details
August 8, 1988
Santa Monica, California, United States

Famous Works

  • Credits
  • STAGE DEBUT--Policeman, Dandy Dick, Oxford Playhouse, Oxford, U.K., 1924.
  • LONDON DEBUT--Professor Boland, Storm, Ambassadors' Theatre, 1924.
  • Credits; PRINCIPAL STAGE APPEARANCES
  • All in London, unless indicated: Reverend John Williams, A Comedy of Goodand Evil, Ambassadors' Theatre, 1925.
  • Leonid Gayef, The Cherry Orchard, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, 1925.
  • Pick-purse, And So to Bed, Queen's Theatre, 1926.
  • colonel, The Spook Sonata, Globe Theatre, 1927.
  • Boris Waberski, The House of the Arrow, Vaudeville Theatre, 1928.
  • Colonel Tripp, Down Wind, Arts Theatre, 1928.
  • Episcopal vicar, Ginevra, Everyman Theatre, 1928.
  • Ernie Dunstan, Out of the Sea, and title role, Doctor Knock, both StrandTheatre, 1928.
  • Marquis of Shayne, Bitter Sweet, His Majesty's Theatre, 1929.
  • Everard Webley, This Way to Paradise, Daly's Theatre, 1930.
  • professor, Brain, Savoy Theatre, 1930.
  • Pharmaceutis, The Devil and the Lady, Arts Theatre, 1930.
  • Edward IV, Richard III, New Theatre, 1930.
  • Earl of Dorincourt, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Gate Theatre, 1931.
  • Claude Spencer, Marry at Leisure, Haymarket Theatre, 1931.
  • Venetian ambassador, The Immortal Lady, Royalty Theatre, 1931.
  • Sir Henry Cosham, A-Hunting We Will Go, Savoy Theatre, 1931.
  • Nasmyth Sheldon, The Home Front, Grafton Theatre, 1931.
  • Mark Elliott, The Green Pack, Wyndham's Theatre, 1932.
  • Lovasdy, Firebird, Playhouse Theatre, 1932.
  • Absalon, The Witch, Little Theatre, 1933.
  • John Clayne, The Lake, Arts Theatre, then Westminster Theatre, both 1933.
  • Richard Greatham, Hay Fever, Shaftesbury Theatre, 1933.
  • Mr. Wise, Private Room, Westminster Theatre, 1934.
  • Sir John Craig, Forsaking All Others, Fulham Theatre, 1934.
  • Mr. Lennox, The Roof, Embassy Theatre, 1934.
  • Lord Farrington, Sweet Aloes, Wyndham's Theatre, 1934.
  • Prince of Verona, Romeo and Juliet, New Theatre, 1935.
  • Gray Blackett, Gentle Rain, Vaudeville Theatre, 1936.
  • Hyalmar Ekdal, The Wild Duck, Westminster Theatre, 1936.
  • Sir Basil Graham, Because We Must, Wyndham's Theatre, 1937.
  • Hector Hushabye, Heartbreak House, Westminster Theatre, 1937.
  • General Rakovski, Judgment Day, Strand Theatre, 1937.
  • Hugh Gifford, Land's End, and Michael, The Zeal of Thy House, both Westminster Theatre, 1938.
  • Boris Rachinoff, No Sky So Blue, Savoy Theatre, 1938.
  • king, The Shoemaker's Holiday, Playhouse Theatre, 1938.
  • Sir Francis Chesney, Charley's Aunt, Haymarket Theatre, 1938.
  • Sir William Warring, Lady in Waiting, Martin Beck Theatre, New York City,1940.
  • Charles II, And So to Bed, Las Palmas Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 1948.
  • Mr. Ritchie, Gertie, Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1952.
  • Menenius Agrippa, Coriolanus, Phoenix Theatre, New York City, 1954.
  • Captain Massingham, Too Late the Phalarope, Belasco Theatre, New York City, 1956.
  • Also appeared in repertory at the Theatre Royal, Huddersfield, U.K., 1926; and in Glasgow, Scotland, 1927.
  • Credits; MAJOR TOURS
  • Inspector Hubbard, Dial "M" for Murder, U.S. cities, 1952.
  • Also Loyalties and Justice, U.K. cities, both 1929.
  • Credits; PRINICPAL FILM APPEARANCES
  • Captain Hawtree, Caste, United Artists, 1930.
  • Bouchier, Stamboul, Paramount, 1931.
  • General Canynge, Loyalties, Harold Auten, 1934.
  • Count Romano, In a Monastery Garden, Associated Producers and Distributors, 1935.
  • general, For Valor, General Films Distributors, 1937.
  • governor, The Wife of General Ling (also known as The Revenge of GeneralLing), Gaumont, 1938.
  • archdeacon, We Are Not Alone, Warner Brothers, 1939.
  • Redfern, Wings over Africa, Merit, 1939.
  • Fuller, The House of the Seven Gables, Universal, 1940.
  • Willie Spears, The Invisible Man Returns, Universal, 1940.
  • Sir Haymar Ryman, M.P., The Secret Four (also known as The Four Just Men), Monogram, 1940.
  • Updyke, Confirm or Deny, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1941.
  • Carver, Cat People, RKO, 1942.
  • Black Watch officer, Eagle Squadron, Universal, 1942.
  • Julian, Random Harvest, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), 1942.
  • Captain Blackstone, We Were Dancing, MGM, 1942.
  • restaurateur, A Yank at Eton, MGM, 1942.
  • Colonel Patterson, Appointment in Berlin, Columbia, 1943; andrew, Lassie,Come Home, MGM, 1943.
  • Doctor Bladh, Madame Curie, MGM, 1943.
  • psychiatrist, The Song of Bernadette, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1943.
  • Latimer, Action in Arabia, RKO, 1944.
  • doctor, Dark Waters, United Artists, 1944.
  • MacDougald, The Hairy Ape, United Artists, 1944.
  • Doctor Woodring, Lost Angel, MGM, 1944.
  • Count de Breville, Mademoiselle Fifi, RKO, 1944.
  • Mr. Parker, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, MGM, 1944.
  • Doctor Scott, The Uninvited, Paramount, 1944.
  • Sir Henry Chapman, Hangover Square, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1945.
  • Mr. St. Aubyn, Isle of the Dead, RKO, 1945.
  • Doctor Forrester, Ministry of Fear, Paramount, 1945.
  • F. Holmes Harmon, House of Horrors (also known as Joan Medford Is Missing), Universal, 1946.
  • Houdon, A Scandal in Paris (also known as Thieves' Holiday), United Artists, 1946.
  • Judge Saladine, The Strange Woman, United Artists, 1946.
  • Shackleford, Three Strangers, Warner Brothers, 1946.
  • Mr. Atwater, Adventure Island, Paramount, 1947.
  • Doctor Adams, Driftwood, Republic, 1947.
  • tourist, Fiesta, MGM, 1947.
  • Landale, Forever Amber, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1947.
  • Thomas, High Conquest, Monogram, 1947.
  • Sir Jonathan Wright, Ivy, Universal, 1947.
  • Monty Beresford, Lone Wolf in London, Columbia, 1947.
  • Inspector Gordon, Lured (also known as Personal Column), United Artists,1947.
  • Aga, Sinbad the Sailor, RKO, 1947.
  • Sir William Johnson, Unconquered, Paramount, 1947.
  • Sir George, Hills of Home (also known as Master of Lassie), MGM, 1948.
  • Earl of Warwick, Joan of Arc, RKO, 1948.
  • defense attorney, Johnny Belinda, Warner Brothers, 1948.
  • Holy Father, Macbeth, Republic, 1948.
  • Kittredge, My Own True Love, Paramount, 1948.
  • Lord Provost, Challenge to Lassie, MGM, 1949.
  • high executioner, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Paramount,1949.
  • Finchley, Criss Cross, Universal, 1949.
  • Alton Bennett, Manhandled, Paramount, 1949.
  • Doctor Druzik, Master Minds, Monogram, 1949.
  • general, The Red Danube, MGM, 1949.
  • Jessup, Tarzan's Magic Fountain, RKO, 1949.
  • Captain Kidd, Double Crossbones, Universal, 1950.
  • Khalil, Tripoli (also known as The First Marines), Paramount, 1950.
  • Captain Humberstone Lyon, Across the Wide Missouri, MGM, 1951.
  • Professor Carter, The Blue Veil, RKO, 1951.
  • Jean de Reszke, The Great Caruso, MGM, 1951.
  • Barton, The Highwayman, Monogram, 1951.
  • Count Grassin, The Strange Door, Universal, 1951.
  • Peters, Tarzan's Peril (also known as Tarzan and the Jungle Queen), RKO,1951.
  • Sturak, Big Jim McLain, Warner Brothers, 1952.
  • Cicero, Julius Caesar, MGM, 1953.
  • Robert Tyrwhitt, Young Bess, MGM, 1953.
  • Despereaux, Desiree, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1954.
  • Parson Glennie, Moonfleet, MGM, 1955.
  • Sir Brockhurst, The Court Jester, Paramount, 1956.
  • Raymond Sheridan, Miami Expose, Columbia, 1956.
  • Elinu high priest, The Mole People, Universal, 1956.
  • prosecuting attorney, Until They Sail, MGM, 1957.
  • Doctor Lujan, Island of Lost Women, Warner Brothers, 1959.
  • Dean, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1959.
  • Pardo, Tender Is the Night, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1961.
  • Professor Larson, Wild in the Country, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1961.
  • Doctor Gideon Gault, The Premature Burial, American International, 1962.
  • voice of Sir Pelinore, The Sword in the Stone (animated), Buena Vista, 1963.
  • Mr. Rutland, Marnie, Universal, 1964.
  • ambassador, My Fair Lady, Warner Brothers, 1964.
  • vicar, Signpost to Murder, MGM, 1964.
  • club official, The Loved One, MGM, 1965.
  • Colonel Peter MacLean, 36 Hours, MGM, 1965.
  • Alfred Pennyworth, Batman, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966.
  • Also appeared in The Paper Chase, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973.
  • Credits; PRINCIPAL TELEVISION APPEARANCES; SERIES
  • General Steele, Don't Call Me Charlie, NBC, 1962-63.
  • Alfred Pennyworth, Batman, ABC, 1966-68.
  • MINI-SERIES Lord Venneford, Centennial, NBC, 1979.
  • Credits; EPISODIC
  • The Late Show, Fox, 1988.
  • Credits; MOVIES
  • John, Crime Club, CBS, 1973.
  • Semple, QB VII, ABC, 1974.
  • Briarton, The Monkey Mission, NBC, 1981.
  • Also The Bastard, syndicated, 1978; also appeared in The Contest Kid Strikes Again.

Further Reference

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

  • New York Times, August 9, 1988.
  • Variety, August 17, 1988.