“Hello Mr. Bruce!” Batman Fans love to hear these words, and so does the caped crusader. The polite greeting always comes from Alfred Pennyworth, who goes by the title of butler, yet he does so much more than that. The former British spy is a friend, father, sidekick, and occasional companion to Gotham's greatest hero.
Unlike many other DC characters, Alfred first appeared on screen before being introduced in the comics. He was first teased in a 15-chapter 1943 Columbia Pictures serial before making his first appearance on paper in the comics issue. Batman #16 Written by Don Cameron and Bob Kane.
Since then, Alfred has appeared on screen several times, voiced or embodied by different actors. Ralph Fiennes and Ian Abercrombie handled the character perfectly in the cartoon, but the live-action actors gave better performances, each playing to their strengths. Aside from the actors' performances, the real Pennyworths were sculpted differently by the screenwriters, and can therefore be ranked from least to most interesting.
10 Douglas Hodge
Joker (2019)
in joker, Arthur Fleck heads to Wayne Manor to search for Thomas Wayne, whom he believes is his father. At the gate, he has a brief conversation with a young Bruce Wayne before Alfred realizes what is happening. He orders Fleck to leave, leading to a brief confrontation in which the Comedian strangles the servants. After the confrontation, Alfred takes Bruce back to the manor.
room for improvement
Hodge's Alfred could have done a better job of advising Little Bruce not to talk to strangers, but that's not why he's rated low. He's rated low because his version is just appetizersAlfred appears for less than two minutes, and has no dialogue or proper story. He exists only as a bridge between the Joker and Bruce Wayne. Alfred would have moved up the list a few notches if he had been introduced in more detail. Joker: Monday Madness. Hodge will also need to deliver an exceptional performance.
9 Ian Abercrombie
Birds of Prey (2002 – 2003)
Alfred, played by Ian Abercrombie, doesn't have Mr. Bruce to talk to, since he wild birds The film takes place years after the Caped Crusader left Gotham. He now serves the heiress to the Wayne estate, Helena Kyle, also known as Huntress. However, he is closer to Commissioner Gordon's daughter, Barbara Gordon, also known as Batgirl/Oracle. He is often seen giving her advice, though she never seems to care to hear what he has to say.
lack of chemistry
wild birds It may be one of the best live-action Batman adaptations, but Alfred isn’t one of his greatest assets. And Abercrombie isn’t to blame for that. He looks and sounds like a typical Alfred and delivers a convincing performance. Alfred’s relationship with the birds of prey isn’t as strong as his relationship with Batman.
While Batman always listens to Alfred's advice, the heroines keep promising to take his ideas into consideration only to avoid implementing them. As a result, he never gets a proper chance to brag about his leadership skills.
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8 William Austin
Batman (1943)
Alfred was first portrayed by William Austin in 1943. Batman Series. This version of the character is a valet and chauffeur. In the series, Batman and Robin drive in a convertible coupe as they pursue the Japanese villain Dr. Daka (who was created to suit American propaganda during World War II against Japan). Alfred is the only person who knows Batman and Robin's true identities.
A model of Alfred's comic appearance
Austin remains a popular figure in DC history as he was the inspiration for the emergence of Alfred Benefort. According to the book Batman: The Complete History, Don Cameron and Bob Kane modeled the comic character of Alfred after William Austin because they wanted him to resemble his screen counterpart. They made him thinner and added a mustache, and the look has remained the same ever since.
Modern Batman fans might yawn when watching Austin's Alfred because he's so basic. However, this superficial description is understandable because the show's creators didn't quite know what to do with the character at the time. All the focus was on Batman, but over time, Alfred's potential was recognized.
7 Jeremy Irons
DCEU (2016 – 2021)
Alfred, portrayed by Jeremy Irons, serves as Batman's butler and technical assistant throughout the DCEU, appearing in Dawn of Justice, Justice League, And the light. Because his master is more inclined towards teamwork, Alfred also gets the opportunity to interact and communicate with many of the other members of the Justice League.
very smart?
Irons is one of the most talented actors ever cast to play Alfred. He has won numerous awards, including an Oscar, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and more. In this film, he maintains that level of quality, delivering one of the best performances in the DC Cinematic Universe. Unfortunately, his character is poorly written. He is an arrogant man who is given too much responsibility, including technical duties that have traditionally been reserved for Lucius Fox.
It is a mystery how he became so knowledgeable. In addition, Irons' Alfred is very strict. His arguments with Bruce on several occasions create the impression of a toxic friendship between them.
6 Andy Serkis
Batman (2022)
Alfred, played by Andy Serkis, does not approve of Bruce Wayne's vengeful actions, but still supports him to ensure his safety. Alfred runs Wayne Enterprises because Bruce is too busy fighting crime, and is happy to help the hero conduct investigations. The batHe proved to be a great asset during Bruce's mission to take down Falcon, Riddler, and Penguin.
wiser and physically stronger
Unlike many of his counterparts, Serkis' Alfred is not bound by age restrictions. He shows off his strength and endurance by taking Bruce Wayne to training sessions and being flexible enough to jump out of explosions. Additionally, Alfred is intelligent. Like the assistants in detective shows, he sees clues that his master doesn't. Moreover, he figures things out for himself. At first, Bruce doesn't trust him enough to tell him about his secret life. But Alfred figures it out for himself.
But what ultimately holds him back are the long absences. He doesn't even appear in the last hour of the film. However, Matt Reeves still has a less economical chance of appearing as the butler in the second part.
5 Michael Joe
Burton's World and Schumacher's World (1989 – 1997)
Michael Goo plays Alfred in Tim Burton's film Batman And Batman Returns Beside Joel Schumacher batman forever And batman and robin. From packing “road sandwiches” to advising Bruce Wayne on how to be a better boyfriend to Vicki Vale, Joe's Alfred does a lot throughout the four films, proving himself one of the most engaging versions of the butler.
A fixed face in a changing scene
There’s a good reason why Goff wasn’t affected by the DC casting boom of the ’90s. While the masked hero went from Michael Keaton to Val Kilmer and finally George Clooney, Alfred never changed. Presumably, Warner Bros. executives recognized the warmth and poise Goff brought to the character, so they kept him. Alfred strikes a fine balance between supporting Batman and berating him for his bad choices.
4 Jack Bannon
Pennyworth (2019 – 2022)
Alfred was having a lot of fun before Bruce Wayne was born, at least according to pennyworth. The series is an original story with three seasons, covering the character's time in England as a British Special Forces soldier, a bouncer at an upscale London club, and a security company owner. Jack Bannon is also said to be a younger version of the one played by Sean Pertwee.
Bond effects
Series creators Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon must have long dreamed of making a James Bond film. They based their creation on the fictional spy, Alfred Pennyworth. He’s a charming, ladies’ man who enjoys wearing suits and likes to jump before he looks. Bannon doesn’t give an award-worthy performance, but the protagonist remains intriguing as he evades threat after threat.
Whether it's a fascist group seeking to overthrow the government or a greedy industrialist, Alfred Bannon has plenty of tasks ahead of him. Moreover, he gets to enjoy romance stories, something other Alfreds are deprived of due to their age.
3 Alan Napier
Batman (1966 – 1968)
Napier had no idea who Batman was when he was offered the role of Alfred Pennyworth. Well, he didn’t need to know. He was old, he was the cousin of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, and he was married to the granddaughter of Charles Dickens. Superheroes were the last thing on his mind. Still, he took the role and was a hit, mostly because of the $100,000 salary attached to the role.
Enjoy the role
The veteran actor is appreciated for adding both comedic relief and authority to both Batman Movie and TV show (both released in 1966). How many Alfreds can boast of having a sword fight with the Joker? Napier may have looked old and frail, but he certainly rose to the occasion whenever he was thrown into battle.
Throughout the series, he takes on the mantle of Batman, drives the Batmobile as Dominic Toretto, shows off his marksmanship skills, and keeps making calls to Master Bruce… lots of them.
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2 Sean Pertwee
Gotham (2014 – 2019)
Alfred, played by Sean Pertwee, is introduced in Gotham As Thomas Wayne's former butler, he takes on the responsibility of raising young Bruce Wayne after his parents are killed, and throughout the series, acts as both a father and a part-time vigilante. He takes on various villains, either to protect Bruce or to protect Gotham as a whole.
Action hero
For the first time, viewers see a version of Alfred who is a true action hero. As a young Bruce in the series, Alfred has been promoted from sidekick to main character, taking charge whenever danger arises. Thanks to his military training, it is easy for him to break his teeth.
Despite being a middle-aged man, he can hold his own against more powerful opponents such as the assassin Larissa Diaz and the recently revived Theo Galavan. Furthermore, Alfred's arcs are so massive that he dies and comes back to life at one point.
1 Michael Caine
The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005 – 2012)
Show in full The Dark Knight In the Alfred trilogy, Michael Caine did such a good job that he became a regular collaborator with Christopher Nolan. Caine's version of Alfred watches Batman grow from a depressed boy into a powerful warrior, offering him all the guidance he needs.
funny maestro
“Why don't you hire them and take a weekend off?” Alfred says to Bruce Wayne when he complains about Batman impersonators roaming the city. Kane's version of the butler is not only full of exposition but also the master of one-liners. Many of the best quotes from The Dark Knight The trilogy can be traced back to him.
As Alfred should be, he is so concerned about Batman's safety that he chooses to step down from his role when Gotham's hero puts his health at risk by coming out of retirement. And on top of that, he is played by one of the greatest actors of modern times.
