Ian Abercrombie
A veteran English thespian whose show business career dates back to the 1940s, Ian Abercrombie got his start dancing on stage during World War II, leaving home at age 17 for the United States. For four years, he performed around America before being drafted by the British Army in 1957. Afterwards, Abercrombie went to California and started his film and television career. In a theatrical career spanning over 40 years, his co-stars have included distinguished British actors like his longtime friend Anthony Hopkins, taking the solo spotlight for an acclaimed portrayal of French artist and director Jean Cocteau in a 1989 one-man show. On television, his first important recurring role came the 1980s as butler Phillip on the daytime soap opera "Santa Barbara." Also notable was his mid-'90s turn on "Seinfeld" as Justin Pitt, a wealthy and peculiar businessman who was main character Elaine's second boss. During the 2000s, Abercrombie continued to be a reliable character actor on television, once again playing a domestic servant as Batman's butler Alfred Pennyworth in the short-lived action series "Birds of Prey." He also started performing more voice parts, including diabolical Chancellor Palpatine in "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and Ambrose the owl in the animated animal Western "Rango."
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Ian Abercrombie
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
88% |
|
Rango | Ambrose (Voice) | - | 2011 |
18% |
|
Star Wars: The Clone Wars |
Palpatine/ |
$456.8K | 2008 |
72% |
|
Inland Empire | Henry (Character) | - | 2006 |
12% |
|
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties | Smithee (Character) | $28.4M | 2006 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Chromiumblue.com | Sir George (Character) | - | 2003 |
0% |
|
Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman | Psychiatrist (Character) | - | 2000 |
16% |
|
Wild Wild West | British Dignitary (Character) | $113.8M | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
|
Johnny Mysto Boy Wizard | Merlin (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Face to Die For | Mr. Sturetsky (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
Rattled | Dr. Remsen (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
Test Tube Teens From the Year 2000 | Prof. Dorn (Character) | - | 1993 |
68% |
|
Army of Darkness | Wiseman Joe (Character) | $10.5M | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge | Dr. Hess (Character) | - | 1991 |
33% |
|
Zandalee | Louis Medina (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rolling Thunder | Unknown (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Passport to Terror | Captain (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dark Holiday | Captain (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet |
|
Curse IV: The Ultimate Sacrifice | Brother Orsini (Character) | - | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Frog | Dr. Fritsky (Character) | - | 1987 |
8% |
|
Firewalker | Boggs (Character) | $10.5M | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Journey's End | Unknown (Character) | - | 1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Getting Even | Mr. Kenwood (Character) | - | 1981 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
93% | 91% | Star Wars: The Clone Wars |
Chancellor Palpatine (Character), Unknown (Voice) |
2008 2011-2014 |
100% | 96% | Green Lantern: The Animated Series | Ganthet (Voice) | 2011-2013 |
No Score Yet | 90% | Wizards of Waverly Place |
Headmaster Crumbs (Character), Professor Crumbs (Guest Star) |
2008 2010-2011 |
22% | 83% | Moonlight | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2007 |
72% | 89% | Desperate Housewives | Rupert (Guest Star) | 2006 |
74% | 82% | Nip/Tuck | Cyril Parks (Guest Star) | 2003 |
52% | 42% | Birds of Prey | Alfred Pennyworth (Character) | 2002-2003 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The District | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
76% | 80% | Star Trek: Voyager | Abbot (Guest Star) | 1999-2000 |
46% | No Score Yet | It's Like, You Know ... | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1999 |
85% | 92% | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Old Man (Guest Star) | 1998 |
95% | 79% | NewsRadio | Cadbury (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Touched by an Angel | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
11% | No Score Yet | Party Girl | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1996 |
89% | 92% | Seinfeld | Justin Pitt (Guest Star) | 1994-1995 |
No Score Yet | 72% | The Nanny | Butler Inspector #1 (Guest Star) | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Coach | Jackie (Guest Star) | 1992 |
78% | 92% | Twin Peaks | Tom Brockman (Guest Star) | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hunter | George (Guest Star) | 1988 |
No Score Yet | 89% | Murder, She Wrote | Dr. Blandings (Guest Star) | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hotel | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Who's the Boss? | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1985 |
No Score Yet | 95% | Three's Company | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1984 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fantasy Island | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1982-1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Happy Days | Oscar (Guest Star) | 1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1978 |
43% | 83% | Battlestar Galactica | Forger 7 (Guest Star) | 1978 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Six Million Dollar Man | 2nd Man in Van (Guest Star) | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cannon | Bartender (Guest Star) | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Barnaby Jones | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1973 |
No Score Yet | 84% | Get Smart | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1970 |