Ian Abercrombie

Ian Abercrombie (11 September 1934 – 26 January 2012) was an English actor. He was best known for playing Elaine's boss during the sixth season of Seinfeld. He also played Alfred Pennyworth on Birds of Prey, Rupert Cavanaugh (Ian Hainsworth's butler) in Desperate Housewives, Professor Crumbs in Wizards of Waverly Place, and Palpatine in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Early life Abercrombie was born on 11 September 1934 in Grays, Essex, England. After his footwork years during which he earned bronze, silver and gold medals in stage dancing, he performed in London, Scotland, Ireland, and the Netherlands. He moved to the United States at age 17. Many plays in summer stock, regional, and off-Broadway followed in a variety of theatrical offerings, from revues to Shakespeare (in a particularly low period, he worked as a magician's assistant for $10 a performance).

In 1957, he was drafted into the United States Army and stationed in West Germany as part of Special Services, where he directed the continental premiere of Separate Tables.

In the United States, he went to California for a backers' audition, which went nowhere, but he began a long film and television career. He received awards for his work in Sweet Prince with Keir Dullea; Teeth 'N'smiles; A Doll's House with Linda Purl; and The Arcata Promise, opposite Anthony Hopkins. He received acclaim for the one-man show Jean Cocteau—A Mirror Image.

Career Abercrombie was known to cult film audiences as Wiseman in the comedy horror film Army of Darkness (1992). He guest-starred on many television series such as Seinfeld, The Nanny, Wizards of Waverly Place, Airwolf, Babylon 5, Barnaby Jones and NewsRadio.

On radio, he was heard in several productions of the Hollywood Theater of the Ear. Abercrombie voiced Ambrose in Oscar winner Rango (2011). He also portrayed Ganthet on Green Lantern: The Animated Series, completing his work as the character shortly before his death.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Abercrombie voiced Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious in the 2008 film The Clone Wars, the television continuation, and two spin-off video games (Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes and Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels). Supervising director Dave Filoni said that Abercrombie was very excited that Darth Sidious finally was going to be seen in person and not as a hologram anymore. During Celebration VI, Filoni mentioned that before his death, Abercrombie recorded for most of season five as the character, but did not finish, so actor Tim Curry was brought in to voice Palpatine. Abercrombie also voiced the character in the Clovis story arc of the Lost Missions (season six), since it was originally a part of the season four, and later the season five, line-up. This was his final released work, shown in 2014.

Personal life In 1956, Abercrombie was married to Elizabeth Romano and they divorced in 1978 after 22 years of marriage. In 1984, he was married to Gladys Abercrombie until his death in 2012.

Death Abercrombie died from kidney failure in Los Angeles, California at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on 26 January 2012, twenty days after the Wizards of Waverly Place finale. He was 77. He had recently been diagnosed with lymphoma.

Star Wars Celebration VI included the panel "Vocal Stars of The Clone Wars", hosted by James Arnold Taylor and featuring cast members Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, Dee Bradley Baker and Tom Kane, who all dedicated the panel to Abercrombie. Additionally, The Clone Wars episode "The Lawless" includes a dedication to Abercrombie in the opening titles.

Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1965 Von Ryan's Express English POW Uncredited 1968 Star! Man in Brixton Music Hall Uncredited 1969 They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Male Dancer #74 Uncredited 1970 The Molly Maguires Stock Actor Uncredited 1973 Wicked, Wicked Eddie the Room Service Waiter Uncredited 1974 Young Frankenstein Second Villager Uncredited The Island at the Top of the World Train Conductor Uncredited 1977 Sextette Rex Ambrose 1979 The Prisoner of Zenda Johann 1980 The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood Denis Blood Beach Man in Mayor's Office 1981 Getting Even Mr. Kenwood 1983 Flicks Inspector Segment: "Whodunit" 1984 The Ice Pirates Hymie 1986 Last Resort Maître d' Firewalker Boggs 1988 Catacombs Brother Orsini 1989 Warlock Magistrate #1 1990 Repossessed Iced Tea Waiter Uncredited 1991 Zandalee Louis Medina Puppet Master III Dr. Hess Rolling Thunder 1992 The Public Eye Mr. Brown Army of Darkness Wise Man 1993 Grief Stanley Time Babes Professor Doran Addams Family Values Driver 1994 Clean Slate Leader 1995 Pocahontas Additional voices Uncredited 1997 The Lost World: Jurassic Park Butler Mouse Hunt Auctioneer Johnny Mysto: Boy Wizard MerlinDirect-to-video 1999 Wild Wild West British Dignitary 2000 Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman Psychiatrist Direct-to-videoCredited as Ian Ambercrombie 2001 Blasphemy the Movie Zues Shrek Additional voices 2005 Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Evrin Sezgin The L.A. Riot Spectacular Auctioneer 2006 Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties Smithee Inland Empire Henry The Butler 2007 Trust Me Teitelbaum Hard Four Jack Ermine 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Chancellor Palpatine / Darth Sidious Voice 2010 Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Professor Swoopstikes Short film 2011 Rango AmbroseVoice

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1977–1983 Fantasy Island McShane / Inspector Lestrade / Bartender 3 episodes 1978 Battlestar Galactica Forger 7 Episode: "The Long Patrol" 1981 Knots Landing Caterer Episode: "Secrets" 1982 Marian Rose White Lord Bates Television film Voyagers! Bitiatus Episode: "Created Equal" The Devlin Connection Auctioneer Episode: "The French Detective" 1983 Happy Days Oscar Episode: "Hello, Pfisters" Journey's End Television film Tucker's Witch Doorman Episode: "Dye Job" 1984 Three's Company Lawyer Episode: "The Heiress" Divorce Court 2 episodes 1984–1985 Santa Barbara Philip / Butler 15 episodes 1985 Airwolf Lord Killebrew Episode: "Inn at the End of the Road" Kicks Barnes Television film Who's The Boss? Leo Episode: "Angela's Ex: Part 2" 1987 It's Garry Shandling's Show Fate Episode: "Fate" 1988 Frog Dr. Fritsky Television film Hunter George Cooper Episode: "The Black Dahlia" 1989 21 Jump Street Lemieux Episode: "Old Haunts in the New Age" Alf British Announcer Episode: "Mind Games" 1990 Tales from the Crypt Fulton Episode: "The Switch" Twin Peaks Tom Brockman Episode: "#2.6" The Flash Skip Episode: "Ghost in the Machine" 1994–1998 Seinfeld Justin Pitt 7 episodes 1995 Babylon 5 Correlilmurzon Episode: "Acts of Sacrifice" 1996 Rattled Dr. Semkins Television film A Face to Die For Mr. Sturetsky Television film Party Girl Mr. Davenport Episode: "Virgin Mary" 1997 Touched by an Angel George Taylor Episode: "Inherit the Wind" 1997–2002 Days of Our Lives Hotel Manager / Jeweller / Mr. Simkins / Lawyer 4 episodes 1997 Over the Top Nigel Episode: "Acting Out" 1998 NewsRadio Cadbury Episode: "The Secret of Management" Buffy the Vampire Slayer Old Man / German Boss Episode: "Homecoming" Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Emile Episode: "The Mummy/The Perfect Record/Grave Sitting/Murder on the Second Floor/They Towed My Car" 1999–2000 Star Trek: Voyager Abbot / Milo 2 episodes 2000 Love & Money Arthur Episode: "The Step Mummy" 2001 State of Grace Donnie Thursday Episodes: "Time in a Bottle" and "Happy Together" 2002 Crossing Jordan George Episode: "Acts of Mercy" The Random Years Sir Milton Pith Episode: "Don't Make Me Have Sex in the Hamptons" Chromiumblue.com Sir George 13 episodes The District Leon Episode: "Old Wounds" 2002–2003 Birds of Prey Alfred Pennyworth 14 episodes 2003 Nip/Tuck Cyril Parks Episode: "Escobar Gallardo" 2004 Charmed Aramis, Member of The Tribunal Episode: "Crimes and Witch-Demeanors" 2005 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy F Voice, episode: "Scythe 2.0" 2006 The Batman Ewan Voice, episode: "The Icy Depths" Desperate Housewives Rupert Cavanaugh Episode: "Beautiful Girls" 2007–2012 Wizards of Waverly Place Professor Crumbs 10 episodes 2008 How I Met Your Mother Benjamin Franklin Episode: "The Goat" 2008–2014 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Chancellor Palpatine / Darth Sidious Voice, 29 episodes 2011 Childrens Hospital Butler Episode: "Run, Dr. Lola Spratt, Run" Happily Divorced Victor Episode: "Spousal Support" 2011–2013 Green Lantern: The Animated Series Ganthet Voice, 5 episodes

Video games YearTitleRoleNotes 2002 James Bond 007: Nightfire Alexander Mayhew 2004 RalliSport Challenge 2 Narrator 2005 Area 51 Dr. Winston Cray Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None Thomas Rogers, General Mackenzie Based on the novel of the same name. 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber Duels Darth Sidious 2009 Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes Chancellor Palpatine / Darth Sidious