Voice Compare » Batman » Alfred Pennyworth
Comparision of the voice over actors who have been the voice of Alfred Pennyworth with sound clips and images.
Alfred Pennyworth is a prominent supporting protagonist in the Batman franchise in which he made his comic book debut in Batman #16 in April-May of 1943. Alfred is the faithful Butler (and for a time legal guardian) of Bruce Wayne AKA Batman whom was the faithful servant of Bruce's late parents Thomas and Martha Wayne. Alfred is one of Bruce/Batman's closest allies whom tends to his and others wounds and Alfred is normally making generally good-natured snarky comments towards Batman he is also there for moral support. Like many other comic book characters Alfred's backstory can differ considering continuities but before he became the Wayne's family butler he was an agent of England's Secret Intelligence Service and has occasionally used his old tricks from the SIS to aid Batman before.
Created by Pokejedservo on Sun Mar 25 2012, 37 Comments, Add Comment
Special thanks to Foxwolf for additional sound clips.
EDITOR'S OPINION
Today on the Batman VC section we take a look at Batman's faithful butler... ALFRED PENNYWORTH! Since this is a HUGE VC I must say that most of these guys did really well. I particularly liked those such as Efrem Zimbalist Jr, Michael Dobson, Alan Oppenheimer and James Garrett but a lot of the others did well too. So in other words this one is definitely a tough one if I do say so myself.Pokejedservo
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PsychicVoiceSpy said at 11:13 PM on Sat Mar 2 2013
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. He didn't go overboard with the accent, he sounds smart, humorous, and is great as an anchor of sanity for Bruce without being too posh and even. Several of them here do just about as good as him, but because he was the first to really do Alfred justice, great justice I might add, I feel it appropriate to vote for him.
Thank you for all the years of servitude, you've more than earned your retirement!
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Thank you for all the years of servitude, you've more than earned your retirement!
PsychicVoiceSpy said at 11:16 PM on Sat Mar 2 2013
@PsychicVoiceSpy I apologize for the end of that first sentence, I have a bad habit of not proofreading.
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VctrBnsn said at 12:15 PM on Tue Feb 26 2013
Olan Soule - It worked well enough.
Bill Calloway - Not sure why he's here.
Andre Stojka - Pretty good, actually.
Clive Reville - Yes, he was awesome.
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. - Awesome as well.
Alastair Duncan - love the personality in his performance.
Michael Caine - Like his movie performance, good.
David McCallum - A good Michael Caine replacement.
Michael Dobson - A surprisingly good performance.
Alan Oppenheimer - Good for what little he was given.
Jim Piddock - Love it.
James Garrett - A little raspy but still really good.
Jeff Bennett - OK for what little he got.
Martin Jarvis - Another great performance.
Robin Atkin Downes - Sounds a little young, but at least he gets some good lines.
Michael Jackson - Good.
Steven Blum - Couldn't even tell it was him. Good job.
ReplyBill Calloway - Not sure why he's here.
Andre Stojka - Pretty good, actually.
Clive Reville - Yes, he was awesome.
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. - Awesome as well.
Alastair Duncan - love the personality in his performance.
Michael Caine - Like his movie performance, good.
David McCallum - A good Michael Caine replacement.
Michael Dobson - A surprisingly good performance.
Alan Oppenheimer - Good for what little he was given.
Jim Piddock - Love it.
James Garrett - A little raspy but still really good.
Jeff Bennett - OK for what little he got.
Martin Jarvis - Another great performance.
Robin Atkin Downes - Sounds a little young, but at least he gets some good lines.
Michael Jackson - Good.
Steven Blum - Couldn't even tell it was him. Good job.
bumblebeebug said at 5:34 PM on Thu Jan 31 2013
how ironic that the voice actor for alfred in arkham city's last name is jarvis. steve blum is good, but alistair duncan gets my vote.
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pete said at 8:33 PM on Sat Jan 12 2013
Steve got the accent down. Wouldn't mind seeing him do in a more serious adaption.
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coolgeek176 said at 5:11 PM on Sat Jan 12 2013
I'm going with Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Steve Blum, Jeff Bennett, Michael Jackson, Martin Jarvis, Robin Atkin Downes, Alan Oppenheimer, and James Garrett are good too.
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TheVengeanceKnight said at 10:01 AM on Wed Jul 11 2012
I find it funny that Alan Oppenheimer, who did a lot of voice work in the old DC cartoons, didn't voice Alfred back then. XD
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Bombermanp said at 6:41 PM on Thu May 3 2012
i just love this guy. sure he is the father figure of the batman story line, but the thing is we all see him as the butler which is what he truly is. and on top of that he has so much humor while keeping his same old butler steriotype tone which really adds to the humor as well. all and all one of my favorite characters in the series.
1.dick grayson
2.bruce wayne
3.this guy XD
Reply1.dick grayson
2.bruce wayne
3.this guy XD
EmpireGrotesk said at 12:54 PM on Sat Apr 21 2012
My first choice for Efrem Zimbalist Jr. He managed to capture the sarcastic and humourous side of Alfred that few others can manage. Secondary choices would be Martin Jarvis and David McCallum.
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BigBDawg said at 1:37 AM on Thu Apr 19 2012
My picks for Alfred are as followed;
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
James Garrett
Alastair Duncan
Michael Caine
Robin Atkin Downes
Jim Piddock
David McCallum
Jeff Bennett
and Martin Jarvis
ReplyEfrem Zimbalist, Jr.
James Garrett
Alastair Duncan
Michael Caine
Robin Atkin Downes
Jim Piddock
David McCallum
Jeff Bennett
and Martin Jarvis
Anicomicgeek said at 5:16 AM on Sat Apr 7 2012
Gonna go with Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. for Alfred, though Alastair Duncan, Michael Caine, David McCallum, Alan Oppenheimer, Jim Piddock, James Garrett, Jeff Bennett, Martin Jarvis, and Robin Atkin Downes were also good.
That said, Jeff Bennett did do a different voice for Alfred in Year One than he did for YJ.
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That said, Jeff Bennett did do a different voice for Alfred in Year One than he did for YJ.
Anicomicgeek said at 2:35 AM on Thu May 24 2012
@Anicomicgeek On second thought, I'm gonna change my vote to Martin Jarvis.
ReplyAnicomicgeek said at 8:52 AM on Tue Oct 2 2012
@Anicomicgeek
Sticking with Jarvis, but I also liked Michael Jackson as Alfred.
ReplySticking with Jarvis, but I also liked Michael Jackson as Alfred.
Anicomicgeek said at 2:15 AM on Fri Nov 16 2012
@Anicomicgeek
I'm gonna change my vote back to Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as he was indeed better.
ReplyI'm gonna change my vote back to Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as he was indeed better.
pete said at 10:23 PM on Fri Mar 30 2012
lol who the heck voted for Soule? He is no doubt the worst not counting Bill.
Replypete said at 12:23 AM on Tue Mar 27 2012
Question was Clive Revill later dubbed over by Efrem Zimberalist Jr.? From what I remember every episode I've seen of Batman The Animated Series had him in it as Alfred's voice. Was Clive Revill's voice only in the original airing?
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TheVengeanceKnight said at 1:08 AM on Tue Mar 27 2012
@pete I remembered Clive Revill in the first few episodes produced, then Efrem Zimbalist Jr. took over.
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pete said at 1:31 AM on Tue Mar 27 2012
@TheVengeanceKnight I know that but I'm asking if he was redubbed by Efrem Zimbalist JR, later. I'm pretty sure his voice was in every episode that was aired in syndication on stations like Cartoon Network or Disney XD
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coolgeek176 said at 9:11 PM on Tue Jan 15 2013
@pete No it wasn't. I just watched the first episode again and it was Clive Revill.
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SpiderDreamer said at 6:42 PM on Mon Mar 26 2012
I'm kind of surprised by the praise for Alastair. I thought he was easily one of the worst Alfreds ever (though the poor writing didn't help, and he's done good work elsewhere). Efrem is my personal favorite, though the performances by Robin, Jeff, Martin, James, David and Jim are quite good as well.
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pete said at 12:20 AM on Tue Mar 27 2012
@SpiderDreamer They are most likely fans of The Batman. It's the same reason Efrem is in the lead.
Replypete said at 12:35 AM on Tue Mar 27 2012
@SpiderDreamer Also I thought his accent was better. Certainly better than most.
ReplyTheVengeanceKnight said at 5:21 AM on Tue Mar 27 2012
@SpiderDreamer I will admit that I remembered Alastair sounding better as Alfred. I guess Efrem's too good.
ReplySpiderDreamer said at 9:01 PM on Wed Mar 28 2012
@pete Really? I thought Alastair's accent was just *OK*. Efrem's is impeccable, and the rest of his performance is also excellent.
Replypete said at 3:49 PM on Mon Mar 26 2012
Defintely a tough VC to tackle. Pokejedservo isn't kidding How should I say this? Hmmm. I got. I'll say that Olan Soule is a decent effort but doesn't quite fit the character well Bill Callway doesn't count as it's not him. Andre Stojika is easily the best of the older voices. Clive Revil doesn't sound quite righ to me and I'm glad Efrem Zimberalist Jr. took over. Efrem Zimberalist Jr. is obviously the best and Alastair Duncan is clearly 2 best on here. Michael Cane is a little off as well, he sounds better in the movies, David McCallum is pretty decent and is one of the better performances here. Michael Dobson is probably the third best. Alan Oppenheimer is decent but sounds older, Jim Piddock got the accent down but ddidn't seem to have many lines and James Garret sounds older as well here. Jeff Bennett got he accent down but again mot many lines, martin Jarvis is decent as well and last is my personal favorite on here Robin Atkin Downes as i'm sure all my other picks will get votes. I could always switch it if he gets more and another gets zero. So from best to worst.
1. Efrem Zimberallist Jr.
2. Alistair Duncan
3. Michael Dobson
4. Robin Atkin Downes
5. Jeff Bennett
6. Jim Piddock
7. Martin Jarvis
8. David McCallum
9. Clive Revill
10. Alan Oppenhiemer
11. Michael Caine
12. James Garret
13. Andre Stojka
14. Olan Soule
15. Bill Calloway
It was a tough call though.
Reply1. Efrem Zimberallist Jr.
2. Alistair Duncan
3. Michael Dobson
4. Robin Atkin Downes
5. Jeff Bennett
6. Jim Piddock
7. Martin Jarvis
8. David McCallum
9. Clive Revill
10. Alan Oppenhiemer
11. Michael Caine
12. James Garret
13. Andre Stojka
14. Olan Soule
15. Bill Calloway
It was a tough call though.
GothamRed said at 3:13 AM on Mon Mar 26 2012
gotta go with Efrem Zimbalist Jr, he has the perfect mixture of fatherliness, cunning, poise, snark, caring, and strength need for this role, i loved him in starcrossed. That being said Duncan, McCallum, Jarvis, Piddock, and Cane were all good stand-ins, they just couldn't compare.
ReplyTheVengeanceKnight said at 2:59 AM on Mon Mar 26 2012
Efram Zimbalist Jr. is the best here, though Alastair Duncan, David McCallum, Jim Piddock, Jeff Bennett and Martin Jarvis are also pretty good.
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TheVengeanceKnight said at 5:26 AM on Tue Mar 27 2012
@TheVengeanceKnight Jeff Bennett's Year One voice, to be precise. His Young Justice voice is OK, but not as good as his Year One voice.
Replypete said at 1:56 AM on Mon Mar 26 2012
Challenge of the Super Friends is not even the actual character. Just Bizarro posing as him.
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Pokejedservo (Moderator) said at 2:01 AM on Mon Mar 26 2012
@pete Actually it was Alfred but he was turned into a Bizarro version of himself.
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said at 10:00 AM on Sat Apr 13 2013