Ian Abercrombie

Ian Abercrombie[1] (11 September 1934 – 26 January 2012) was an English-American actor and comedian long based in the United States, best known for playing Justin Pitt (Elaine Benes' boss) during the sixth season of Seinfeld.[2] 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.

Ian Abercrombie
Born(1934-09-11)11 September 1934
Grays, Essex, England
Died26 January 2012(2012-01-26) (aged 77)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor, comedian
Years active1955–2012
Notable work
Television
Spouse(s)
    Elizabeth Romano
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1956; div. 1978)​
      Gladys Abercrombie
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1984; died 2012)​

      Early life

      Abercrombie was born on 11 September 1934 in Grays, Essex, England.[3] He began his theatrical career during the Blitz in World War II. 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.[3]

      He made his American stage debut in 1955 in a production of Stalag 17 with Jason Robards and Jules Munshin. 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 (1993). 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 on the latest episode of the Cartoon Network show just before his death.[4]

      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[5] 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.

      Death

      Abercrombie died in Los Angeles, California on 26 January 2012, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, twenty days after the Wizards of Waverly Place finale, from kidney failure. He was 77.[3]

      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. The cast dedicated the panel to Abercrombie. Additionally, The Clone Wars episode "The Lawless" includes a dedication to Abercrombie in the opening titles.

      Filmography
      Filmography
      YearTitleRoleNotes
      1965Von Ryan's ExpressEnglish POWUncredited
      1968Star!Man In Brixton Music HallUncredited
      1969They Shoot Horses, Don't They?Male Dancer #74Uncredited
      1970The Molly MaguiresStock ActorUncredited
      1973Wicked, WickedEddie, Room Service WaiterUncredited
      1974Young FrankensteinSecond VillagerUncredited
      1974The Island at the Top of the WorldTrain ConductorUncredited
      1977SextetteRex Ambrose
      1977–1983Fantasy IslandMcShane / Inspector Lestrade / Bartender3 episodes
      1978Battlestar GalacticaForger 7Episode: "The Long Patrol"
      1979The Prisoner of ZendaJohann
      1980The Happy Hooker Goes HollywoodDenis
      1980Blood BeachMan In Mayor's Office
      1981Getting EvenMr. Kenwood
      1982Marian Rose WhiteLord BatesTV movie
      1982Voyagers!BitiatusEpisode: "Created Equal"
      1982The Devlin ConnectionAuctioneerEpisode: "The French Detective"
      1983Happy DaysOscarEpisode: "Hello, Pfisters"
      1983Tucker's WitchDoormanEpisode: "Dye Job"
      1983FlicksInspector(segment 'Whodunit')
      1983Journey's EndTV movie
      1984The Ice PiratesHymie
      1985KicksBarnesTV movie
      1986Last ResortMaître d'
      1986FirewalkerBoggs
      1987It's Garry Shandling's ShowHimself
      1987FrogDr. FritskyTV movie
      1988CatacombsBrother Orsini
      1988HunterGeorge CooperEpisode: "The Black Dahlia"
      198921 Jump StreetLemieuxEpisode: "Old Haunts in the New Age"
      1989AlfBritish AnnouncerEpisode: "Mind Games"
      1989WarlockMagistrate #1
      1990Tales from the CryptFultonEpisode: "The Switch"
      1990RepossessedIced Tea WaiterUncredited
      1990Twin PeaksTom Brockman1 episode
      1990The FlashSkipEpisode: "Ghost in the Machine"
      1991ZandaleeLouis Medina
      1991Puppet Master IIIDr. Hess
      1991Rolling Thunder
      1992The Public EyeMr. Brown
      1992Army of DarknessWiseman
      1993GriefStanley
      1993Addams Family ValuesDriver
      1994Clean SlateLeader
      1994Babylon 5CorrelilmurzonEpisode: "Acts of Sacrifice"
      1994–1998SeinfeldJustin Pitt7 episodes[3]
      1997The Lost World: Jurassic ParkButler
      1997–2002Days of Our LivesHotel Manager / Jeweller / Mr. Simkins / Lawyer4 episodes
      1997Mouse HuntAuctioneer
      1997Over the TopNigelEpisode: "Acting Out"
      1998NewsRadioCadburySeason 4 Episode 9 "The Secret of Management"
      1998Buffy the Vampire SlayerOld Man / German BossEpisode: "Homecoming"
      1998Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionEmileSeason 2 Episode 7
      1999Wild Wild WestBritish Dignitary
      1999-2000Star Trek: VoyagerAbbot / MiloEpisodes: "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Spirit Folk"
      2000Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer SnowmanPsychiatristDirect-to-video
      2001Blasphemy the MovieZues
      2002James Bond 007: NightfireAlexander MayhewVoice, Video game
      2002-2003Birds of PreyAlfred Pennyworth14 Episodes
      2003Chromiumblue.comSir George
      2004CharmedAramis, Member of The TribunalSeason 6 Episode 19: "Crimes and Witch-Demeanors"
      2004RalliSport Challenge 2NarratorVideo Game
      2005Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm SchoolEvrin Sezgin
      2005The L.A. Riot SpectacularAuctioneer
      2005Area 51Dr. Winston Cray[6]Voice, Video Game
      2005The Grim Adventures of Billy & MandyFVoice, Episode: "Scythe 2.0"
      2005Agatha Christie: And Then There Were NoneThomas Rogers / General Mackenzie[6]Voice, Video Game
      Based on the novel of the same name.
      2006The BatmanEwan[6]Voice, Episode: "The Icy Depths"
      2006Garfield: A Tail of Two KittiesSmithee
      2006Inland EmpireHenry The Butler
      2007Trust MeTeitelbaum
      2007Hard FourJack Ermine
      2007–2012Wizards of Waverly PlaceProfessor Crumbs10 episodes
      2008How I Met Your MotherBenjamin FranklinSeason 3, Episode 17: "The Goat"
      2008Star Wars: The Clone WarsChancellor Palpatine / Darth Sidious[6]Voice
      2008Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber DuelsDarth SidiousVoice, Video Game
      2008Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Republic HeroesChancellor Palpatine / Darth Sidious[6]Voice, Videogame
      2008–2014Star Wars: The Clone Wars29 Episodes
      His death is honored at the beginning of the episode "The Lawless" – S5E16.
      2011RangoAmbrose[6]Voice
      2011Childrens HospitalButlerEpisode: "Run, Dr. Lola Spratt, Run"
      2011Happily DivorcedVictorEpisode: "Spousal Support"
      2011-2013Green Lantern: The Animated SeriesGanthet[6]Voice, 5 Episodes
      His death is honored at the end of the episode "Regime Change" – S1E10.

      References
      1. "U.S., Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895–1956". Ancestry.com.
      2. "Ian Abercrombie". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 December 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
      3. Barnes, Mike (27 January 2012). "Ian Abercrombie, Elaine's Boss on 'Seinfeld', Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
      4. Minovitz, Ethan (28 January 2012). "Ian Abercrombie, 77, was boss Mr. Pitt on Seinfeld". Big Cartoon News. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
      5. Krome Studios (6 October 2009). Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes. LucasArts. Scene: Closing credits, 2:30 in, Voice Talent.
      6. "Ian Abercrombie - 12 Character Images".
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