Ian Abercrombie

Ian Abercrombie was an English actor, who was best known for portraying Alfred Pennyworth in superhero series and Justin Pitt (Elaine Benes' boss) during the sixth season of the NBC sitcom . He also voiced Ganthet in 's , played Smithee, the Carlyle Castle butler in , and voiced Ambrose (his final movie role) in /'s 2011 animated Western comedy film .
For Disney, he played Professor Crumbs in Wizards of Waverly Place, as well as voiced Palpatine in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He also portrayed Rupert Cavanaugh (Ian Hainsworth's butler) in the ABC Studios TV show Desperate Housewives.
==Early life==
Abercrombie was born in Grays, Essex, England. 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.
He made his American stage debut in 1951 in a production of with and . 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 .
In the U.S., 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 ; Teeth 'N'smiles; with ; and The Arcata Promise, opposite Anthony Hopkins. He received acclaim for the one-man show Jean Cocteau—A Mirror Image.
==Death==
Abercrombie died in Hollywood, California on January 26, 2012 at age 77, from kidney failure. During Celebration VI (August 23–26) there was a show called Vocal Stars of the Clone Wars hosted by James Arnold Taylor, and it included cast members Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, Dee Bradley Baker, and Tom Kane. They all dedicated the show to Ian, and that they miss him deeply.
==Roles==
Professor CrumbsS1.webp|Professor Crumbs(Wizards of Waverly Place franchise)
Dark Sidious (2).png|Palpatine(Star Wars: The Clone Wars; 2008–2012)
==External links==
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*Ian Abercrombie at Behind the Voice Actors
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Category:1930s births
Category:2010s deaths
Category:Deceased
Category:Males
Category:Actors
Category:Voice actors
Category:British people
Category:European people
Category:Video game voice actors
Category:Disney Channel Actors and Actresses
Category:Wizards of Waverly Place
Category:Pocahontas
Category:Lucasfilm
Category:Star Wars: The Clone Wars