Alec McCowen

Biography

Alec McCowen was an English actor who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began on stage in repertory in 1942 before making his London debut in 1950. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1962 and later won Evening Standard awards for Hadrian the Seventh, The Misanthrope and The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H., and he received Tony nominations for Hadrian the Seventh and his solo performance of the Gospel According to Saint Mark. His film debut came in The Cruel Sea (1953), and his screen work included A Night to Remember (1958), The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962), The Witches (1966), Frenzy (1972), Travels with My Aunt (1972), which brought him a Golden Globe nomination, Never Say Never Again (1983), Personal Services (1987) and Henry V (1989). On television he played Malvolio in Twelfth Night and starred in Mr Palfrey of Westminster.

91years old at death

Born May 26, 1925Royal Tunbridge Wells
Died February 6, 2017London
Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
Alexander Duncan McCowen (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 20
Career span: 49 years1953 to 2002

Genres

Drama75%, 15 films
Adventure25%, 5 films
Action20%, 4 films
Crime20%, 4 films
Mystery20%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Behind the camera
McCowen put together and staged a solo show of the whole St. Mark's Gospel, which brought him international acclaim and another Tony nomination. It first opened at the Riverside Studios in January 1978.
Behind the award
McCowen played Adolf Hitler in the 1982 Mermaid staging of The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H., a stage adaptation of George Steiner's novel. The performance brought him a third Evening Standard Best Actor award, matching Laurence Olivier and Paul Scofield.
First role
McCowen first appeared on stage in August 1942 at the Macclesfield repertory theater, playing Micky in Paddy the Next Best Thing.
Big break
In April 1968, McCowen played Fr. William Rolfe in Hadrian the Seventh at the Mermaid Theatre, a role that brought him a career breakthrough and his first Evening Standard Award as Best Actor.
Early training
McCowen went to The Skinners' School in Tunbridge Wells, where friends called him "Squeaker," and he also attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Alec McCowen movies on Netflix

Gangs of New York2002IMDb rating 7.5as Reverend Raleigh
The Age of Innocence1993IMDb rating 7.2as Sillerton Jackson
Henry V1989IMDb rating 7.4as Bishop of Ely
Personal Services1987IMDb rating 6.3as Wing Commander Morten
Never Say Never Again1983IMDb rating 6.1as 'Q' Algy
Twelfth Night1980IMDb rating 7.7as Malvolio
Hanover Street1979IMDb rating 6.0as Major Trumbo
Frenzy1972IMDb rating 7.4as Chief Inspector Oxford
Travels with My Aunt1972IMDb rating 6.3as Henry Pulling
The Hawaiians1970IMDb rating 6.2as Micah Hale
The Witches1966IMDb rating 5.8as Alan Bax
The Agony and the Ecstasy1965IMDb rating 7.2as Cardinal
In the Cool of the Day1963IMDb rating 5.1as Dickie Bayliss
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner1962IMDb rating 7.5as Mr. Brown
A Night to Remember1958IMDb rating 7.9as Wireless Operator Harold Thomas Cottam
The One That Got Away1957IMDb rating 7.1as Duty Officer, Hucknall
Time Without Pity1957IMDb rating 6.8as Alec Graham
Town on Trial1957IMDb rating 6.5as Peter Crowley
The Long Arm1956IMDb rating 7.0as House Surgeon
The Cruel Sea1953IMDb rating 7.4as Tonbridge

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Gangs of New York2002 Crime, Drama, Historyas Reverend Raleigh
IMDb rating 7.5511K votes
Frenzy1972 Thrilleras Chief Inspector Oxford
IMDb rating 7.454K votes
Never Say Never Again1983as 'Q' Algy
IMDb rating 6.179K votes
The Age of Innocence1993as Sillerton Jackson
IMDb rating 7.276K votes
Henry V1989as Bishop of Ely
IMDb rating 7.434K votes
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner1962as Mr. Brown
IMDb rating 7.510K votes
Hanover Street1979as Major Trumbo
IMDb rating 6.06.5K votes
Travels with My Aunt1972as Henry Pulling
IMDb rating 6.33.0K votes

Most often with

Martin Scorsese directed two of these films, Roy Ward Baker two and Charles Frend two. Glyn Houston appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Glyn Houston

Charlton Heston

Geraldine Chaplin

Geoffrey Keen

Jack Hawkins

Danny Webb

Martin ScorseseDirector, 2 films

Roy Ward BakerDirector, 2 films Charles FrendDirector, 2 films

Films together

Glyn Houston3 films together, 1953 to 1957
Glyn Houston's page
- The One That Got Away1957IMDb rating 7.1McCowen as Duty Officer, HucknallHouston as Harry 'Hurricane'
- The Long Arm1956IMDb rating 7.0McCowen as House SurgeonHouston as Detective Sergeant in 'Q' car
- The Cruel Sea1953IMDb rating 7.4McCowen as TonbridgeHouston as Phillips
Charlton Heston2 films together, 1965 to 1970
Charlton Heston's page
- The Hawaiians1970IMDb rating 6.2McCowen as Micah HaleHeston as Whip Hoxworth
- The Agony and the Ecstasy1965IMDb rating 7.2McCowen as CardinalHeston as Michelangelo
Geraldine Chaplin2 films together, 1970 to 1993
Geraldine Chaplin's page
- The Age of Innocence1993IMDb rating 7.2McCowen as Sillerton JacksonChaplin as Mrs. Welland
- The Hawaiians1970IMDb rating 6.2McCowen as Micah HaleChaplin as Purity Hoxworth
Geoffrey Keen2 films together, 1956 to 1957
Geoffrey Keen's page
- Town on Trial1957IMDb rating 6.5McCowen as Peter CrowleyKeen as Charles Dixon
- The Long Arm1956IMDb rating 7.0McCowen as House SurgeonKeen as Chief Superintendent Jim Malcolm
Jack Hawkins2 films together, 1953 to 1956
Jack Hawkins's page
- The Long Arm1956IMDb rating 7.0McCowen as House SurgeonHawkins as Detective Superintendent Tom Halliday
- The Cruel Sea1953IMDb rating 7.4McCowen as TonbridgeHawkins as Ericson
Danny Webb2 films together, 1980 to 1989
Danny Webb's page
- Henry V1989IMDb rating 7.4McCowen as Bishop of ElyWebb as Gower
- Twelfth Night1980IMDb rating 7.7McCowen as MalvolioWebb as Servant
Martin ScorseseDirector, 2 films, 1993 to 2002
All films by Martin Scorsese
- Gangs of New York2002IMDb rating 7.5McCowen as Reverend Raleigh
- The Age of Innocence1993IMDb rating 7.2McCowen as Sillerton Jackson
Roy Ward BakerDirector, 2 films, 1957 to 1958
All films by Roy Ward Baker
- A Night to Remember1958IMDb rating 7.9McCowen as Wireless Operator Harold Thomas Cottam
- The One That Got Away1957IMDb rating 7.1McCowen as Duty Officer, Hucknall
Charles FrendDirector, 2 films, 1953 to 1956
All films by Charles Frend
- The Long Arm1956IMDb rating 7.0McCowen as House Surgeon
- The Cruel Sea1953IMDb rating 7.4McCowen as Tonbridge
Also two films together7 more actors
- Michael GoodliffeA Night to Remember (1958) and The One That Got Away (1957)
- Michael RedgraveThe Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962) and Time Without Pity (1957)
- Daniel Day-LewisGangs of New York (2002) and The Age of Innocence (1993)
- Richard LeechA Night to Remember (1958) and The Long Arm (1956)
- Meredith EdwardsTown on Trial (1957) and The Cruel Sea (1953)
- Julian SomersThe One That Got Away (1957) and Time Without Pity (1957)
- John StrattonThe Long Arm (1956) and The Cruel Sea (1953)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.