Batman Actor Michael Gough Passes Away

http://screenrant.com/michael-gough-...schrad-106358/

As much as I like Michael Caine in the role, I always thought Mr. Gough made a better Alfred.

This saddens me greatly. Many years ago I was lucky enough to meet and work with Michael Gough. I was an extra in a children's program, a mini series called; "The Little Vampire". I was in a scene with him where I played his vampire servant/butler.

The scene was a ballroom dance in a large cave with many vampires dancing. At the end of the dance, Michael Gough was to go up some steps and sit on his throne and give a speech to the gathered vampires. ( His character was their leader.) There was a problem as at the top of the steps he couldn't quite make the final step. The director was desperate, he saw me in my tux and vampire get up. He mad me his servant, and had me kneel at the top of the steps, so my master could step on my back on his way onto the throne.

Now when something is filmed, they often shoot it several times from different angles and different cameras. This was no exception. To get the scene the way the director wanted it, Michael Gough had to step onto my back several times, and i had to appear happy to serve him.He was quite apologetic and genuinely felt bad about having to step on my shoulders repeatedly. I told him it was ok, I was having a fine time. He was a big fellow and a bit heavy as he was over six feet tall. Besides the show must go on, and I was being paid to do this.

Several days later I was once again called on to be an extra in the same show. I was helping to carry vampire laden coffins. Now at the end of this procession of coffins, one of the other extras was to speak with Micheal's character. But he couldn't, my fellow extra kept choking when it was his turn to deliver his line... he couldn't handle the stress of the cameras and the lights and speak.

Once again, the director spotted me, and asked me if I would deliver the line. I was delighted to have the chance to have a speaking part. In the scene, Micheal thanks the humans who have aided the vampires. He then hands my character a moss covered rock. ( fake of course, because well that's showbiz , ain't it.) My immortal line, which I always remember was; "Thanks for the moss rock Unc!"

I have friends and relatives in Europe who have seen the show and me in it, but I never have. At least not the small parts of it that i was in. Oh well , perhaps someday I will. I felt like I had to share this story with all of you. Every word of it is true.

The best decision made by Schumaker for his Batman movies was keeping Gough as Alfred.

The biggest mistake made by Nolan was replacing Gough with Caine.


Yes, that's pretty much the only thing Schumaker got right.

An interesting note here; he was in Orson Welles' production of Macbeth back in 1941 and was considered to be part of his regular cast of actors. Micheal Gough had an amazingly long career and was by all reports (as well as the previous poster's firsthand account) a complete gentleman and professional.

A truly sad day for the acting community.


S.

Then there was his role in the original run of DOCTOR WHO as the Celestial Toymaker... (he was also in the episode "Arc of Infinity", but not nearly as good an ep as CT)

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite