Michael Gough, Alfred in Burton's "Batman," dies

(CBS) Michael Gough, best known to American audiences as Alfred in Batman films by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher, has died. He was 94.

The BBC reports that Gough had not been well for about a year and died at home.

Gough appeared as Alfred Pennyworth in four Batman films, from Burton's 1989 "Batman" to Schumacher's regrettable "Batman and Robin" in 1997. In that film, Alfred suffers from the same disease that afflicts villain Mr. Freeze's wife. Gough played Alfred opposite Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney, who starred as Batman and Bruce Wayne in the series.

Gough continued to work with Burton after the filmmaker quit making Batman movies, appearing in "Sleepy Hollow" and doing voice work on "Corpse Bride" and "Alice in Wonderland," according to the IMDB.

He guest-starred in several episodes of the long-running "Doctor Who" series and acted in notable Hammer horror films, including "Horror of Dracula" with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and "The Phantom of the Opera" with Herbert Lom as the Phantom. Gough had roles in Hollywood productions, too, including "Out of Africa," "The Age of Innocence" and "The Serpent and the Rainbow."