Alan Mowbray MM was a renowned English stage and film actor who achieved significant success in Hollywood. Born Alfred Ernest Allen on August 18, 1896, in London, England, he served with distinction in the British Army during World War I, earning the Military Medal for his bravery.
After the war, Mowbray began his stage acting career, gradually making his way to the United States, where he appeared in Broadway plays and toured the country as part of a theater troupe. He adopted the stage name Alan Mowbray and made his motion picture debut in 1931, going on to carve out a successful career as a character actor in over 140 films.
Some of his most notable roles include the part of the sterling butler in the comedy Merrily We Live and the title role in the TV series The Adventures of Colonel Flack. During World War II, Mowbray made a memorable appearance as the Devil in the Hal Roach propaganda comedy The Devil with Hitler.
In addition to his acting career, Mowbray was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild and held membership in Britain's Royal Geographic Society, reflecting his diverse interests outside of acting. He also played the title role in the television series Colonel Humphrey Flack, which aired from 1953-1954 and was later revived from 1958-1959.
Mowbray's television credits include guest roles in numerous series and a stint as Mr. Swift, the drama coach of Mickey Mulligan, in NBC's short-lived situation comedy The Mickey Rooney Show: Hey, Mulligan during the 1954-1955 television season.
Tragically, Alan Mowbray passed away on March 25, 1969, due to a heart attack in Hollywood. He was interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
