---
name: "Alec McCowen"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/alec-mccowen"
fi1m_id: "alec-mccowen"
imdb_id: "nm0566680"
tmdb_id: 8224
wikidata_id: "Q492176"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "26 May 1925"
died: "6 February 2017"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-07T13:04:10.961127+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Alec McCowen

## Identity

Alec McCowen

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/alec-mccowen
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** alec-mccowen
- **IMDb ID:** nm0566680
- **TMDB ID:** 8224
- **Wikidata ID:** Q492176
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alec_McCowen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q492176, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566680/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8224

Actor. Born 26 May 1925 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK. Died 6 February 2017.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 26 May 1925, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK
- **Died:** 6 February 2017
- **Active:** 1958–2002
- **Also known as:** Alexander Duncan McCowen
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 85 (1), 1980s 73 (3), 1990s 86 (1), 2000s 74 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 73 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, History 3, Action 2, Adventure 1, Crime 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 14 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $422m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alec_McCowen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q492176, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566680/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8224

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Age of Innocence*](https://film.one/film/the-age-of-innocence.md) (86), [*Henry V*](https://film.one/film/henry-v.md) (84)
- **Apple TV:** [*Gangs of New York*](https://film.one/film/gangs-of-new-york.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Alec McCowen (born Alexander Duncan McCowen) was an English actor. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and made his professional stage debut in 1942. He became known for classical stage roles, including work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and one-man shows such as *St. Mark's Gospel*.

McCowen appeared in numerous films, including *A Night to Remember* (1958), *The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner* (1962), *Frenzy* (1972), *Never Say Never Again* (1983), *The Age of Innocence* (1993) as Sillerton Jackson, and *Gangs of New York* (2002). He received the OBE in 1972 and the CBE in 1986. He died in London on 6 February 2017.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, theguardian.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Gangs of New York* (2002), Fi1m 74, as Reverend Raleigh — [page](https://film.one/film/gangs-of-new-york.md)
- *The Age of Innocence* (1993), Fi1m 86, as Sillerton Jackson — [page](https://film.one/film/the-age-of-innocence.md)
- *Henry V* (1989), Fi1m 84, as Bishop of Ely — [page](https://film.one/film/henry-v.md)
- *Cry Freedom* (1987), Fi1m 72, as Acting High Comissioner — [page](https://film.one/film/cry-freedom.md)
- *Never Say Never Again* (1983), Fi1m 64, as Q 'Algy' Algernon — [page](https://film.one/film/never-say-never-again.md)
- *A Night to Remember* (1958), Fi1m 85, as Wireless Operator Harold Thomas Cottam — [page](https://film.one/film/a-night-to-remember.md)

## Complete filmography (74)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Gangs of New York* (2002), as Reverend Raleigh — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/gangs-of-new-york.md)
- *David Copperfield* (2001), as Jorkins
- *David Copperfield* (2000), series, as Jorkins
- *Longitude* (2000), series, as Sir Frank Dyson
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Sir Christian Aubrey — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *Cruel Train* (1995), as Supt. Fish
- *The Age of Innocence* (1993), as Sillerton Jackson — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-age-of-innocence.md)
- *Maria's Child* (1993), as Father Eugene McCarthy
- *Shakespeare: The Animated Tales* (1992), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *The War That Never Ends* (1991), as Thucydides
- *St Mark's Gospel* (1990), Actor
- *Henry V* (1989), as Bishop of Ely — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/henry-v.md)
- *Dialogue in the Dark* (1989), as David Hume
- *The Importance of Being Earnest* (1988), as Dr. Chasuble
- *Cry Freedom* (1987), as Acting High Comissioner — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/cry-freedom.md)
- *Personal Services* (1987), as Wing Commander Morten
- *Theatre Night* (1985), series, as Dr. Chasuble
- *The Assam Garden* (1985), as Mr. Philpott
- *Squaring the Circle* (1984), as Rakowski
- *Mr. Palfrey of Westminster* (1984), series, as Mr. Palfrey
- *Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime* (1983), series, as Sir James Peele Edgerton
- *The Secret Adversary* (1983), as Sir James Peel Edgerton
- *Never Say Never Again* (1983), as Q 'Algy' Algernon — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/never-say-never-again.md)
- *Storyboard* (1983), series, as Palfrey, Aeneas Sampson
- *Forever Young* (1983), as Father Vincent
- *All for Love* (1982), series, as Silcox
- *A Dedicated Man* (1982), as Silcox
- *Bergerac* (1981), series, as Trenchard
- *Plays for Pleasure* (1981), series, as Ralph
- *Twelfth Night* (1980), as Malvolio
- *Henry V* (1979), as Chorus
- *Hanover Street* (1979), as Maj. Trumbo
- *Stevie* (1978), as Freddy
- *When the Actors Come* (1978), as The Count
- *BBC2 Play of the Week* (1977), series, as The Count
- *The Sunday Drama* (1977), series, as Lampard
- *Private Lives* (1976), as Elyot Chase
- *A Man of Morality* (1976), as Finn
- *Orson Welles' Great Mysteries* (1973), series, as James Addishaw
- *Centre Play* (1973), series, as Finn
- *Travels with My Aunt* (1972), as Henry Pulling
- *Triple Exposure* (1972), as Percy
- *Frenzy* (1972), as DCI Tim Oxford
- *Film '72* (1971), series, Actor
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Percy
- *The Hawaiians* (1970), as Micah Hale
- *Solo* (1970), series, Actor
- *Omnibus* (1967), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *The Witches* (1966), as Alan Bax
- *NET Playhouse* (1966), series, as Antipholus of Syracuse
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Martin Luther, Philip
- *Thirty-Minute Theatre* (1965), series, as Willie
- *The Agony and the Ecstasy* (1965), as Cardinal
- *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, as Private Secretary, Alfred Poole
- *Theatre 625* (1964), series, as Harry
- *Festival* (1963), series, as Antipholus of Syracuse
- *In the Cool of the Day* (1963), as Dickie Bayliss
- *The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner* (1962), as Brown, House Master
- *Studio 4* (1962), series, as Tom O'Neill
- *The Doctor's Dilemma* (1959), as Redpenny
- *A Night to Remember* (1958), as Wireless Operator Harold Thomas Cottam — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/a-night-to-remember.md)
- *The Silent Enemy* (1958), as Able Seaman Morgan
- *The One That Got Away* (1957), as Duty Officer, Hucknall
- *Rope* (1957), as Brandon
- *The Good Companions* (1957), as Albert Oakroyd
- *Time Without Pity* (1957), as Alec Graham
- *Town on Trial* (1957), as Peter Crowley (as Alec Mc Cowen)
- *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Maurice Bouillet
- *The Long Arm* (1956), as House Surgeon
- *The Deep Blue Sea* (1955), as Ken Thompson
- *The Divided Heart* (1954), as Reporter
- *The Matchmaker* (1954), as Barnaby Tucker
- *The Cruel Sea* (1953), as Tonbridge
- *Sunday Night Theatre* (1950), series, as Quillary

## Gallery

- ![Alec McCowen](https://film.one/media/person/82786/gallery-909b5ead59ff.jpg) Alec McCowen — The Bright Thoughts Company Limited - https://www.bright-thoughts.co.uk/creative-commons-greentie.html, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Alec_McCowen_1982.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Alec McCowen](https://film.one/media/person/82786/gallery-6ff3c68d0b43.jpg) Alec McCowen — Image via TMDB
- ![Alec McCowen](https://film.one/media/person/82786/gallery-1380ff8c28ca.jpg) Alec McCowen — Image via TMDB
- ![Alec McCowen](https://film.one/media/person/82786/gallery-32e50a77caba.jpg) Alec McCowen — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1979: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1971: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1969: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/alec-mccowen