Hammer Horror legend and Batman actor Michael Gough has passed away at the age of 94. He had been ill for the past year, and died at his home surrounded by family.

For four consecutive films, Michael Gough portrayed Bruce Wayne's loyal butler Alfred. He first took on the role when fan Tim Burton hired him for the 1989 big screen reinvention of the Batman character. Though Bruce Wayne himself went through three different actors, and the films went through two different directors, Gough was the connective tissue of the late-80s, early 90s franchise, appearing in Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin.

The actor appeared in more than 150 movies and television shows in a career that spanned sixty-five years. Michael Gough first got his start on television in 1946 appearing in the telefilm Androcles and the Lion. He went onto appear in quite a few classic television series such as The Saint and The Avengers. He also appeared in many Hammer Horror films throughout the late 60s.

Tim Burton continued to hire Michael Gough for many of his projects including Sleepy Hollow, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, and as the Dodo Bird in Alice in Wonderland. His last role was the voice of Parasite in the recently released All-Star Superman.

Michael Gough is survived by his fourth wife Henrietta, daughter Emma, and his two sons Simon and Jasper.