Alexander Duncan McCowan, better known as Alec McCowen, was born on May 26, 1925, in Tunbridge Wells, England. He began his journey in the world of theatre by studying at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In 1942, he made his professional debut, marking the beginning of a long and illustrious career in the performing arts.
McCowen's reputation was established through his impressive work in classical stage roles. He was part of the ensemble that performed in Laurence Olivier's production of William Shakespeare's "Anthony and Cleopatra" and George Bernard Shaw's "Caesar and Cleopatra" at the 1951 Festival of Britain. This production transferred to New York the same year, making McCowen's Broadway debut.
In addition to his stage work, McCowen made his movie debut in The Cruel Sea (1953). However, it was his role as Police Inspector Oxford in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972) that cemented his reputation in the film industry. He went on to play the lead role of Henry Pulling in George Cukor's adaptation of Graham Greene's Travels with My Aunt (1972),earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for co-star Maggie Smith.
McCowen continued to work in film and television throughout his career, appearing in productions such as Gangs of New York (2002) and The Age of Innocence (1993). He also had a successful run on British television, starring in the Thames Television series Mr. Palfrey of Westminster (1984) for two seasons from 1984 to 1985.
Despite his success in film and television, McCowen remained committed to his work on the stage. He appeared nine times on Broadway between 1967 and 1992, earning two Drama Desk Awards and three Tony Award nominations. One of his most notable stage performances was in the solo show "St. Mark's Gospel", which debuted on Broadway in 1978 and returned for a second engagement in 1981.
Throughout his career, McCowen received numerous accolades for his services to drama. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1972 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1986. Alec McCowen passed away on February 6, 2017, at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of outstanding performances on stage and screen.
