Actor. Born Alexander Duncan McCowen, his father was the proprietor of a sandwich shop, Alec developed an interest in movies at an early age. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, prior to initiating his professional career in repertory productions. This would lead to his debut on the West End stage in 1950 and his association with Broadway, one-year later in "Caesar and Cleopatra" (1951 to 1952), which starred Lawrence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. This was followed with "Anthony and Cleopatra" (1951 to 1952), which also starred Olivier and Leigh. He made his motion picture debut in "The Cruel Sea" (1953). McCowen established himself as a versatile performer and distinguished himself with a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award nomination for "Hadrian VII" (1969), a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award nomination for "The Philanthropist" (1971), a Drama Desk Award nomination for "The Misanthrope" (1975), a Tony Award nomination for "St. Mark's Gospel" (1979) and a Drama Desk Award nomination for "Kipling" (1985). Among his other film credits include "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" (1962), "In the Cool of the Day" (1963) and Hammer Pictures' "The Witches" (1966). He will be remembered for playing 'Chief Inspector Oxford' in Alfred Hitchcock's "Frenzy" (1972) and as 'Reverend Raleigh' in Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York" (2002). McCowen received a Golden Globe nomination for the film "Travels with My Aunt" (1972).
Actor. Born Alexander Duncan McCowen, his father was the proprietor of a sandwich shop, Alec developed an interest in movies at an early age. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, prior to initiating his professional career in repertory productions. This would lead to his debut on the West End stage in 1950 and his association with Broadway, one-year later in "Caesar and Cleopatra" (1951 to 1952), which starred Lawrence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. This was followed with "Anthony and Cleopatra" (1951 to 1952), which also starred Olivier and Leigh. He made his motion picture debut in "The Cruel Sea" (1953). McCowen established himself as a versatile performer and distinguished himself with a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award nomination for "Hadrian VII" (1969), a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award nomination for "The Philanthropist" (1971), a Drama Desk Award nomination for "The Misanthrope" (1975), a Tony Award nomination for "St. Mark's Gospel" (1979) and a Drama Desk Award nomination for "Kipling" (1985). Among his other film credits include "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" (1962), "In the Cool of the Day" (1963) and Hammer Pictures' "The Witches" (1966). He will be remembered for playing 'Chief Inspector Oxford' in Alfred Hitchcock's "Frenzy" (1972) and as 'Reverend Raleigh' in Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York" (2002). McCowen received a Golden Globe nomination for the film "Travels with My Aunt" (1972).
Bio by: C.S.
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