Aubrey Mather

Aubrey Mather (17 December 1885 – 16 January 1958) was an English character actor renowned for his portrayals of butlers and other dignified supporting roles across stage and screen. Born in the market town of Minchinhampton in Gloucestershire, Mather began his theatrical career at the age of twenty, making his first appearance on the provincial stage in 1905 and quickly earning a reputation for a polished diction and a dignified bearing. By 1909 he had secured his London debut in the long‑running comedy Brewster's Millions, where his performance caught the attention of producers who would later cast him on Broadway, a milestone he reached in 1919 with the production Luck of the Navy. Though he spent the first two decades of his career mastering the demands of live theatre, Mather transitioned to film in the early sound era, appearing in his first motion picture, Young Woodley, in 1930 at the age of forty‑five. Over the next twenty‑four years he became a familiar face in both British and Hollywood productions, frequently typecast as the impeccably dressed servant who could convey subtle humor or staunch loyalty with a single raise of an eyebrow. His role as the eponymous footman in The Impassive Footman (1932) and as Remington the butler in No, No, Nanette (1940) exemplify his skill at embodying the quiet authority of household staff. In addition to his numerous supporting parts, Mather delivered memorable turnarounds as professionals such as professors, doctors, and magistrates, illustrating a versatility that extended beyond his preferred servant roles. He appeared in celebrated films such as Mrs. Miniver (1942), The Song of Bernadette (1943), Jane Eyre (1943), and National Velvet (1944), often uncredited yet indispensable to the texture of the productions. By the time he retired from acting in 1954, Mather had accumulated a filmography that spanned more than a hundred titles, leaving a legacy of reliable, understated performances that continue to be appreciated by classic‑film enthusiasts. He died in Harrow, London, on 16 January 1958, aged 72, leaving behind a body of work that exemplifies the golden age of British character acting.