# Alastair Duncan (actor, born 1958)
**Alastair Duncan** (born 1958) is a Scottish actor known for screen roles in British and American television and for an extensive voice-acting career, most prominently as Mimir in the *God of War* video games and as the voice of [Alfred Pennyworth](https://www.edgepedia.org/alfred-pennyworth) in the animated series *[The Batman](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-batman-tv-series)* and its related films.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/) |
| Training | Acting at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, after earlier work as a nursing auxiliary and a year of science study at Dundee University[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/) |
| Screen breakthrough | Det. Dick Durkin opposite Rutger Hauer in the science-fiction film *Split Second* (1992)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/) |
| Signature voice roles | Mimir in *God of War* (2018) and *God of War Ragnarök* (2022); Celebrimbor in *Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor* and *Shadow of War*; Senator Armstrong in *Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/) • [2](https://godofwar.fandom.com/wiki/Alastair_Duncan) |
| Alfred Pennyworth | Five seasons of *The Batman* (2004–2008, 50 episodes) plus eight subsequent Batman films and video games[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Television guest roles | *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, *Angel*, *Babylon 5*, *Mad Men*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *Bones*, *Castle*, *The Mentalist*, *NCIS*, and *Westworld*, among others[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/11072/alastair-duncan) |
| Other work | California real estate agent (salesperson)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/?showAllCredits=true) |
## Early life and training
Duncan was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1958[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/). Before acting he worked as a nursing auxiliary in the Argyle and Bute Mental Hospital, studied science at Dundee University for a year, and then worked in the anatomy department at Glasgow Vet School. He then studied acting at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/).
## Screen career
In 1983 Duncan made his film debut in Bill Bryden's *Ill Fares the Land* and his television debut in the Scottish Television series *Taggart*, playing the naive sidekick Detective Sergeant Neil Livingstone opposite [Mark McManus](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-mcmanus)'s title character. He left the show after the first five seasons[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/).
His best-known early film role came in 1992 as Detective Dick Durkin opposite [Rutger Hauer](https://www.edgepedia.org/rutger-hauer) in the British science-fiction film *[Split Second](https://www.edgepedia.org/split-second)*; he then appeared in *The Fifth Day*, filmed in Venezuela, before moving to Los Angeles[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/).
From Los Angeles he built a career of television guest appearances. His credits include *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* and its spin-off *Angel*, *Babylon 5*, *Charmed*, *Sabrina, the Teenage Witch*, *Mad Men*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *Bones*, *Castle*, *[Leverage](https://www.edgepedia.org/leverage-american-tv-series)*, *The Mentalist*, *NCIS*, and *Westworld*, along with the films *Dead Man's Walk*, *Tower of Terror*, *Robin Hood* (2010), and *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* (2011)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/11072/alastair-duncan) • [5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/alastair-duncan/). On *NCIS* he appeared in two episodes more than a decade apart, as Peter Velo in 2014 and Ron Davenport in 2024[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/11072/alastair-duncan).
## Voice acting
In the early 2000s Duncan moved into voice work. He played Alfred Pennyworth for five seasons of the animated series *The Batman* (2004–2008, 50 episodes) and in eight subsequent Batman films and video games, including *The Batman vs. Dracula*, the *Batman Unlimited* films, and the two-part *Batman: The Long Halloween*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/?showAllCredits=true). He is identified by Batman franchise references as the voice of Alfred in *The Batman* and its spin-off film, returning for the *Batman Unlimited* series and *The Long Halloween*[6](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Alastair_Duncan).
His video game work is extensive. He voiced Mimir, described in his IMDb biography as "the smartest man in the world," in *God of War* (2018) and *God of War Ragnarök* (2022) and its *Valhalla* expansion[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/) • [2](https://godofwar.fandom.com/wiki/Alastair_Duncan) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/alastair-duncan/). He played [Celebrimbor](https://www.edgepedia.org/celebrimbor), the creator of the rings of power, in *Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor* (2014) and *Shadow of War* (2017), and [Senator Armstrong](https://www.edgepedia.org/senator-armstrong-metal-gear) in *Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/). Other game credits include Nihlus Kryik and the Turian Councilor in the *Mass Effect* trilogy, Mortanius and the Hylden Lord in *Legacy of Kain: Defiance*, Captain Veleth in *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*'s Dragonborn expansion, Isidora's Father in *Hogwarts Legacy*, roles in *Avowed* and *Dune: Awakening*, and The President in *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* (2025)[7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/alastair-duncan/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/?showAllCredits=true). A contemporary profile also lists voice and motion-capture work on *Call of Duty*, *Mass Effect*, and *Uncharted*[8](https://senttodestroy.libsyn.com/episode-22-alastair-duncan).
Duncan is set to reprise Mimir in the Prime Video *[God of War](https://www.edgepedia.org/god-of-war-american-tv-series)* television adaptation, according to a Deadline report; the announced cast also includes [Christopher Judge](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher-judge)'s successor role being recast with [Dave Bautista](https://www.edgepedia.org/dave-bautista) as Kratos, with Duncan the one game actor reprising his part[9](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-god-of-war-actor-is-reprising-his-game-role-for-the-tv-show/1100-6537810/) • [10](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/fantasy-shows/kratos-actor-christopher-judge-says-he-read-for-the-god-of-war-tv-show-but-thinks-dave-bautista-is-going-to-be-great/).
## Personal life
Duncan was married to actress [Anna Gunn](https://www.edgepedia.org/anna-gunn) from 1990 to 2009; the marriage ended in divorce and they have two daughters, Emma (born 2001) and Eila Rose (born 2006)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/). He works as a California real estate agent (salesperson)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/?showAllCredits=true), and profiles describe him as a Scottish stage, film, and television actor who also works as a real estate broker[11](https://lookupvod.com/en/person/110800-alastair-duncan).
## Other people named Alastair Duncan
Several contemporaries share the name and are distinct from the actor. A London-based producer-director of science and documentary television, an Emmy winner for *The Future with Hannah Fry: Quantum Arms Race* (2025), directs programs for the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, and [National Geographic](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-geographic)[12](https://alastairduncanfilm.com/). A visual artist based in Wales works in tapestry weaving, photography, and sound, and trained at Cleveland College of Art[13](https://alastair-duncan.com/). A design historian spent fourteen years with [Christie's](https://www.edgepedia.org/christies), New York, and wrote books including *Art Deco Furniture* and *Masterworks of Louis Comfort Tiffany*[14](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/7566/alastair-duncan/). Alastair Duncan KC is a Scottish advocate ranked in professional negligence and commercial dispute resolution[15](https://chambers.com/lawyer/alastair-duncan-kc-uk-bar-14%3A604243), and a separate Alastair Duncan is known for the 1990s British television productions *All Quiet on the Preston Front*, *The Locksmith*, and *Dangerfield*[16](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241886/).
## References
1. [Alastair Duncan – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/bio/)
2. [Alastair Duncan, God of War Wiki](https://godofwar.fandom.com/wiki/Alastair_Duncan)
3. [Alastair Duncan, IMDb (full credits)](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241885/?showAllCredits=true)
4. [Alastair Duncan, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/11072/alastair-duncan)
5. [Alastair Duncan, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/alastair-duncan/)
6. [Alastair Duncan, Batman Wiki](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Alastair_Duncan)
7. [Alastair Duncan, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/alastair-duncan/)
8. [Sent To Destroy Radio, Episode 22: Alastair Duncan](https://senttodestroy.libsyn.com/episode-22-alastair-duncan)
9. [A God of War Actor Is Reprising His Game Role for the TV Show, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-god-of-war-actor-is-reprising-his-game-role-for-the-tv-show/1100-6537810/)
10. [Christopher Judge on the God of War TV show, GamesRadar](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/fantasy-shows/kratos-actor-christopher-judge-says-he-read-for-the-god-of-war-tv-show-but-thinks-dave-bautista-is-going-to-be-great/)
11. [Alastair Duncan, LookUpVOD](https://lookupvod.com/en/person/110800-alastair-duncan)
12. [Alastair Duncan, producer-director, official site](https://alastairduncanfilm.com/)
13. [Alastair Duncan, artist in sound and weave, official site](https://alastair-duncan.com/)
14. [Alastair Duncan, Penguin Random House author page](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/7566/alastair-duncan/)
15. [Alastair Duncan KC, Chambers UK Bar profile](https://chambers.com/lawyer/alastair-duncan-kc-uk-bar-14%3A604243)
16. [Alastair Duncan (II), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241886/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Scottish actors › Surnames A to L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license