In Alfred's first appearance, he was overweight and clean-shaven however, when the 1943 Batman serial was released, William Austin, the actor who played Alfred, was trim and sported a thin moustache. Evidence suggests that Alfred was created by the writers of the 1943 Batman serial-Victor McLeod, Leslie Swabacker, and Harry Fraser-and that DC Comics asked Don Cameron to write the first Alfred story, which was published prior to the serial's release. The character first appeared in Batman #16 (April 1943), by writer Don Cameron and artist Bob Kane.
Ralph Fiennes provided the voice of Alfred in the animated Lego Movie franchise, and Martin Jarvis voiced the character in the Batman: Arkham video game series. In non-comics media, the character has been portrayed in live-action and voiced by actors William Austin, Eric Wilton, Michael Gough, Michael Caine, Jeremy Irons, Douglas Hodge, and Andy Serkis on film, and by Alan Napier, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Ian Abercrombie, David McCallum, and Sean Pertwee on television, among others. A vital part of the Batman mythos, Alfred was nominated for the Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Supporting Male Character in 1994. He serves as Bruce's moral anchor while providing comic relief with his sarcastic and cynical attitude. As a classically trained British Butler and an ex- Special Operations Executive operative of honor and ethics with connections within the intelligence community, he has been called "Batman's batman".
Pennyworth is depicted as Bruce Wayne's loyal and tireless butler, legal guardian, best friend, aide-de-camp, and surrogate father figure following the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne.