Alexander Scourby
ActingAbout Alexander Scourby
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Alexander Scourby (November 13, 1913 – February 22, 1985) was an American film, television, and voice actor known for his deep and resonant voice. He is best known for his film role as the ruthless mob boss Mike Lagana in Fritz Lang's The Big Heat (1953), and is also particularly well-remembered in the English-speaking world for his landmark recordings of the entire King James Version audio Bible, which have been released in numerous editions. He later recorded the entire Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Scourby recorded 422 audiobooks for the blind which he considered his most important work. He has a reputation in the audiobook industry as being one of the greatest narrators: "He is heralded as having the greatest voice ever recorded."
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Alexander Scourby reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Documentary
The majority of Alexander Scourby's filmography leans towards the Documentary genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 24% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Alexander Scourby remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Jesus, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Alexander Scourby Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Alexander Scourby's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Alexander Scourby.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Stuff | Evans | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Among the Wild Chimpanzees | Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Merton: A Film Biography | Narrator (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Australia's Animal Mysteries | Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | The Yellow Star: The Persecution of the Jews in Europe - 1933-1945 | English language narrator | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Etosha: Place of Dry Water | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | Jesus | Luke (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | Uncommon Women and Others | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | This Other Eden | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Hemingway Play | Ernest Hemingway (middle-aged) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1972 | Buddhism in China | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | Atonement | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | Montserrat | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | People of the Seal, Part 2: Eskimo Winter | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | People of the Seal, Part 1: Eskimo Summer | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Executioner | Prof. Parker | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Glory of Their Times | Narrator | Average | Similar → |
| N/A | Hell Gate: The Watery Grave | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Lonely Dorymen | Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Grizzly! | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1967 | 1999 A.D. | Narrator (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Incredible World of James Bond | Narrator (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Gendarme in New York | Alex Scourby | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Wall | Narrator (voice) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Devil at 4 O'Clock | The Governor | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | Man on a String | Colonel Vadja Kubelov | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | Seven Thieves | Raymond Le May | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Project XX: Life in the Thirties | Self - Narrator | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Big Fisherman | David Ben-Zadok | Flop | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Shaggy Dog | Dr. Mikhail Andrassy | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Velvet Alley | Harvey Diedrich | Flop | Similar → |
| 1958 | Me and the Colonel | Major Von Bergen | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Song of Christmas | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Night America Trembled | Host | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Venice: Theme and Variations | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1956 | Giant | Old Polo | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Project XX: The Great War - World War I | Self - Narrator | Flop | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Twisted Cross | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1956 | Ransom! | Dr. Paul Y. Gorman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Silver Chalice | Luke | Flop | Similar → |
| 1954 | Sign of the Pagan | Chrysaphius | Flop | Similar → |
| 1954 | Three Two One - Zero! | Narrator | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | Victory at Sea | Narrator (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Shadow | Rollo Grimbauer | Flop | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Spirit of Christmas | Clement Moore / 'Nativity' Narrator (voice) (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Big Heat | Mike Lagana | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Glory Brigade | Lt. Niklas | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Redhead from Wyoming | Reece Duncan | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Because of You | Dr. Breen | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Affair in Trinidad | Max Fabian | Average | Similar → |
Alexander Scourby - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Alexander Scourby?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Alexander Scourby is "Jesus" with a rating of 8.3/10.
How many movies has Alexander Scourby acted in?
Alexander Scourby has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Alexander Scourby?
Other notable films include "Merton: A Film Biography", "The Big Heat", and "Giant".