Stepped in for an ailing Whoopi Goldberg, at the last minute, as emcee/host for the 2001 BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards honoring Steven Spielberg. The award was presented by H.R.H. Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
His character Professor Crumbs from Wizards of Waverly Place (2007) was a reference to Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter film series. Richard Harris who played Dumbledore in two first parts of Harry Potter film series died 9 days before "Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets" (2002) premiered; Abercrombie died 19 days after the last episode of Wizards of Waverly Place aired.