Alexander was born on 10 July 1907 in Stepney, London to Isaac, a fur cutter, and Alice who were both born in Belarus and had nine children most of whom worked in their father’s fur company. In 1939, Alexander was living with his parents at 72 Cheviot Gardens in Hendon, and he was listed as working as a foreign correspondent and a film scene artist.

Alexander married Sybil Misell on 9 June 1946 and sadly died only five months later. He died in Redhill County hospital, Edgware from hypertension and a cerebral haemorrhage.