Porter Hall | |
|---|---|
) Hall in 1930 | |
| Born | Clifford Porter Hall September 19, 1888 |
| Died | October 6, 1953 (aged 65) Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1926–1953 |
| Spouse(s) | Geraldine Brown (m. 1927) |
| Children | 2 |
Clifford Porter Hall (September 19, 1888 – October 6, 1953) was an American character actor known for appearing in a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s. Hall typically played villains or comedic incompetent characters.
Early years
Hall was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, W. A. Hall, headed a cooperage business that ended because of prohibition in the United States. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati, Hall worked for the Fleischmann Company while also directing and acting in little theater productions in Cleveland.[1]
Career
Hall began his career touring as a stage actor with roles in productions of The Great Gatsby and Naked in 1926. His Broadway credits included The Great Gatsby (1926), Naked (1926), Loud Speaker (1927), Night Hostess (1928), It's a Wise Child (1929), Collision (1932), The Warrior's Husband (1932), The Dark Tower (1933), The Red Cat (1934).[2][3]
Hall made his film debut in the 1931 drama Secrets of a Secretary. His last onscreen appearance was in the 1954 film Return to Treasure Island, which was released after his death.
Hall was probably best remembered for five roles: a senator in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; an atheist in Going My Way; the nervous, ill-tempered Granville Sawyer, who administers a psychological test to Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street; a train passenger who encounters a man (Fred MacMurray) who has just committed a murder in Double Indemnity; and the title character's lawyer (Herbert MacCaulay) in The Thin Man.
Personal life
Hall married actress Geraldine Brown in 1927;[4] they had two children. He served as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood for many years.[4]
On October 6, 1953, Hall died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 65. His interment was at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery.[5]
In popular culture
Director Russ Meyer named one of the characters in the 1970 cult film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls after Hall.
Complete filmography
- Secrets of a Secretary (1931) - Drunk (uncredited)
- The Cheat (1931) - Leslie (uncredited)
- The Thin Man (1934) - MacCaulay
- Murder in the Private Car (1934) - Alden Murray
- The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935) - Col. Bradbury
- The Petrified Forest (1936) - Jason Maple
- The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936) - Dr. Rossignol
- Too Many Parents (1936) - Mr. Saunders
- Snowed Under (1936) - Arthur Layton
- The Princess Comes Across (1936) - Robert M. Darcy
- And Sudden Death (1936) - District Attorney
- Satan Met a Lady (1936) - Milton Ames
- The General Died at Dawn (1936) - Peter Perrie
- The Plainsman (1936) - Jack McCall
- Let's Make a Million (1936) - Spencer
- Bulldog Drummond Escapes (1937) - Norman Merridew
- King of Gamblers (1937) - George Kramer
- Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) - Harvey Chase
- Hotel Haywire (1937) - Judge Newhall
- Wild Money (1937) - Bill Court
- Souls at Sea (1937) - Court Prosecutor
- This Way Please (1937) - S.J. Crawford
- True Confession (1937) - Mr. Hartman
- Wells Fargo (1937) - James Oliver
- Scandal Street (1938) - James Wilson
- Dangerous to Know (1938) - Mayor Bradley
- Bulldog Drummond's Peril (1938) - Dr. Max Botulian
- Stolen Heaven (1938) - Hermann 'Von' Offer
- Prison Farm (1938) - Chiston R. Bradby
- Men with Wings (1938) - Hiram F. Jenkins
- King of Alcatraz (1938) - Matthew Talbot
- The Arkansas Traveler (1938) - Mayor Daniels
- Tom Sawyer, Detective (1938) - Uncle Silas
- Grand Jury Secrets (1939) - Anthony Pelton
- They Shall Have Music (1939) - Flower
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) - Senator Monroe
- Henry Goes Arizona (1939) - Banker Edward G. Walsh (uncredited)
- His Girl Friday (1940) - Murphy
- Dark Command (1940) - Angus McCloud
- Arizona (1940) - Lazarus Ward
- Trail of the Vigilantes (1940) - Sheriff Korley
- The Parson of Panamint (1941) - Jonathan Randall
- Sullivan's Travels (1941) - Mr. Hadrian
- Mr. and Mrs. North (1942) - George Heyler
- The Remarkable Andrew (1942) - Chief Clerk Art Slocumb
- Butch Minds the Baby (1942) - Brandy Smith
- A Stranger in Town (1943) - Judge Austin Harkley
- The Desperadoes (1943) - Banker Clanton
- The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1943) - Justice of the Peace
- The Woman of the Town (1943) - Mayor Dog Killey
- Standing Room Only - Hugo Farenhall
- Going My Way (1944) - Mr. Belknap
- Double Indemnity (1944) - Mr. Jackson
- The Great Moment (1944) - President Franklin Pierce
- The Mark of the Whistler (1944) - Joe Sorsby
- Bring on the Girls (1945) - Dr. Efrington
- Blood on the Sun (1945) - Arthur Bickett
- Murder, He Says (1945) - Mr. Johnson
- Week-End at the Waldorf (1945) - Stevens
- Kiss and Tell (1945) - Bill Franklin
- Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - Granville Sawyer
- Singapore (1947) - Mr. Gerald Bellows
- Unconquered (1947) - Leach
- You Gotta Stay Happy (1948) - Mr. Caslon
- That Wonderful Urge (1948) - Attorney Ketchell
- Chicken Every Sunday (1949) - Sam Howell
- The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949) - Judge O'Toole
- Intruder in the Dust (1949) - Nub Gowrie
- Ace in the Hole (1951) - Jacob Q. Boot
- Carbine Williams (1952) - Sam Markley
- The Half-Breed (1952) - Kraemer
- Holiday for Sinners (1952) - Louie - Pool Hall Proprietor
- Pony Express (1953) - Jim Bridger
- Vice Squad (1953) - Jack Hartrampf
- Return to Treasure Island (1954) - Maximillian 'Maxie' Harris
References
- ^ Lane, Linda (October 10, 1936). "Confessions Of Hollywood's Movie Villain No. 1". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Hawaii, Honolulu. p. 28. Retrieved 7 April 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Porter Hall". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Porter Hall". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ a b Harrison, Paul (August 30, 1942). "Film Villain Church Deacon; Grows Flowers". Sioux City Journal. Iowa, Sioux City. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 27. Retrieved 7 April 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. pp. 87–88. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
External links
- Porter Hall at the Internet Broadway Database
- Porter Hall at IMDb
- Porter Hall at the TCM Movie Database
- Porter Hall at Find a Grave
