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Porter Hall | |
|---|---|
 Hall in 1930 | |
| Born | Clifford Porter Hall (1888-09-19)September 19, 1888 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | October 6, 1953(1953-10-06) (aged 65) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1926–1953 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Clifford Porter Hall (September 19, 1888 – October 6, 1953) was an Americancharacter actor known for appearing in a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s. Hall typically played villains or comedic incompetent characters.
Hall was born inCincinnati,Ohio. His father, W.A. Hall, headed a cooperage business that ended because ofprohibition in the United States. After graduating from theUniversity of Cincinnati, Hall worked for theFleischmann Company while also directing and acting inlittle theater productions in Cleveland.[1]
Hall's Broadway credits includedThe 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 dramaSecrets of a Secretary. His last onscreen appearance was in the 1954 filmReturn to Treasure Island, which was released after his death.
Hall is best remembered for five roles: a senator inMr. Smith Goes to Washington; anatheist inGoing My Way; the nervous, ill-tempered Granville Sawyer, who administers a psychological test toKris Kringle inMiracle on 34th Street; a train passenger who encounters a man (Fred MacMurray) who has just committed a murder inDouble Indemnity; and the title character's lawyer (Herbert MacCaulay) inThe Thin Man.
Hall appeared in a number of critically acclaimed films, now regarded as classics, and has worked with many high-profile directors includingW.S. Van Dyke,William Dieterle,Lewis Milestone,Cecil B. DeMille,Leo McCarey,Henry Hathaway,Frank Lloyd,William A. Wellman,Frank Capra,Howard Hawks,Raoul Walsh,Preston Sturges,Charles Vidor,Billy Wilder,Clarence Brown,William Castle,George Seaton andRichard Thorpe.
He appeared in three films listed onAFI's100 Years... 100 Movies, a list of the 100 greatest films in American cinema;Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939),Sullivan's Travels (1941) andDouble Indemnity (1944).
Hall also appeared in six films that were nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Picture, includingThe Thin Man (1934),The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936),Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939),Double Indemnity (1944),Going My Way (the 1944 winner) andMiracle on 34th Street (1947).
He also appeared in ten films selected by theLibrary of Congress for preservation in theNational Film Registry as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant";The Thin Man (1934),Make Way for Tomorrow (1937),Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939),His Girl Friday (1940),Sullivan's Travels (1941),The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944),Double Indemnity (1944),Going My Way (1944),Miracle on 34th Street (1947) andAce in the Hole (1951).
Hall married actress Geraldine Brown in 1927.[4] He served as a deacon atFirst Presbyterian Church of Hollywood for many years.[4]
On October 6, 1953, Hall died of aheart attack inLos Angeles,California, at the age of 65. His interment was atForest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery.[5]
DirectorRuss Meyer named one of the characters in the 1970 cult filmBeyond the Valley of the Dolls after Hall.
