Jonathan Hale

Jonathan Hale

1891-03-20 – 1966-02-28 (age 74) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jonathan Hale (born Jonathan Hatley, March 21, 1891 – February 28, 1966) was a Canadian-born film and television actor.

Hale was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Before his acting career, Hale worked in the Diplomatic Corps. Hale is most well known as Dagwood Bumstead's boss, Julius Caesar Dithers, in the Blondie film series in the 1940s. He is also notable for playing Inspector Fernack in various The Saint films by RKO Pictures.

In 1950 he made two appearances in The Cisco Kid as Barry Owens. He also appeared in two different episodes of Adventures of Superman: "The Evil Three", in which he played a murderous "Southern Colonel"-type character, and "Panic in the Sky", one of the most famous episodes, in which he played the lead astronomer at the Metropolis Observatory, actually a California observatory.

Among the relatively few television programs on which Hale appeared are the religion anthology series Crossroads, The Loretta Young Show, Brave Eagle, Schlitz Playhouse, The Joey Bishop Show, and Walt Disney Presents: "A Tribute to Joel Chandler Harris".

Hale committed suicide on February 28, 1966. He was found dead that evening in his room at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Hale had taken his own life with a .38 caliber pistol, which was found near his body. He was 74. Hale was interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California. Sadly, Hale's grave went unmarked for more than four decades, until a proper headstone was erected by donations from the "Dearly Departed" fan-based group in 2013; he is now honored with the inscription, "We Remembered You".

Photos

Known For

Strangers on a Train
Strangers on a Train

1951

as Mr. Antony

Tap Roots
Tap Roots

1948

as Gen. Johnston (uncredited)

Boys Town
Boys Town

1938

as John Hargraves

A Star Is Born
A Star Is Born

1937

as Judge Parris (uncredited)

The Fountainhead
The Fountainhead

1949

as Guy Francon (uncredited)

Call Northside 777
Call Northside 777

1948

as Governor's Aide Robert Winston (uncredited)

The Raven
The Raven

1935

as Bedside Dr. at Jerry's Right (uncredited)

A Night at the Opera
A Night at the Opera

1935

as The Stage Manager (uncredited)

'G' Men
'G' Men

1935

as Congressman (uncredited)

Housewife
Housewife

1934

as Doctor

Tarnished Angel
Tarnished Angel

1938

as Detective Sgt. Cramer

Johnny Belinda
Johnny Belinda

1948

as Dr. Gray (uncredited)

You Only Live Once
You Only Live Once

1937

as District Attorney (uncredited)

Fury
Fury

1936

as Defense Attorney

Hangmen Also Die!
Hangmen Also Die!

1943

as Dedic

Johnny Apollo
Johnny Apollo

1940

as Dr. Brown

The Baron of Arizona
The Baron of Arizona

1950

as Governor

Blondie
Blondie

1938

as Mr. Dithers

The Steel Trap
The Steel Trap

1952

as Tom Bowers

In Name Only
In Name Only

1939

as Dr. Gateson