Jonathan Hale

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".

Most Known For

Lassie

Adventures of Superman

as Professor Roberts

The Cisco Kid

as Barry Owens

The Cisco Kid

as Barry Owen aka Bill Stevens

City Detective

Screen Director's Playhouse

as Mayor

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

as General

MGM Parade

Boys Town

as John Hargraves

Mr. & Mrs. North

Housewife

as Doctor

Strangers on a Train

as Mr. Antony

'G' Men

as Congressman (uncredited)

Cavalcade of America

The Whistler

Outcast

Triple Trouble

as The Judge

Blondie

as Mr. Dithers

Ringside Maisie

as Dr. Kramer

Crossroads

as Governor