Porter Hall
Known For
Acting
Born
1888-09-18 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Died
1953-10-06
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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 played movie villains or comedic incompetent characters. Hall was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and began his career touring as a stage actor with roles in productions of The Great Gatsby and Naked in 1926. Hall made his film debut in the 1931 drama Secrets of a Secretary. He made his last onscreen appearance in the 1954 film Return to Treasure Island, which was released after his death. He was probably best remembered for four 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, and a train passenger who encounters a man (Fred MacMurray) who has just committed a murder in Double Indemnity. 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. Hall had two children, David and Sarah Jane.
Most Known For
Four Star Playhouse
as J. R. Martin
Unconquered
as Leach
Pony Express
as Jim Bridger
Miracle on 34th Street
as Granville Sawyer
Double Indemnity
as Mr. Jackson
The Thin Man
as Herbert MacCaulay
His Girl Friday
as Murphy
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Senator Monroe
Sullivan's Travels
as Mr. Hadrian
Ace in the Hole
as Jacob Q. Boot
Going My Way
as Mr. Belknap
The Desperadoes
as Banker Clanton
Stolen Heaven
as 'Von' Offer
Vice Squad
as Jack Hartrampf
The Petrified Forest
as Jason Maple
Dark Command
as Angus McCloud
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
as Jacob Woodson, Justice of the Peace
The Plainsman
as Jack McCall
Arizona
as Lazarus Ward
Wells Fargo
as James Oliver