Albert Hall (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Albert Hall
Hall as Pointer in Willie Dynamite (1973)
Born	(1937-11-10) November 10, 1937 (age 87) Brighton, Alabama, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1970–present
Known for	role as Baines in the Spike Lee film Malcolm X (1992)

Albert W. Hall (born November 10, 1937) is an American actor who has retired from acting. He is well-known for his roles in many movies and TV shows. For example, he played Chief Phillips in the 1979 war film Apocalypse Now. He also appeared as Judge Seymore Walsh in the popular TV series Ally McBeal and The Practice. Another important role was Brother Baines in the 1992 film Malcolm X, directed by Spike Lee. His last acting role was in 2011, in an episode of the TV series Men of a Certain Age.

Early Life and Education

Albert Hall was born and grew up in Brighton, Alabama. He went to college and studied acting at the Columbia University School of the Arts. This helped him prepare for his career as an actor.

Albert Hall's Acting Career

Starting Out in Acting

Albert Hall began his acting career in the 1970s. One of his early roles was Pointer in the 1974 film Willie Dynamite. He also had a part in the 1976 movie Leadbelly, which was about a famous musician. In 1978, he played a co-pilot in the film The Bermuda Triangle. Hall also appeared in the 1979 TV miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.

Role in Apocalypse Now

Albert Hall became widely known for his role as Chief Phillips in the 1979 war film Apocalypse Now. This movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. In the film, Hall's character, Chief Petty Officer Phillips, leads a United States Navy boat crew. They travel up a river from Vietnam into Cambodia. Their mission is to help Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) find and stop Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando).

To prepare for his role, Hall researched what it was like to be in the Vietnam War. He wanted to make sure his portrayal was accurate. He described filming in the Philippines as "exotic" and said it was "all fun."

Another actor, Jeffrey Wright, who worked with Hall later, told him that Apocalypse Now was his favorite film. Hall gave him a book and wrote a special message inside. This showed how much his work meant to other actors. Some of Hall's lines in the extended version of the film, Apocalypse Now Redux, were made up on the spot. His acting in the movie was highly praised by critics.

Later Acting Roles

After Apocalypse Now, Albert Hall continued to act in many projects. In 1981, he appeared in the miniseries The Sophisticated Gents. He got his first regular TV role in 1983 in the series Ryan's Four. Hall also acted alongside Sidney Poitier in the 1991 TV movie Separate but Equal.

Throughout the 1990s, Hall was in many different films. He gave memorable performances in Malcolm X (1992) and Rookie of the Year (1993). He worked again with director Spike Lee in the 1996 film Get on the Bus. Other movies Hall appeared in during this time include Major Payne (1995), Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), Courage Under Fire (1996), and Beloved (1998).

In the late 1990s, TV audiences recognized Hall for his role as Judge Seymore Walsh. He played this character in the popular series The Practice and Ally McBeal. Both shows were created by David E. Kelley. Interestingly, he also played a judge in other TV shows like The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives.

Albert Hall has also played real-life people in movies. He portrayed baseball legend Hank Aaron in the 1998 TV film The Tiger Woods Story. In 2001, he played Elijah Muhammad in Michael Mann's movie Ali, which was about the boxer Muhammad Ali. Hall also had a recurring role as Bruce in the series Men of a Certain Age.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Albert Hall (actor) para niños