Anthony Michael Hall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anthony Michael Hall
Hall at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024
Born	Michael Anthony Thomas Charles Hall (1968-04-14) April 14, 1968 (age 57) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Actor producer comedian
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Lucia Oskerova ​ (m. 2020)​
Children	1

Anthony Michael Hall (born Michael Anthony Thomas Charles Hall on April 14, 1968) is an American actor, producer, and comedian. He became famous as a teen actor in the 1980s. He starred in several popular movies directed by John Hughes. These films included Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Weird Science.

After these roles, Hall wanted to play different kinds of characters. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live for a year. He also appeared in films like Edward Scissorhands and played Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in the TV movie Pirates of Silicon Valley. Later, he had a big role in the science fiction TV series The Dead Zone. He also appeared in the superhero movie The Dark Knight. In recent years, he has continued acting in films like Halloween Kills and the TV series Reacher.

Early Life and Beginnings

Growing Up in New York

Anthony Michael Hall was born on April 14, 1968, in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother, Mercedes Hall, was a blues-jazz singer. When he was very young, he and his mother moved to New York City. He grew up there and started acting early.

Starting His Acting Journey

Hall began his acting career at age eight. He changed his name from Michael Anthony Hall to Anthony Michael Hall. This was because another actor named Michael Hall was already in the Screen Actors Guild. He went to the Professional Children's School in Manhattan. Even though he didn't go to college, he loves to read and learn.

Career Highlights

Early Roles and Commercials

Hall started acting in commercials when he was seven. He was known as the "Honeycomb cereal kid." He also appeared in commercials for toys and candy. His first stage role was in 1977. He played a young Steve Allen in a play. He also appeared in a play with Woody Allen.

First Movies and TV Shows

In 1980, Hall made his first TV movie, The Gold Bug. He played a young Edgar Allan Poe. In 1981, he played Huck Finn in Rascals and Robbers: The Secret Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. He gained more attention in 1982 with the film Six Pack.

Working with John Hughes

National Lampoon's Vacation

In 1983, Hall played Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation. He was the son of characters played by Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. The film's writer, John Hughes, was very impressed with Hall. Hughes thought it was amazing for a 13-year-old to stand out next to Chevy Chase. This movie was a big success.

Becoming "The Geek" in Sixteen Candles

Hall's big breakthrough came in 1984. He starred as "The Geek" in John Hughes' first movie as a director, Sixteen Candles. He played a shy, braces-wearing freshman. Hall wanted to make the character feel real, not just a stereotype. He said he played him "like a real kid." The movie made Hall and his co-star Molly Ringwald famous overnight.

The Breakfast Club and Weird Science

In 1985, Hall starred in two more John Hughes films. He played Brian Johnson, "the brain," in The Breakfast Club. This movie also starred Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and Molly Ringwald. Critics praised Hall's performance. Later that year, he played Gary Wallace in Weird Science. These roles made him known as the "nerd-of-choice" in the 1980s. He was also seen as part of the "Brat Pack" group of young actors.

Moving Beyond Teen Roles

To avoid always playing the same type of character, Hall turned down roles in other John Hughes films. These included Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Pretty in Pink. Instead, he tried different genres. In 1986, he starred in the action film Out of Bounds.

Saturday Night Live

In 1985, Hall joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL). He was only 17 years old, making him the youngest cast member ever. He did impressions of famous people like Art Garfunkel and Robert F. Kennedy. Hall had always admired the show. He learned a lot during his time there, even though he didn't have any breakout characters.

After the Hughes Era

New Challenges in the 1990s

Hall was offered a role in the 1987 film Full Metal Jacket. However, after long talks, they couldn't agree on the terms. His next film was Johnny Be Good in 1988. He worked with Uma Thurman and Robert Downey Jr.

After a short break, Hall returned to acting in 1990. He played the villain in Tim Burton's hit movie Edward Scissorhands. He was in his 20s by then and wanted to play more adult roles. He appeared in films like A Gnome Named Gnorm (1990) and Into the Sun (1992). In 1993, he played a challenging role in the film Six Degrees of Separation.

Directing and Music

In 1994, Hall directed and starred in his first movie, Hail Caesar. It was a comedy about a rock star who works in a pencil eraser factory. He also helped produce the soundtrack for the film. Hall also has a passion for music. He was the lead singer and songwriter for his band, Hall of Mirrors. They released an album in 1999.

Playing Bill Gates

In 1999, Hall received a lot of attention for his role as Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates. He played Gates in the TV movie Pirates of Silicon Valley. Hall was praised for his performance. He worked hard to capture Gates's look and mannerisms. He said it was "the role of a lifetime."

The 2000s and Beyond

The Dead Zone TV Series

In 2002, Hall began his first regular TV series role. He starred as Johnny Smith in The Dead Zone on the USA Network. The show was based on a popular Stephen King novel. The series was very popular and received good reviews. Hall's performance was praised for bringing back the qualities that made him a star in the 1980s. The Dead Zone became one of USA Network's top shows. Hall also directed an episode of the series. The show ran for six seasons, ending in 2007.

Recent Film and TV Roles

In 2008, Hall appeared in the superhero film The Dark Knight. He played a TV reporter named Mike Engel. In the 2010s, he made guest appearances on TV shows like Community and Warehouse 13. He also appeared on Psych in 2013.

Hall reprised his role as Rusty Griswold for Old Navy commercials in 2012. In 2017, he worked with Brad Pitt in the Netflix film War Machine. He played General Hank Pulver. In 2019, Hall joined the cast of The Goldbergs. He played Rusty in a special episode that paid tribute to National Lampoon's Vacation. He then had a recurring role as Mr. Perott.

In 2021, Hall played Tommy Doyle in the movie Halloween Kills. In 2023, he appeared in the Amazon Prime Video series Bosch: Legacy. As of 2025, Hall is starring in the third season of the hit series Reacher. He plays the character Zachary Beck. He is also working on a new series called Singularity with Robert Downey Jr..

In the Media

Hall during a Q&A session at the 2013 Wizard World New York Experience

Hall became a well-known figure in the media after being named a member of the "Brat Pack". This was a group of young actors who became famous in the 1980s. In the early 1990s, Hall decided to stop drinking. He has said that he was able to manage it himself and continue his work.

In 1990, Hall's appearance in Edward Scissorhands surprised some people. He looked more muscular, which led to rumors. However, Hall stated that his weight gain was natural.

Recognition and Awards

In 2001, the film Not Another Teen Movie honored Hall's many roles in 1980s teen comedies. A cafeteria in the movie was named the Anthony Michael Dining Hall. In 2006, Hall was ranked highly on VH1's lists of "100 Greatest Teen Stars" and "100 Greatest Kid Stars."

In June 2005, The Breakfast Club received the Silver Bucket of Excellence Award at the MTV Movie Awards. This was to celebrate the film's twentieth anniversary. Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, and Hall appeared on stage together to accept the award.

Personal Life

As of 2016, Hall lives in Playa del Rey, Los Angeles. He is the godfather to Robert Downey Jr.'s son, Indio.

In 2019, Hall became engaged to actress Lucia Oskerova. They announced in February 2023 that they were expecting their first child. Their son was born in June 2023.

Hall also helps young people through his literacy program. It is called The Anthony Michael Hall Literacy Club. He works with Chapman University on this program.

Filmography

Film

Television

Images for kids

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  Hall in 2013

See also

In Spanish: Anthony Michael Hall para niños