Huntz Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Huntz Hall
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Trailer for Blues Busters (1950)
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| Born |
Henry Richard Hall
August 15, 1920 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | January 30, 1999 (aged 78) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1935–1994 |
| Spouse(s) |
Elsie May Anderson
(m. 1940; div. 1944)Leslie Wright
(m. 1948; div. 1953)Colleen Vico
(m. 1960, divorced)Leah Stevens
(m. 1966) |
| Children | 2 |
Henry Richard "Huntz" Hall (born August 15, 1920 – died January 30, 1999) was an American actor and comedian. He was famous for his roles in the popular "Dead End Kids" movies, like Angels with Dirty Faces (1938). He also starred in the later "Bowery Boys" films. His acting career lasted from the late 1930s to the late 1950s.
Contents
The Life and Career of Huntz Hall
Early Life and First Roles
Huntz Hall was born in 1920 in New York City. His father, Joseph Patrick Hall, was an engineer from Ireland. His mother was Mary Ellen Hall. Huntz was the fourteenth of sixteen children in his family! He got the nickname "Huntz" because of his nose, which some thought looked like it belonged to a Teutonic person.
He went to Catholic schools when he was young. He started performing on the radio when he was only five years old. This early start showed his talent for entertaining people.
From Broadway to the Big Screen
In 1935, Huntz Hall appeared on Broadway in a play called Dead End. This play was written and directed by Sidney Kingsley. Because of his performance, Hall was chosen to be in the 1937 movie version of Dead End. This film was directed by William Wyler and starred the famous actor Humphrey Bogart. In the movie, he acted alongside other young stars who became known as the "Dead End Kids."
During World War II, Hall served in the United States Army. In 1943, he even appeared in a U.S. Navy training film. He played a character named Ensign Dilbert the Pilot.
Becoming a Bowery Boy
Huntz Hall became very well-known for playing Horace DeBussy "Sach" Jones in 48 of "The Bowery Boys" movies. His character, Sach, was often silly and funny. He became the main star of the series when his long-time acting partner, Leo Gorcey, left in 1956. Hall and Gorcey worked together again in later films like Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar (1966) and The Phynx (1969).
Hall also appeared in many other movies. These included The Return of Doctor X (1939), A Walk in the Sun (1945), and Herbie Rides Again (1974). He even appeared on the cover of The Beatles' famous 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
In 1971, he co-starred in a TV show called The Chicago Teddy Bears. He continued acting in films throughout the 1970s and 1980s. His last movie role was in Auntie Lee's Meat Pies in 1993. After that, he performed in dinner theater shows before retiring in 1994.
A book about his life, Behind Sach: The Huntz Hall Story by Jim Manago, was published in 2015.
His Final Years
Huntz Hall passed away on January 30, 1999, at the age of 78. He died from congestive heart failure in North Hollywood, California. He was buried at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California.
See also
In Spanish: Huntz Hall para niños
