Philip Baker Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Baker Hall
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Hall at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
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| Born | September 10, 1931 Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | June 12, 2022 (aged 90) Glendale, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1960–2021 |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary-Ella Holst
(m. 1955; div. 1966)Dianne Lewis
(m. 1973; div. 1976)Holly Wolfle
(m. 1988) |
| Children | 4 |
Philip Baker Hall (September 10, 1931 – June 12, 2022) was an American actor. He was known for playing many different kinds of characters, often in supporting roles.
Hall worked often with director Paul Thomas Anderson. Their movies together include Hard Eight (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), and Magnolia (1999). He also played main characters in films like Secret Honor (1984) and Duck (2005).
He appeared in many other movies. Some of these are Say Anything... (1989), The Truman Show (1998), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), and Bruce Almighty (2003). He was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his role in Hard Eight. He also received two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations with his co-stars for Boogie Nights and Magnolia.
Philip Baker Hall also did a lot of work on television. Early in his career, he appeared in shows like M*A*S*H, Murder, She Wrote, and Cheers. One of his most famous TV roles was as Lt. Joe Bookman, the "Library cop," in the popular show Seinfeld. He also had regular roles in series such as The Practice, The West Wing, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Modern Family.
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Early life and education
Philip Baker Hall was born in Toledo, Ohio. His mother was Alice Birdene McDonald, and his father, William Alexander Hall, worked in a factory. He went to the University of Toledo. Before becoming an actor, he served in the United States Army in Germany as a translator. He also worked as a high school teacher.
Acting career
Philip Baker Hall started his acting career on stage. After his first movie, Cowards, he joined the Los Angeles Theatre Center. His first TV role was in an episode of Good Times. He appeared as a guest star in over 200 TV shows since 1977.
One of his most notable early roles was playing Richard Nixon in the movie Secret Honor. He had first played this role in a play. Film critic Roger Ebert praised his performance, saying Hall played Nixon with "savage intensity." Another critic, Vincent Canby, called his performance "immense."
In the 1980s, Hall appeared in many supporting roles in movies. These included Nothing in Common (1986), Midnight Run (1988), and Ghostbusters II (1989). He became well-known for his role as "Lt. Joe Bookman" in two episodes of Seinfeld. He played a detective looking for a very late library book. His performance on Seinfeld was very popular and led to many more acting jobs.
Hall worked closely with director Paul Thomas Anderson. He starred in Anderson's short film Cigarettes & Coffee. This short film was later made into Anderson's first full movie, Hard Eight (1996). In this film, Hall played an experienced gambler who helps a homeless man. Roger Ebert again praised his acting, saying, "Here is another great performance." For this role, Hall was nominated for a top acting award, the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. He continued to work with Anderson in Boogie Nights (1997) and Magnolia (1999). For these films, he was nominated for Screen Actors Guild Awards along with his fellow cast members. He also acted with Philip Seymour Hoffman in four movies.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Hall appeared in many popular films. Some of these include The Rock, The Truman Show, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and The Insider. He also had roles in Dogville, Zodiac, and Argo. He played Captain Diel in the Rush Hour film series. Other notable movies include Bruce Almighty, In Good Company, and 50/50.
On television, Hall starred in the sitcom The Loop. He also lent his voice to the animated series The Life & Times of Tim. He played a doctor in Curb Your Enthusiasm and appeared in Modern Family. For his role in the short film Dear Chickens, he won "best actor" awards at two film festivals.
Personal life and passing
Philip Baker Hall had two daughters, Patricia and Darcy, with his first wife, Mary-Ella Holst. He later married Holly Wolfle, and they had two more daughters, Adella and Anna. He also had four grandchildren and a brother.
Hall passed away from emphysema, a lung disease, at his home in Glendale, California, on June 12, 2022.
Awards and nominations
Philip Baker Hall received several awards and nominations during his career:
- In 1996, he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for his role in Hard Eight.
- In 1997, the cast of Boogie Nights was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. They also won the Best Ensemble award.
- In 1999, the cast of Magnolia was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. They also won the Florida Film Critics Circle Best Ensemble award.
- In 2001, he received the Alan J. Pakula Award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association for his work in The Contender.
- In 2012, the cast of Argo won the Best Ensemble award at the Hollywood Film Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Philip Baker Hall para niños
