Jonathan Hale

For the American actor similarly named, see Jonathan Hole.
Jonathan Hale
Hale in Three Husbands (1951)
Born
Jonathan Hatley

(1891-03-21)March 21, 1891
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
DiedFebruary 28, 1966(1966-02-28) (aged 74)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeValhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California
OccupationActor
Years active1934–1965

Jonathan Hale (born Jonathan Hatley;[1] March 21, 1891 – February 28, 1966) was a Canadian-born film and television actor.

Life and career

Hale was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.[2] Before his acting career, Hale worked in the Diplomatic Corps.[3] Hale is most well known as Dagwood Bumstead's boss, Julius Caesar Dithers, in the Blondie film series in the 1940s. He is also notable for playing Inspector Fernack in several installments of The Saint film series.

In 1950, he made two appearances in The Cisco Kid as Barry Owens. He also appeared in two episodes of Adventures of Superman: "The Evil Three", in which he played a murderous "Southern Colonel"-type character, and "Panic in the Sky", in which he played the lead astronomer at the Metropolis Observatory. Other television programs on which Hale appeared include Crossroads, The Loretta Young Show, Brave Eagle, Schlitz Playhouse, The Joey Bishop Show, Our Miss Brooks and Walt Disney's Disneyland: "A Tribute to Joel Chandler Harris".[4]

Death

Hale committed suicide on February 28, 1966, at the age of 74.[5] He was found dead that evening in his room at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California. Hale had taken his own life with a .38 caliber pistol,[6] which was found near his body. He was interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California. His grave went unmarked for more than four decades, until a proper headstone was erected by donations from the "Dearly Departed" fan-based group in 2013; he is now honored with the inscription, "We Remembered You".[7]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. ISBN 9780786409839. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  2. ^ Rowan, Terry (16 September 2016). Character-Based Film Series Part 1. Lulu.com. p. 31. ISBN 9781365421051. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Polar Blair's Den- Jonathan Hale". www.polarblairsden.com.
  4. ^ "Jonathan Hale". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  5. ^ "Veteran Actor Jonathan Hale Is Found Dead". The Day. March 1, 1966.
  6. ^ "Blondie Film Actor Hale Kills Self". The Fresno Bee The Republican. California, Fresno. Associated Press. March 1, 1966. p. 19. Retrieved 9 January 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jonathan Hale.