Philip Baker Hall

Hall had supporting roles in many films, including Midnight Run (1988), Say Anything.. (1989), The Truman Show (1998), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), The Insider (1999), The Contender (2000), Bruce Almighty (2003), Dogville (2003), Zodiac (2007), 50/50 (2011), and Argo (2012). He received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Male Lead for his role in Hard Eight and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture for Boogie Nights and Magnolia. Hall is also known for his prolific work on television. His early television work included M*A*S*H; Murder, She Wrote; and Cheers. One of his most memorable television roles was as Lt. Joe Bookman, the "library cop", in Seinfeld. He had recurring roles in The Practice, The West Wing, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Modern Family, and BoJack Horseman.

• Born — 10 September 1931 • Birthplace — Toledo, Ohio, U.S. • Died — 12 June 2022 • Place of death — Glendale, California, U.S. • Resting Place — Forest Lawn Memorial Park • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1960–2021 • Children — 4

Hall was born on September 10, 1931, in Toledo, Ohio. His mother was Alice Birdene (née McDonald), and his father, William Alexander Hall, was a factory worker from Montgomery, Alabama. He attended the University of Toledo. He served in Germany as a United States Army translator and as a high school teacher.

After his film debut Cowards, he joined the Los Angeles Theatre Center. His first television role was on an episode of Good Times. Hall guest starred in episodes of M*A*S*H and Man from Atlantis. He had over 200 guest roles since 1977. He played Richard Nixon in the one-character film Secret Honor, reprising the role he had created during the play's original Off-Broadway run. Roger Ebert said about Hall and the film: "Nixon is portrayed by Philip Baker Hall, an actor previously unknown to me, with such savage intensity, such passion, such venom, such scandal, that we cannot turn away. Hall looks a little like the real Nixon; he could be a cousin, and he sounds a little like him. That's close enough. This is not an impersonation, it's a performance." Vincent Canby of The New York Times also praised Hall's "immense performance, which is as astonishing and risky ― for the chances the actor takes and survives ― as that of the Oscar-winning F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus." In the 1980s, Hall co-starred in various films in supporting roles, including Nothing in Common (1986), Midnight Run (1988), Say Anything... and Ghostbusters II (both 1989). His television appearances included Family Ties, Falcon Crest, Murder, She Wrote, and Cheers. He played "Lt. Joe Bookman", a detective pursuing a long-overdue library book in the Seinfeld episodes, "The Library" and "The Finale". His first Seinfeld appearance led him to be widely lauded as one of the best guest stars on the series, and led to many other jobs. Hall contributed an opening narration, a parody of the announcements one would hear on Magnetic Reference Laboratory's calibration tapes for analogue tape recorders, on 1000 Hurts, the 2000 album by Chicago post-punk band Shellac. Hall starred in Paul Thomas Anderson's short film Cigarettes & Coffee (1993), which was adapted into Anderson's directorial debut film Hard Eight (1996). For the film, Hall played a senior gambler who mentors a homeless man (John C. Reilly). Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said about Hall, "Here is another great performance. He is a man who has been around, who knows casinos and gambling, who finds himself attached to three people he could easily have avoided, who thinks before he acts." Hall was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. He later starred in Anderson's other films Boogie Nights (1997) and Magnolia (1999). He was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Hall starred with Philip Seymour Hoffman in four films. Hall had turns in a variety of films in the 1990s, including The Rock (1996), Buddy (1997), Air Force One (1997), The Truman Show (1998), Enemy of the State (1998), The Insider (1999), and The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). He played Captain Diel in the Rush Hour trilogy (1998-2007) (though his scenes were cut from Rush Hour 2 and he was uncredited for the scene in Rush Hour 3). He co-starred in other films in the 2000s, including Dogville (2003), Zodiac (2007), and Argo (2012). Hall had prominent roles in Rules of Engagement (2000), The Contender (2000), Bruce Almighty (2003), In Good Company (2004), Duck (2005), The Amityville Horror (2005), The Matador (2005), You Kill Me (2007), All Good Things (2010), 50/50 (2001), and The Sum of All Fears (2002). Hall's later television appearances included The Practice, Without a Trace, The West Wing, Madam Secretary, and BoJack Horseman. He starred in the sitcom The Loop. He guest starred in the animated series The Life & Times of Tim. He played a physician in Curb Your Enthusiasm, and appeared in Modern Family. He appeared in an episode of The Newsroom and in a Holiday Inn commercial. For the short film Dear Chickens (2018), he won best actor at Los Angeles Short Festival and at Filmets Badalona Film Festival in Barcelona. Hall also undertook stage work in New York and Los Angeles, but did not appear on Broadway.

Hall had two daughters with his first wife, Mary-Ella Holst. He later married Holly Wolfle, with whom he had two daughters. He also had four grandchildren and a brother. Hall died of emphysema at his home in Glendale, California, on June 12, 2022, at the age of 90.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. • 1975 — The Last Survivors — Attorney — Television film • 1975; 1978 — Emergency! — Oliver Warren / Dr. Scott — 2 episodes • 1976 — Good Times — Motel Owner — Episode: "J.J.'s Fiancee: Part 2" • Mayday at 40,000 Feet! — Reporter — Television film • 1976–1977 — Visions — Boyle / Severson — 2 episodes • 1977 — Man from Atlantis — George — Episode: "Man from Atlantis" • The Hostage Heart — Dr. Harvey Fess — Television film • Kill Me If You Can — Phillips • M*A*S*H — Sergeant Hacker — Episode: "The Light That Failed" • 1978 — The Fitzpatricks — Bertram — Episode: "A Living Wage" • The Bastard — Shopkeeper — Miniseries • Terror Out of the Sky — Starrett — Television film • 1979 — Samurai — Professor Owens • 1980 — The Waltons — Major Gordon — Episode: "The Furlough" • The Night the Bridge Fell Down — Warren Meech — Television film • It's a Living — Man in Hotel Room — Episode: "The Lois Affair" • Riding for the Pony Express — Mr. Durfee — Television film • 1981 — This House Possessed — Clerk • 1982 — McClain's Law — Mr. Harris — Episode: "Takeover" • Quincy, M.E. — Deputy DA Marty Shell Captain Rasmussen — 2 episodes • Cagney & Lacey — Lieutenant Sweeny — Episode: "Hot Line" • T. J. Hooker — Judge Wallace — Episode: "A Cry for Help" • Seven Brides for Seven Brothers — Prosecutor / Wilcox — 2 episodes • Games Mother Never Taught You — Lester Greene — Television film • 1984 — Benson — Harrison Fowler — Episode: "The Election" • Lottery! — Episode: "Houston: Duffy's Choice" • 1985 — Hardcastle and McCormick — Jack Marsh — Episode: "Too Rich and Too Thin" • 1986 — Who Is Julia? — Dean May — Television film • 1987 — Mariah — James Malone — 7 episodes • The Spirit — Sevrin — Television film • Miami Vice — Judge DeLaporte — Episode: "Contempt of Court" • 1988 — Goddess of Love — Detective Charles — Television film • Family Ties — Dr. Harrison — 3 episodes • 1989 — A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story — Judge Blumenfeld — Television film • Incident at Dark River — Dr. Leo Manus • 1989–1990 — Falcon Crest — Ed Meyers — 13 episodes • 1990 — Matlock — Judge — Episode: "The Mother" • Bagdad Cafe — Herb — Episode: "This Bird Has Flown" • 1991 — Murder, She Wrote — Len Costner — Episode: "Moving Violation" • L.A. Law — Tom Baker — Episode: "He's a Crowd" • Equal Justice — Judge S.E. Cleveland — Episode: "Do the Wrong Thing" • Dark Justice — Winchester Keller — Episode: "The Neutralizing Factor" • 1991–1992 — Civil Wars — Judge Bianchi — 3 episodes • 1991, 1998 — Seinfeld — Lt. Joe Bookman — 2 episodes: "The Library" and "The Finale" • 1992 — A Thousand Heroes — Sam Gochenour — Television film; AKA Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232 • Stormy Weathers — Dr. Comden — Television film • Nurses — Mr. Todd — Episode: "Playing Doctor" • 1993 — Cheers — City Councilman Kevin Fogerty — Episode: "Woody Gets an Election" • Bob — Jeweler — Episode: "Have Yourself a Married Little Christmas" • 1994 — M.A.N.T.I.S. — "Smitty" — Television film • Empty Nest — Jerod — Episode: "Brotherly Shove" • The Good Life — Mr. Humphreys — Episode: "Melissa the Thief" • Roswell — Roswell General — Television film • Madman of the People — Kent — Episode: "All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Mad Boy" • Chicago Hope — Mr. Wellington — Episode: "You Gotta Have Heart" • Hardball — Beanball McGee — Episode: "Lee's Bad, Bad Day" • Without Warning — Dr. Kurt Lowden — Television film • 1996 — Life's Work — Judge Conklin — Episode: "Contempt" • The John Larroquette Show — Mr. Frank — Episode: "Napping to Success" • 1997 — 3rd Rock from the Sun — President Dewey — Episode: "Proud Dick" • The Practice — Judge Joseph Vinocour — 4 episodes • 1997–1998 — Millennium — Group Elder — 2 episodes • Michael Hayes — William Vaughn — 20 episodes • 1998 — Tempting Fate — Dr. Bardwell — Television film • Witness to the Mob — Toddo Aurello • L.A. Doctors — Vincent Cattano — Episode: "Fear of Flying" • 1999 — Partners — Scarpatti — Pilot • 2000 — The Fugitive — Stuart Kimble — Episode: "St. Christopher's Prayer" • Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis — Aristotle Onassis — Television film • 2000, 2002 — Baby Blues — Mr. Thompson / Mr. Saunders — Voice; 2 episodes • 2001 — Pasadena — George Reese Greeley — 7 episodes • Loomis — "Big Jack" Caruso — Unaired pilot • 2002 — Path to War — Everett Dirksen — Television film • Night Visions — Dennis Brascom — Episode: "Cargo/Switch" • Without a Trace — Noah Ridder — Episode: "Silent Partner" • 2003 — Everwood — Dr. Donald Douglas — 3 episodes • 2004 — Monk — Salvatore Lucarelli — Episode: "Mr. Monk Meets the Godfather" • Boston Legal — Ernie Dell — Episode: "Head Cases" • The West Wing — Senator Matt Hunt — 2 episodes • 2004, 2009 — Curb Your Enthusiasm — Dr. Morrison • 2005 — Mrs. Harris — Arthur Schulte — Television film • 2006–2007 — The Loop — Russ — 17 episodes • 2007 — Big Love — Ned Johanssen — Episode: "Take Me as I Am" • Wildlife — Arnie — Unaired pilot • 2008 — Psych — Irving Parker — Episode: "Dis-Lodged" • Worst Week — Reverend Lowell — 2 episodes • 2009 — True Jackson, VP — Mr. Jenkins — Episode: "Flirting with Fame" • 2010 — The Life & Times of Tim — Norman Walker (voice) — Episode: "London Calling/Novelist" • Warren the Ape — Dr. Ralph Schwartz — Episode: "Rock Opera" • 2011–2012 — Modern Family — Walt Kleezak — 3 episodes • 2012 — The Newsroom — Bryce DeLancy — Episode: "The 112th Congress" • Childrens Hospital — Josef Mengele — Episode: "A Year in the Life" • Ruth & Erica — Harry — 8 episodes • 2013 — Clear History — McKenzie — Television film • 2014 — Rake — Mitch Markham — Episode: "Remembrance of Taxis Past" • Altman — Himself — Documentary • 2015 — Madam Secretary — Ezra Helsinger — Episode: "The Necessary Art" • BoJack Horseman — Hank Hippopopalous — Voice; 2 episodes • 2016 — Second Chance — Old Jimmy Pritchard — 5 episodes • 2017 — Room 104 — Charlie — Episode: "My Love" • 2018 — Corporate — Arthur Stockheed — Episode: "Powerpoint of Death" • 2020 — Messiah — Zelman Katz — Final role, 6 episodes

• Year — Title — Role — Playwright — Venue — Ref. • 1960 — The Fantasticks — Hucklebee — Tom Jones — Sullivan Street Playhouse, Off-Broadway • 1965 — In White America — Performer — Martin Duberman — Players Theatre, Off-Broadway • 1975 — Gorky — Gorky — Steve Tesich — American Place Theatre, Off-Broadway • 1979 — The Chicago Conspiracy Trial — Judge Hoffman — Ron Sossi and Frank Condon — Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Los Angeles • 1983 — In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer — Herbert S. Marks — Heinar Kipphardt — Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Los Angeles • Secret Honor — Richard Nixon — Donald Freed — Provincetown Playhouse, Off-Broadway • 1990 — The Crucible — Thomas Danforth — Arthur Miller — Los Angeles Theatre Company • 1995 — The Homecoming — Max — Harold Pinter — Matrix Theatre, Los Angeles • 2000 — American Buffalo — Don — David Mamet — Donmar Warehouse, West End • Linda Gross Theatre, Off-Broadway

• Year — Award — Category — Nominated work — Result — Ref. Reference(s) • 1996 — Independent Spirit Award — Best Male Lead — Hard Eight • 1997 — Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Cast – Motion Picture — Boogie Nights • Florida Film Critics Circle — Best Ensemble • 1999 — Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Cast – Motion Picture — Magnolia • Florida Film Critics Circle — Best Ensemble • 2001 — Broadcast Film Critics Association — Alan J. Pakula Award — The Contender • 2012 — Hollywood Film Awards — Best Ensemble — Argo

Philip Baker Hall is recorded as actor and teacher.