
Actor
Porter Hall
Born September 18, 1888 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USADied October 6, 195375 films
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Clifford Porter Hall (September 19, 1888 – October 6, 1953) was an American character actor known for appearing in a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s. Hall played movie villains or comedic incompetent characters. Hall was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and began his career touring as a stage actor with roles in productions of The Great Gatsby and Naked in 1926. Hall made his film debut in the 1931 drama Secrets of a Secretary. He made his last onscreen appearance in the 1954 film Return to Treasure Island, which was released after his death.
He was probably best remembered for four roles: a senator in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, an atheist in Going My Way, the nervous, ill-tempered Granville Sawyer, who administers a psychological test to Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street, and a train passenger who encounters a man (Fred MacMurray) who has just committed a murder in Double Indemnity.
On October 6, 1953, Hall died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California at the age of 65. His interment was at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery. Hall had two children, David and Sarah Jane.
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The best way into Porter Hall's work
First watchDouble Indemnity19448.1as Mr. JacksonAn insurance representative is seduced by a dissatisfied housewife into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, a claims investigator.View filmEssential films
Ranked by acclaim and reachFilmography
75 films as actor- 1954Return to Treasure IslandMaximillian 'Maxie' Harris
- 1953Vice SquadJack Hartrampf
- 1953Pony ExpressJim Bridger
- 1952Holiday for SinnersLouie
- 1952The Half-BreedKraemer
- 1952Carbine WilliamsSam Markley
- 1951Ace in the HoleJacob Q. Boot
- 1949Intruder in the DustNub Gowrie
- 1949The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful BendJudge O'Toole
- 1949Chicken Every SundaySam Howell
- 1948That Wonderful UrgeAttorney Ketchell
- 1948You Gotta Stay HappyMr. Caslon
- 1947UnconqueredLeach
- 1947SingaporeMr. Bellows
- 1947Miracle on 34th StreetGranville Sawyer
- 1945Week-End at the WaldorfStevens
- 1945Kiss and TellBill Franklin
- 1945Murder, He SaysMr. Johnson
- 1945Blood on the SunArthur Bickett
- 1945Bring on the GirlsDr. Efrington
- 1944The Mark of the WhistlerJoe Sorsby
- 1944The Miracle of Morgan's CreekJacob Woodson, Justice of the Peace
- 1944The Great MomentPresident Franklin Pierce
- 1944Double IndemnityMr. Jackson
- 1944Standing Room OnlyHugo Farenhall
- 1944Going My WayMr. Belknap
- 1943The Woman of the TownMayor Dog Killey
- 1943The DesperadoesBanker Clanton
- 1943A Stranger in TownJudge Austin Harkley
- 1942Butch Minds the BabyBrandy Smith
- 1942The Remarkable AndrewChief Clerk Art Slocumb
- 1942Mr. and Mrs. NorthGeorge Heyler
- 1941Sullivan's TravelsMr. Hadrian
- 1941The Parson of PanamintJonathan Randall
- 1940ArizonaLazarus Ward
- 1940Trail of the VigilantesSheriff Korley
- 1940Dark CommandAngus McCloud
- 1940His Girl FridayMurphy
- 1939Henry Goes ArizonaBanker Edward G. Walsh (uncredited)
- 1939Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonSenator Monroe
- 1939They Shall Have MusicMr. Flower
- 1939Grand Jury SecretsAnthony Pelton
- 1939Bulldog Drummond's Secret PoliceMan in Drummond's Dream
- 1938Tom Sawyer, DetectiveUncle Silas Phelps
- 1938The Arkansas TravelerMayor Daniels
- 1938King of AlcatrazMatthew Talbot
- 1938Men with WingsHiram F. Jenkins
- 1938Prison FarmChiston R. Bradby
- 1938Stolen Heaven'Von' Offer
- 1938Bulldog Drummond's PerilDr. Botulian
- 1938Dangerous to KnowMayor Bradley
- 1938Scandal StreetJames Wilson
- 1937Wells FargoJames Oliver
- 1937True ConfessionMr. Hartman
- 1937This Way PleaseS.J. Crawford
- 1937Souls at SeaCourt Prosecutor
- 1937Wild MoneyBill Court
- 1937Make Way for TomorrowHarvey Chase
- 1937King of GamblersGeorge Kramer
- 1937Bulldog Drummond EscapesNorman Merridew
- 1936The General Died at DawnPeter Perrie
- 1936The PlainsmanJack McCall
- 1936Let's Make a MillionSpencer
- 1936Satan Met a LadyMilton Ames
- 1936And Sudden DeathDistrict Attorney
- 1936The Princess Comes AcrossDarcy
- 1936Snowed UnderArthur Layton
- 1936Too Many ParentsMrs. Saunders
- 1936The Story of Louis PasteurDr. Rossignol
- 1936The Petrified ForestJason Maple
- 1935The Case of the Lucky LegsCol. Bradbury
- 1934Murder in the Private CarAlden Murray
- 1934The Thin ManHerbert MacCaulay
- 1931The CheatLeslie (uncredited)
- 1931Secrets of a SecretaryDrunk







