Porter Hall

Known For

Acting

Born

Sep 18, 1888

Died

Oct 06, 1953

Place of Birth

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Credits

76 titles

Porter Hall

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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.

Known For

Filmography

1954

Return to Treasure Island

Maximillian 'Maxie' Harris

Movie
1953

Vice Squad

Jack Hartrampf

Movie
1953

Pony Express

Jim Bridger

Movie
1952

Four Star Playhouse

J. R. Martin

Tv
1952

Holiday for Sinners

Louie

Movie
1952

The Half-Breed

Kraemer

Movie
1952

Carbine Williams

Sam Markley

Movie
1951

Ace in the Hole

Jacob Q. Boot

Movie
1949

Intruder in the Dust

Nub Gowrie

Movie
1949

The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

Judge O'Toole

Movie
1949

Chicken Every Sunday

Sam Howell

Movie
1948

That Wonderful Urge

Attorney Ketchell

Movie
1948

You Gotta Stay Happy

Mr. Caslon

Movie
1947

Unconquered

Leach

Movie
1947

Singapore

Mr. Bellows

Movie
1947

Miracle on 34th Street

Granville Sawyer

Movie
1945

Week-End at the Waldorf

Stevens

Movie
1945

Kiss and Tell

Bill Franklin

Movie
1945

Murder, He Says

Mr. Johnson

Movie
1945

Blood on the Sun

Arthur Bickett

Movie
1945

Bring on the Girls

Dr. Efrington

Movie
1944

The Mark of the Whistler

Joe Sorsby

Movie
1944

The Miracle of Morgan's Creek

Jacob Woodson, Justice of the Peace

Movie
1944

The Great Moment

President Franklin Pierce

Movie
1944

Double Indemnity

Mr. Jackson

Movie
1944

Standing Room Only

Hugo Farenhall

Movie
1944

Going My Way

Mr. Belknap

Movie
1943

The Woman of the Town

Mayor Dog Killey

Movie
1943

The Desperadoes

Banker Clanton

Movie
1943

A Stranger in Town

Judge Austin Harkley

Movie
1942

Butch Minds the Baby

Brandy Smith

Movie
1942

The Remarkable Andrew

Chief Clerk Art Slocumb

Movie
1942

Mr. and Mrs. North

George Heyler

Movie
1941

Sullivan's Travels

Mr. Hadrian

Movie
1941

The Parson of Panamint

Jonathan Randall

Movie
1940

Arizona

Lazarus Ward

Movie
1940

Trail of the Vigilantes

Sheriff Korley

Movie
1940

Dark Command

Angus McCloud

Movie
1940

His Girl Friday

Murphy

Movie
1939

Henry Goes Arizona

Banker Edward G. Walsh (uncredited)

Movie
1939

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Senator Monroe

Movie
1939

They Shall Have Music

Mr. Flower

Movie
1939

Grand Jury Secrets

Anthony Pelton

Movie
1939

Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police

Man in Drummond's Dream

Movie
1938

Tom Sawyer, Detective

Uncle Silas Phelps

Movie
1938

The Arkansas Traveler

Mayor Daniels

Movie
1938

King of Alcatraz

Matthew Talbot

Movie
1938

Men with Wings

Hiram F. Jenkins

Movie
1938

Prison Farm

Chiston R. Bradby

Movie
1938

Stolen Heaven

'Von' Offer

Movie