Jonathan Hale
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jonathan Hale (born Jonathan Hatley, March 21, 1891 – February 28, 1966) was a Canadian-born film and television actor.
Hale was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Before his acting career, Hale worked in the Diplomatic Corps. 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 various The Saint films by RKO Pictures.
In 1950 he made two appearances in The Cisco Kid as Barry Owens. He also appeared in two different episodes of Adventures of Superman: "The Evil Three", in which he played a murderous "Southern Colonel"-type character, and "Panic in the Sky", one of the most famous episodes, in which he played the lead astronomer at the Metropolis Observatory, actually a California observatory.
Among the relatively few television programs on which Hale appeared are the religion anthology series Crossroads, The Loretta Young Show, Brave Eagle, Schlitz Playhouse, The Joey Bishop Show, and Walt Disney Presents: "A Tribute to Joel Chandler Harris".
Hale committed suicide on February 28, 1966. He was found dead that evening in his room at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Hale had taken his own life with a .38 caliber pistol, which was found near his body. He was 74. Hale was interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California. Sadly, Hale's 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".
Acted in
The Three Outlaws
1956
as Pinkerton
Jaguar
1956
as Dr. Powell
Crossroads
1955
as Governor
Screen Director's Playhouse
1955
as Mayor
The Night Holds Terror
1955
as Bob Henderson
Cattle Queen of Montana
1954
as Politician (uncredited)
Lassie
1954
The Whistler
1954
Duffy of San Quentin
1954
as Boyd
She Couldn't Say No
1954
as John Bentley
The Flaming Urge
1953
as Mr. Chalmers
City Detective
1953
Kansas Pacific
1953
as Sherman Johnson
Taxi
1953
as Mr. Barker (uncredited)
The Steel Trap
1952
as Tom Bowers
Behind Southern Lines
1952
as General
Mr. & Mrs. North
1952
Cavalcade of America
1952
Adventures of Superman
1952
as Professor Roberts
Son of Paleface
1952
as Governor Freeman (uncredited)
Young Man with Ideas
1952
as Stanley Rickson (uncredited)
Scandal Sheet
1952
as Frank Madison
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Sunny Side of the Street
1951
as Cyrus Pelley
The Tall Target
1951
as Passenger from Carolina (uncredited)
Let's Go Navy!
1951
as Captain
Rodeo King and the Senorita
1951
as Dr. Sands
Strangers on a Train
1951
as Mr. Antony
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
Insurance Investigator
1951
as Russell James
Short Grass
1950
as Charlie Bissel
Three Husbands
1950
as Edward Wurdeman - Attorney at Law
The Cisco Kid
1950
as Barry Owens
Triple Trouble
1950
as The Judge
Federal Agent at Large
1950
as James Goodwin
The Baron of Arizona
1950
as Governor
A Dangerous Profession
1949
The Fountainhead
1949
as Guy Francon (uncredited)
Stampede
1949
as Varick
State Department: File 649
1949
as Director-General
The Judge
1949
as Judge Allan J. Brooks
Rose of the Yukon
1949
as Gen. Butler
Disaster
1948
as Police Commissioner Jerome
Johnny Belinda
1948
as Dr. Horace M. Gray (uncredited)
Tap Roots
1948
as Gen. Johnston (uncredited)
Silver River
1948
as Major Spencer
Call Northside 777
1948
as Governor's Aide Robert Winston (uncredited)
Rocky
1948
as Kenneth Forrester
High Wall
1947
as Emory Garrison
Her Husband's Affairs
1947
as Gov. Fox
Black Gold
1947
as Senator Watkins
The Ghost Goes Wild
1947
as Max Atterbury
The Vigilantes Return
1947
as Judge Holden
The Beginning or the End
1947
as Dr. Vannevar Bush
Wife Wanted
1946
as Philip Conway
Rolling Home
1946
as Henry Kane
Blondie Knows Best
1946
as J.C. Dithers
Angel on My Shoulder
1946
as Citizens for Better Government Chairman (uncredited)
Easy to Wed
1946
as Hector Boswell
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
1946
as Captain Griffin
The Cat Creeps
1946
as Walter Elliott
Blondie's Lucky Day
1946
as J.C. Dithers
Riverboat Rhythm
1946
as Col. Edward Beeler
Gay Blades
1946
as Whittlesey
Dakota
1945
as Col. Wordin
Life with Blondie
1945
as J.C. Dithers
Man Alive
1945
as Osborne
Allotment Wives
1945
as Brig. Gen. H.N. Gilbert
Divorce
1945
as Judge
The Phantom Speaks
1945
as Owen McAllister
G.I. Honeymoon
1945
as Colonel Hammerhead Smith
Watchtower Over Tomorrow
1945
as Security Council Chair
Leave It to Blondie
1945
as J.C. Dithers
The Strange Mr. Gregory
1945
as Defense Attorney Blair
Hollywood Canteen
1944
as Mr. Brodel (uncredited)
End of the Road
1944
as Gregory McCune
Dead Man's Eyes
1944
as Dr. Sam Welles
My Buddy
1944
as Senator Henry
This Is the Life
1944
as Dr. Plum
The Black Parachute
1944
as King Stephen
Jack London
1943
as Kerwin Maxwell
There's Something About a Soldier
1943
as Gen. Sommerton
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
1943
as Mr. Fox
Footlight Glamour
1943
as J.C. Dithers
Nobody's Darling
1943
as Jason Rhodes
It's a Great Life
1943
as J.C. Dithers
Hangmen Also Die!
1943
as Dedic
The Rear Gunner
1943
as Commanding Officer
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
1943
Blondie for Victory
1942
as J.C. Dithers
Calling Dr. Gillespie
1942
as Frank M. Todwell
Flight Lieutenant
1942
as Joseph Sanford
Miss Annie Rooney
1942
as Mr. Martin White
Blondie's Blessed Event
1942
as J.C. Dithers
Lone Star Ranger
1942
as Judge Longstreth
Joe Smith, American
1942
as Blake McKettrick
The Bugle Sounds
1942
as Brigadier-General
Blondie Goes to College
1942
as J.C. Dithers
The Pittsburgh Kid
1941
as Max Ellison
Ringside Maisie
1941
as Dr. Kramer
Blondie in Society
1941
as J.C. Dithers
Her First Beau
1941
as Mr. Harris
Strange Alibi
1941
as Police Chief Sprague
The Great Swindle
1941
as Swann
Blondie Goes Latin
1941
as J.C. Dithers
Flight from Destiny
1941
as Dist. Atty. Johnson
The Saint In Palm Springs
1941
as Inspector Henry Fernack
Blondie Plays Cupid
1940
as J.C. Dithers
Melody and Moonlight
1940
as Otis Barnett
Dulcy
1940
as Homer Patterson
Blondie Has Servant Trouble
1940
as J.C. Dithers
We Who Are Young
1940
as Braddock
Private Affairs
1940
as George Gilkin
The Saint Takes Over
1940
as Inspector Henry Fernack
Johnny Apollo
1940
as Dr. Brown
The Saint's Double Trouble
1940
as Inspector Henry Fernack
The Big Guy
1939
as Jack Lane
Barricade
1939
as Assistant Secretary of State
The Amazing Mr. Williams
1939
as Mayor
Blondie Brings Up Baby
1939
as J.C. Dithers
Thunder Afloat
1939
as Admiral Girard
One Against the World
1939
as Dr. Ephraim McDowell
In Name Only
1939
as Dr. Gateson
In Old Monterey
1939
as Stevenson
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
1939
as President of Western Union
Blondie Meets the Boss
1939
as J.C. Dithars
The Saint Strikes Back
1939
as Inspector Henry Fernack
Tail Spin
1939
as Racing Official Starter (Uncredited)
Wings of the Navy
1939
as Commandant
Stand Up and Fight
1939
as Colonel Webb
The Duke of West Point
1938
as Steven's Father
There's That Woman Again
1938
as Rolfe Davis
Road Demon
1938
as Anderson
Blondie
1938
as Mr. Dithers
Tarnished Angel
1938
as Detective Sgt. Cramer
Fugitives for a Night
1938
as Police Captain
Breaking the Ice
1938
as Mr. Kane
Boys Town
1938
as John Hargraves
Letter of Introduction
1938
as Lou Woodstock (uncredited)
Men with Wings
1938
as Long
Crime Ring
1938
as Bank President
Wives Under Suspicion
1938
as Allison
The Saint in New York
1938
as Inspector Henry Fernack
Gangs of New York
1938
as Warden
Yellow Jack
1938
as Major General Leonard Wood
Her Jungle Love
1938
as J.C. Martin
Over the Wall
1938
as Governor James McDonald
Judge Hardy's Children
1938
as John Lee
The First Hundred Years
1938
as Judge Parker
Arsène Lupin Returns
1938
as F.B.I. Special Agent
Exiled to Shanghai
1937
as J.B. Willet
Big Town Girl
1937
as Hershell
Madame X
1937
as Hugh Fariman Sr.
Danger – Love at Work
1937
as Parsons, an attorney
Saratoga
1937
as Frank Clayton
Midnight Madonna
1937
as Stuart Kirkland
This Is My Affair
1937
as Judge
The League of Frightened Men
1937
as Alexander Drummond
Charlie Chan at the Olympics
1937
as Mr. Hopkins
Wings Over Honolulu
1937
as Judge Advocate
You Can't Buy Luck
1937
as Prosecutor (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
1937
as Judge George J. Parris (uncredited)
The Man Who Found Himself
1937
as Dr. Tom Smythe
Racketeers in Exile
1937
as Alden Parker
John Meade's Woman
1937
as Mr. Melton
Sea Devils
1937
as Court-Martial President (uncredited)
Outcast
1937
Man Of The People
1937
as Carter Spetner
She's Dangerous
1937
as Charles Fitzgerald
You Only Live Once
1937
as District Attorney (uncredited)
Sinner Take All
1936
as Dr. Harrison (uncredited)
Happy Go Lucky
1936
as J. Lansing Bennett
Flying Hostess
1936
as Kendall
The Accusing Finger
1936
as Special Prosecutor
The Devil Is a Sissy
1936
as Judge Holmes
China Clipper
1936
as State Department Official (uncredited)
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
1936
as Warren Fenton
36 Hours to Kill
1936
as Mac - Train Conductor
Spendthrift
1936
as Attorney
Fury
1936
as Defense Attorney
Educating Father
1936
as Fred Humphrey
The Case Against Mrs. Ames
1936
as First trial judge
The Singing Kid
1936
as Dr. Brown (uncredited)
Panic on the Air
1936
as Johnson
Too Many Parents
1936
as Judge
Sutter's Gold
1936
as Prosecuting Attorney
The Voice of Bugle Ann
1936
as District Attorney
You May Be Next!
1936
as Army Officer (uncredited)
Charlie Chan's Secret
1936
as Warren T. Phelps
Three Live Ghosts
1936
as Detective Bolton
If You Could Only Cook
1935
as Henry Brown - Member of Board of Directors (uncredited)
Hit-and-Run Driver
1935
as Captain James (uncredited)
Too Tough to Kill
1935
as Chairman of the Board
The Calling of Dan Matthews
1935
as Club Owner (uncredited)
A Night at the Opera
1935
as The Stage Manager (uncredited)
3 Kids and a Queen
1935
as Gangster
Navy Wife
1935
as Norton
Page Miss Glory
1935
as Husband at Train Station (uncredited)
Alice Adams
1935
as Mr. Palmer
The Raven
1935
as Bedside Dr. at Jerry's Right (uncredited)
Public Hero Number 1
1935
as Prison Board Member (uncredited)
Let 'em Have It
1935
as Microscopic Expert
'G' Men
1935
as Congressman (uncredited)
A Night at the Ritz
1935
as Director (uncredited)
One New York Night
1935
as Mr. Stokes
Lightning Strikes Twice
1934
as Capt. Nelson
Gentlemen Are Born
1934
as Second Broker
A Lost Lady
1934
as (uncredited)
The Case of the Howling Dog
1934
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Housewife
1934
as Doctor