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
Mr. Jackson
Double Indemnity
Senator Monroe
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Murphy
His Girl Friday
Herbert MacCaulay
The Thin Man
Darcy
The Princess Comes Across
Granville Sawyer
Miracle on 34th Street
Jacob Q. Boot
Ace in the Hole
Louie
Holiday for Sinners
Milton Ames
Satan Met a Lady
Angus McCloud
Dark Command
Harvey Chase
Make Way for Tomorrow
President Franklin Pierce
The Great Moment
Joe Sorsby
The Mark of the Whistler
Jacob Woodson, Justice of the Peace
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Norman Merridew
Bulldog Drummond Escapes
Mr. Hadrian
Sullivan's Travels
Jason Maple
The Petrified Forest
Mr. Belknap
Going My Way
Nub Gowrie
Intruder in the Dust
Leach
Unconquered
Mr. Bellows
Singapore
Dr. Rossignol
The Story of Louis Pasteur
Arthur Bickett
Blood on the Sun
Jack Hartrampf
Vice Squad
Stevens
Week-End at the Waldorf
Drunk
Secrets of a Secretary
S.J. Crawford
This Way Please
Brandy Smith
Butch Minds the Baby
Mr. Johnson
Murder, He Says
James Oliver
Wells Fargo
Peter Perrie
The General Died at Dawn
Maximillian 'Maxie' Harris
Return to Treasure Island
Mr. Hartman
True Confession
Mr. Flower
They Shall Have Music
Dr. Botulian
Bulldog Drummond's Peril
Col. Bradbury
The Case of the Lucky Legs
'Von' Offer
Stolen Heaven
Judge Austin Harkley
A Stranger in Town
Mrs. Saunders
Too Many Parents
Sam Howell
Chicken Every Sunday
Arthur Layton
Snowed Under
Hugo Farenhall
Standing Room Only
Mayor Daniels
The Arkansas Traveler
Hiram F. Jenkins
Men with Wings
Bill Franklin
Kiss and Tell
Uncle Silas Phelps
Tom Sawyer, Detective
Court Prosecutor
Souls at Sea
Alden Murray
Murder in the Private Car
Jim Bridger
Pony Express
Mayor Bradley
Dangerous to Know
Jack McCall
The Plainsman
Attorney Ketchell
That Wonderful Urge
Lazarus Ward
Arizona
Chiston R. Bradby
Prison Farm
Banker Edward G. Walsh (uncredited)
Henry Goes Arizona
Anthony Pelton
Grand Jury Secrets
Banker Clanton
The Desperadoes
Judge O'Toole
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
Bill Court
Wild Money
Jonathan Randall
The Parson of Panamint
Sheriff Korley
Trail of the Vigilantes
Mayor Dog Killey
The Woman of the Town
George Kramer
King of Gamblers
District Attorney
And Sudden Death
Dr. Efrington
Bring on the Girls
Kraemer
The Half-Breed
Leslie (uncredited)
The Cheat
Chief Clerk Art Slocumb
The Remarkable Andrew
James Wilson
Scandal Street
Matthew Talbot
King of Alcatraz
Man in Drummond's Dream
Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police
Mr. Caslon
You Gotta Stay Happy
Spencer
Let's Make a Million
George Heyler
Mr. and Mrs. North
Sam Markley
Carbine Williams
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
75
Gender
Male
Birthday
1888-09-18
Place of Birth
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Also Known As
Clifford Porter Hall