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

Double Indemnity

Miracle on 34th Street

His Girl Friday

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Ace in the Hole

Unconquered

Sullivan's Travels

Going My Way

All Movies (75)

• Return to Treasure Island1954 · as Maximillian 'Maxie' Harris
• Vice Squad1953 · as Jack Hartrampf
• Pony Express1953 · as Jim Bridger
• Holiday for Sinners1952 · as Louie
• The Half-Breed1952 · as Kraemer
• Carbine Williams1952 · as Sam Markley
• Ace in the Hole1951 · as Jacob Q. Boot
• Intruder in the Dust1949 · as Nub Gowrie
• The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend1949 · as Judge O'Toole
• Chicken Every Sunday1949 · as Sam Howell
• That Wonderful Urge1948 · as Attorney Ketchell
• You Gotta Stay Happy1948 · as Mr. Caslon
• Unconquered1947 · as Leach
• Singapore1947 · as Mr. Bellows
• Miracle on 34th Street1947 · as Granville Sawyer
• Week-End at the Waldorf1945 · as Stevens
• Kiss and Tell1945 · as Bill Franklin
• Murder, He Says1945 · as Mr. Johnson
• Blood on the Sun1945 · as Arthur Bickett
• Bring on the Girls1945 · as Dr. Efrington
• The Mark of the Whistler1944 · as Joe Sorsby
• The Miracle of Morgan's Creek1944 · as Jacob Woodson, Justice of the Peace
• The Great Moment1944 · as President Franklin Pierce
• Double Indemnity1944 · as Mr. Jackson
• Standing Room Only1944 · as Hugo Farenhall
• Going My Way1944 · as Mr. Belknap
• The Woman of the Town1943 · as Mayor Dog Killey
• The Desperadoes1943 · as Banker Clanton
• A Stranger in Town1943 · as Judge Austin Harkley
• Butch Minds the Baby1942 · as Brandy Smith
• The Remarkable Andrew1942 · as Chief Clerk Art Slocumb
• Mr. and Mrs. North1942 · as George Heyler
• Sullivan's Travels1941 · as Mr. Hadrian
• The Parson of Panamint1941 · as Jonathan Randall
• Arizona1940 · as Lazarus Ward
• Trail of the Vigilantes1940 · as Sheriff Korley
• Dark Command1940 · as Angus McCloud
• His Girl Friday1940 · as Murphy
• Henry Goes Arizona1939 · as Banker Edward G. Walsh (uncredited)
• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939 · as Senator Monroe
• They Shall Have Music1939 · as Mr. Flower
• Grand Jury Secrets1939 · as Anthony Pelton
• Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police1939 · as Man in Drummond's Dream
• Tom Sawyer, Detective1938 · as Uncle Silas Phelps
• The Arkansas Traveler1938 · as Mayor Daniels
• King of Alcatraz1938 · as Matthew Talbot
• Men with Wings1938 · as Hiram F. Jenkins
• Prison Farm1938 · as Chiston R. Bradby
• Stolen Heaven1938 · as 'Von' Offer
• Bulldog Drummond's Peril1938 · as Dr. Botulian
• Dangerous to Know1938 · as Mayor Bradley
• Scandal Street1938 · as James Wilson
• Wells Fargo1937 · as James Oliver
• True Confession1937 · as Mr. Hartman
• This Way Please1937 · as S.J. Crawford
• Souls at Sea1937 · as Court Prosecutor
• Wild Money1937 · as Bill Court
• Make Way for Tomorrow1937 · as Harvey Chase
• King of Gamblers1937 · as George Kramer
• Bulldog Drummond Escapes1937 · as Norman Merridew
• The General Died at Dawn1936 · as Peter Perrie
• The Plainsman1936 · as Jack McCall
• Let's Make a Million1936 · as Spencer
• Satan Met a Lady1936 · as Milton Ames
• And Sudden Death1936 · as District Attorney
• The Princess Comes Across1936 · as Darcy
• Snowed Under1936 · as Arthur Layton
• Too Many Parents1936 · as Mrs. Saunders
• The Story of Louis Pasteur1936 · as Dr. Rossignol
• The Petrified Forest1936 · as Jason Maple
• The Case of the Lucky Legs1935 · as Col. Bradbury
• Murder in the Private Car1934 · as Alden Murray
• The Thin Man1934 · as Herbert MacCaulay
• The Cheat1931 · as Leslie (uncredited)
• Secrets of a Secretary1931 · as Drunk

All TV Shows (1)

• Four Star Playhouse1952 · as J. R. Martin