Porter Hall
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.
Filmography (76 titles)
5.6MovieReturn to Treasure Island
Maximillian 'Maxie' Harris · 1954
6.1MovieVice Squad
Jack Hartrampf · 1953
5.8MoviePony Express
Jim Bridger · 1953
6.8ShowFour Star Playhouse
J. R. Martin · 1952
6.3MovieHoliday for Sinners
Louie · 1952
7.0MovieThe Half-Breed
Kraemer · 1952
6.6MovieCarbine Williams
Sam Markley · 1952
7.8MovieAce in the Hole
Jacob Q. Boot · 1951
7.3MovieIntruder in the Dust
Nub Gowrie · 1949
5.9MovieThe Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
Judge O'Toole · 1949
6.2MovieChicken Every Sunday
Sam Howell · 1949
6.5MovieThat Wonderful Urge
Attorney Ketchell · 1948
6.8MovieYou Gotta Stay Happy
Mr. Caslon · 1948
6.5MovieUnconquered
Leach · 1947
6.1MovieSingapore
Mr. Bellows · 1947
7.4MovieMiracle on 34th Street
Granville Sawyer · 1947
6.4MovieWeek-End at the Waldorf
Stevens · 1945
6.3MovieKiss and Tell
Bill Franklin · 1945
6.8MovieMurder, He Says
Mr. Johnson · 1945
5.9MovieBlood on the Sun
Arthur Bickett · 1945
6.3MovieBring on the Girls
Dr. Efrington · 1945
6.2MovieThe Mark of the Whistler
Joe Sorsby · 1944
6.9MovieThe Miracle of Morgan's Creek
Jacob Woodson, Justice of the Peace · 1944
5.8MovieThe Great Moment
President Franklin Pierce · 1944
8.1MovieDouble Indemnity
Mr. Jackson · 1944
5.7MovieStanding Room Only
Hugo Farenhall · 1944
6.7MovieGoing My Way
Mr. Belknap · 1944
6.4MovieThe Woman of the Town
Mayor Dog Killey · 1943
5.9MovieThe Desperadoes
Banker Clanton · 1943
6.3MovieA Stranger in Town
Judge Austin Harkley · 1943