Hal Miller (actor)

Harold Bernard "Hal" Miller (born August 24, 1933) is an American actor, painter, singer, lyricist and poet. He was the second actor to play Gordon Robinson on Sesame Street from 1972 to 1974, succeeding Matt Robinson.[1][2]

Hal Miller
Miller in Geneva on May 17, 2011
Born
Harold Bernard Miller

(1933-08-24) August 24, 1933
Occupation
  • Actor
  • painter
  • singer
  • lyricist
  • poet
Years active1951–1996
Spouse(s)
Lynne Miller
(m. 1966)
Children1

Early life

Miller was born on August 24, 1933, and lived most of his early life in Harlem. He was raised a Catholic with early education in parochial school and a final degree in chemistry, assisting in research with chemist Dr. Casimir Funk, an early discoverer of vitamins who helped coin the word "vitamin" in Paris in 1911. Before pursuing a career as an actor, Miller worked with Funk and was published with him in Federation Proceedings Vol. 22 No. 2 (Abstracts) in the 1960s at the Funk Foundation for Medical Research sponsored by Pfizer in New York.

Career

Miller began acting when he was 18 years old with the Stanley Woolf players on the Borscht circuit in Liberty, New York, performing Take a Giant Step and serving as company manager. He followed this by appearing in plays in his native Harlem. Miller went on to perform as Lord Ross at the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut, then as Fabian in Twelfth Night at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. He moved to Hollywood to co-star in Joe Forrester and Quinn Martin, as well as LA Underground Quest for Columbia Pictures. He returned to New York City to star as Purge in NBC Sunday special Purge's Place with Jim Patterson, and then as the lead David in Stone in the River. Roxie Roker played his wife; also appearing in this production were Hugh Hurd and James MacMillan. For NBC director Martin Hoade Miller next appeared in a production of Jean Genet's The Blacks before traveling to China for filmwork and subsequently to India to work in Bollywood with director Nileish Malhotha.

Miller received his Actors' Equity Association card in 1966 while working with Joseph Papp in Henry V and his Screen Actors Guild card in 1971 after being hired by Columbia Pictures. He appeared in the Lizzie Borden film Born in Flames and also in A Man Called Adam, as well as a Quinn Martin production in San Francisco. In 1968 he was invited to perform experimental, integrated theater for one season at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. From 1972 until 1974, Miller played Gordon on Sesame Street. Miller made the decision to leave Sesame Street for mainstream acting. He followed this direction making two major appearances on Law & Order.[3] Presently, Miller is performing extensively throughout Europe, China and Mumbai, India. In 1996, Miller retired from acting.

Personal life

He is married to interior designer Lynne Miller. Their son, Harold Miller Jr., appeared on Sesame Street with his dad during the 1970s.[4] In addition to acting, Miller is also a painter (represented by Saatchi),[5] a singer, a lyricist, and a published poet.

Selected filmography

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1966 A Man Called Adam Minor role
1972–1974 Sesame Street Gordon Robinson
1975 If You Don't Stop It... You'll Go Blind!!! Unknown role
1975 Distance Jesse Horne
1976 The Quest Private Hayes 1 episode
1983 Born in Flames Cop at Precinct
1992, 1996 Law & Order Judge Cyrus Metcalfe, Marcus Tate 2 episodes; final roles

References

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