Jonathan Hale

Jonathan Hale (born Jonathan Hatley,[1] March 21, 1891 – February 28, 1966) was a Canadian-born film and television actor.

For the American actor similarly named, see Jonathan Hole.
Jonathan Hale
Jonathan Hale in Charlie Chan's Secret (1936)
Born
Jonathan Hatley

(1891-03-21)March 21, 1891
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
DiedFebruary 28, 1966(1966-02-28) (aged 74)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, US
Cause of deathSuicide
Resting placeValhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California
CitizenshipCanadian
OccupationActor
Years active1934–1965

Life and career

Hale was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.[2] Before his acting career, Hale worked in the Diplomatic Corps.[3] 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".[4]

Death

Hale committed suicide on February 28, 1966.[5] 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,[6] which was found near his body. He was 74. Hale was interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California. 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".[7]

Selected filmography

References
  1. Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. ISBN 9780786409839. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  2. Rowan, Terry. Character-Based Film Series Part 1. Lulu.com. p. 31. ISBN 9781365421051. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  3. "Polar Blair's Den- Jonathan Hale". www.polarblairsden.com.
  4. "Jonathan Hale". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  5. "Veteran Actor Jonathan Hale Is Found Dead". The Day. March 1, 1966.
  6. "Blondie Film Actor Hale Kills Self". The Fresno Bee The Republican. California, Fresno. Associated Press. March 1, 1966. p. 19. Retrieved 9 January 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Jonathan Hale (1891-1966) - Find A Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
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