Porter Hall
Known for: Acting
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
Four Star Playhouse
J. R. Martin
1952
Film
Double Indemnity
Mr. Jackson
1944
Film
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Senator Monroe
1939
Film
The Desperadoes
Banker Clanton
1943
Film
His Girl Friday
Murphy
1940
Film
Miracle on 34th Street
Granville Sawyer
1947
Film
Unconquered
Leach
1947
Film
Ace in the Hole
Jacob Q. Boot
1951
Film
The Thin Man
Herbert MacCaulay
1934
Film
Singapore
Mr. Bellows
1947
Film
The Plainsman
Jack McCall
1936
Film
Sullivan's Travels
Mr. Hadrian
1941
Film
Bulldog Drummond Escapes
Norman Merridew
1937
Film
Pony Express
Jim Bridger
1953
Film
Wells Fargo
James Oliver
1937
Film
Scandal Street
James Wilson
1938
Film
Going My Way
Mr. Belknap
1944
Film
Prison Farm
Chiston R. Bradby
1938
Film
Make Way for Tomorrow
Harvey Chase
1937
Film
Dark Command
Angus McCloud
1940
Film
Arizona
Lazarus Ward
1940
Film
Stolen Heaven
'Von' Offer
1938
Film
That Wonderful Urge
Attorney Ketchell
1948
Film
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
Jacob Woodson, Justice of the Peace
1944
Film
Dangerous to Know
Mayor Bradley
1938
Film
Vice Squad
Jack Hartrampf
1953
Film
Week-End at the Waldorf
Stevens
1945
Film
Carbine Williams
Sam Markley
1952
Film
The Petrified Forest
Jason Maple
1936
Film
Intruder in the Dust
Nub Gowrie
1949
Film
Satan Met a Lady
Milton Ames
1936
Film
Butch Minds the Baby
Brandy Smith
1942
Film
The Story of Louis Pasteur
Dr. Rossignol
1936
Film
The Princess Comes Across
Darcy
1936
Film
Men with Wings
Hiram F. Jenkins
1938
Film
Blood on the Sun
Arthur Bickett
1945
Film
The General Died at Dawn
Peter Perrie
1936
Film
Murder, He Says
Mr. Johnson
1945
Film
Henry Goes Arizona
Banker Edward G. Walsh (uncredited)
1939
Film
You Gotta Stay Happy
Mr. Caslon
1948
Film
The Woman of the Town
Mayor Dog Killey
1943
Film
The Great Moment
President Franklin Pierce
1944
Film
Wild Money
Bill Court
1937
Film
They Shall Have Music
Mr. Flower
1939
Film
The Half-Breed
Kraemer
1952
Film
The Mark of the Whistler
Joe Sorsby
1944
Film
Souls at Sea
Court Prosecutor
1937
Film
Kiss and Tell
Bill Franklin
1945
Film
Murder in the Private Car
Alden Murray
1934
Film
Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police
Man in Drummond's Dream
1939
Film
King of Alcatraz
Matthew Talbot
1938
Film
True Confession
Mr. Hartman
1937
Film
Secrets of a Secretary
Drunk
1931
Film
King of Gamblers
George Kramer
1937
Film
Snowed Under
Arthur Layton
1936
Film
Bring on the Girls
Dr. Efrington
1945
Film
Mr. and Mrs. North
George Heyler
1942
Film
The Parson of Panamint
Jonathan Randall
1941
Film
The Case of the Lucky Legs
Col. Bradbury
1935
Film
Bulldog Drummond's Peril
Dr. Botulian
1938
Film
The Cheat
Leslie (uncredited)
1931
Film
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
Judge O'Toole
1949
Film
A Stranger in Town
Judge Austin Harkley
1943
Film
Grand Jury Secrets
Anthony Pelton
1939
Film
Chicken Every Sunday
Sam Howell
1949
Film
And Sudden Death
District Attorney
1936
Film
Holiday for Sinners
Louie
1952
Too Many Parents
Mrs. Saunders
1936
Film
Standing Room Only
Hugo Farenhall
1944
Film
Tom Sawyer, Detective
Uncle Silas Phelps
1938
Film
Trail of the Vigilantes
Sheriff Korley
1940
Film
Return to Treasure Island
Maximillian 'Maxie' Harris
1954
Film
The Remarkable Andrew
Chief Clerk Art Slocumb
1942
Film
This Way Please
S.J. Crawford
1937
Film
Let's Make a Million
Spencer
1936
Film
The Arkansas Traveler
Mayor Daniels
1938