Jonathan Hale
Known for: Acting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jonathan Hale (born Jonathan Hatley, March 21, 1891 – February 28, 1966) was a Canadian-born film and television actor. Hale was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Before his acting career, Hale worked in the Diplomatic Corps. 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". Hale committed suicide on February 28, 1966. 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, which was found near his body. He was 74. Hale was interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California. Sadly, 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".
Filmography
Series
Lassie
1954
Series
Adventures of Superman
Professor Roberts
1952
Series
MGM Parade
1955
Series
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
General
1951
Series
City Detective
1953
Series
The Cisco Kid
Barry Owens
1950
Series
The Cisco Kid
Barry Owen aka Bill Stevens
1950
Series
Cavalcade of America
1952
Series
Screen Director's Playhouse
Mayor
1955
Film
There's That Woman Again
Rolfe Davis
1938
Film
Strangers on a Train
Mr. Antony
1951
Series
Mr. & Mrs. North
1952
Series
Crossroads
Governor
1955
Series
The Whistler
1954
Film
The Fountainhead
Guy Francon (uncredited)
1949
Film
Tap Roots
Gen. Johnston (uncredited)
1948
Film
A Lost Lady
(uncredited)
1934
Film
A Star Is Born
Judge Parris (uncredited)
1937
Film
Housewife
Doctor
1934
Film
Call Northside 777
Governor's Aide Robert Winston (uncredited)
1948
Film
Boys Town
John Hargraves
1938
Film
Fury
Defense Attorney
1936
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Film
'G' Men
Congressman (uncredited)
1935
Film
Hangmen Also Die!
Dedic
1943
Film
The Raven
Bedside Dr. at Jerry's Right (uncredited)
1935
Film
Blondie
Mr. Dithers
1938
Film
A Night at the Opera
The Stage Manager (uncredited)
1935
Film
You Only Live Once
District Attorney (uncredited)
1937
Film
In Name Only
Dr. Gateson
1939
Film
Cattle Queen of Montana
Politician (uncredited)
1954
Film
Dakota
Colonel Wordin
1945
Film
A Dangerous Profession
1949
Film
Blondie for Victory
J.C. Dithers
1942
Film
Flight Lieutenant
Joseph Sanford
1942
Film
Madame X
Hugh Fariman Sr.
1937
Film
Johnny Belinda
Dr. Gray (uncredited)
1948
Film
Tarnished Angel
Detective Sgt. Cramer
1938
Film
If You Could Only Cook
Henry Brown - Member of Board of Directors (uncredited)
1935
Film
Triple Trouble
The Judge
1950
Film
Ringside Maisie
Dr. Kramer
1941
Film
The Baron of Arizona
Governor
1950
Film
Her Husband's Affairs
Gov. Fox
1947
Film
The League of Frightened Men
Alexander Drummond
1937
Film
Silver River
Major Spencer
1948
Film
High Wall
Emory Garrison
1947
Film
Angel on My Shoulder
Citizens for Better Government Chairman (uncredited)
1946
Film
Wife Wanted
Philip Conway
1946
Film
Hollywood Canteen
Mr. Brodel (uncredited)
1944
Film
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
Mr. Fox
1943
Film
Son of Paleface
Governor Freeman (uncredited)
1952
Film
Scandal Sheet
Frank Madison
1952
Film
Blondie Has Servant Trouble
J.C. Dithers
1940
Film
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
Captain Griffin
1946
Film
Wives Under Suspicion
Allison
1938
Film
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
President of Western Union
1939
Film
The Tall Target
Passenger from Carolina (uncredited)
1951
Film
Outcast
1937
Film
Tail Spin
Racing Official Starter (Uncredited)
1939
Film
Johnny Apollo
Dr. Brown
1940
Film
Let's Go Navy!
Captain
1951
Film
Gay Blades
Whittlesey
1946
Film
Gentlemen Are Born
Second Broker
1934
Film
Alice Adams
Mr. Palmer
1935
Film
Dead Man's Eyes
Dr. Sam Welles
1944
Film
Saratoga
Frank Clayton
1937
Film
The Amazing Mr. Williams
Mayor
1939
Film
Sutter's Gold
Prosecuting Attorney
1936
Film
She's Dangerous
Charles Fitzgerald
1937
Film
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
1943
Film
She Couldn't Say No
John Bentley
1954
Film
Fugitives for a Night
Police Captain
1938
Film
The Case of the Howling Dog
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1934
Film
Letter of Introduction
Lou Woodstock (uncredited)
1938
Film
Watchtower Over Tomorrow
Security Council Chair
1945
Film
Kansas Pacific
Sherman Johnson
1953
Film
Judge Hardy's Children
John Lee
1938
Film
China Clipper
State Department Official (uncredited)
1936
Film
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
Warren Fenton
1936
Film
Jaguar
Dr. Powell
1956
Film
Melody and Moonlight
Otis Barnett
1940
Film
The Beginning or the End
Dr. Vannevar Bush
1947
Film
You Can't Buy Luck
Prosecutor (uncredited)
1937
Film
Stand Up and Fight
Colonel Webb
1939
Film
Let 'em Have It
Microscopic Expert
1935
Film
The Devil Is a Sissy
Judge Holmes
1936
Film
The Bugle Sounds
Brigadier-General
1942
Film
The Case Against Mrs. Ames
First trial judge
1936
Film
Easy to Wed
Hector Boswell
1946
Film
Black Gold
Senator Watkins
1947
Film
The Accusing Finger
Special Prosecutor
1936
Film
We Who Are Young
Braddock
1940
Film
The Steel Trap
Tom Bowers
1952
Film
Breaking the Ice
Mr. Kane
1938
Film
Blondie Meets the Boss
J.C. Dithars
1939
Film
Her First Beau
Mr. Harris
1941
Film
Men with Wings
Long
1938
Film
Young Man with Ideas
Stanley Rickson (uncredited)
1952
Film
Wings of the Navy
Commandant
1939
Film
36 Hours to Kill
Mac - Train Conductor
1936
Film
This Is the Life
Dr. Plum
1944
Film
The Great Swindle
Swann
1941
Film
The Duke of West Point
Colonel Early
1938
Film
The Man Who Found Himself
Dr. Tom Smythe
1937
Film
Blondie Knows Best
J.C. Dithers
1946
Film
Blondie Brings Up Baby
J.C. Dithers
1939
Film
Life with Blondie
J.C. Dithers
1945
Film
Charlie Chan at the Olympics
Mr. Hopkins
1937
Film
The Night Holds Terror
Bob Henderson
1955
Film
Big Town Girl
Hershell
1937
Film
Wings Over Honolulu
Judge Advocate
1937
Film
Rocky
Kenneth Forrester
1948
Film
Joe Smith, American
Blake McKettrick
1942
Film
Her Jungle Love
J.C. Martin
1938
Film
Happy Go Lucky
J. Lansing Bennett
1936
Film
Danger – Love at Work
Parsons, an attorney
1937
Film
The Saint Takes Over
Inspector Henry Fernack
1940
Film
Blondie's Lucky Day
J.C. Dithers
1946
Film
The Saint In Palm Springs
Inspector Henry Fernack
1941
Film
Page Miss Glory
Husband at Train Station (uncredited)
1935
Film
3 Kids and a Queen
Gangster
1935
Film
Blondie Goes Latin
J.C. Dithers
1941
Film
The Singing Kid
Dr. Brown (uncredited)
1936
Film
Arsène Lupin Returns
F.B.I. Special Agent
1938
Film
Nobody's Darling
Jason Rhodes
1943
Film
Crime Ring
Bank President
1938
Film
Three Husbands
Edward Wurdeman
1950
Film
Divorce
Judge
1945
Film
Blondie in Society
J.C. Dithers
1941
Film
This Is My Affair
Judge
1937
Film
Calling Dr. Gillespie
Frank M. Todwell
1942
Film
The Saint Strikes Back
Inspector Henry Fernack
1939
Film
The Three Outlaws
Pinkerton
1956
Film
One Against the World
Dr. Ephraim McDowell
1939
Film
Over the Wall
Governor James McDonald
1938
Film
Public Hero Number 1
Prison Board Member (uncredited)
1935
Film
The Saint in New York
Inspector Henry Fernack
1938
Film
One New York Night
Mr. Stokes
1935
Film
Strange Alibi
Police Chief Sprague
1941
Film
The Rear Gunner
Commanding Officer
1943
Film
Barricade
Assistant Secretary of State
1939
Film
The Ghost Goes Wild
Max Atterbury
1947
Film
The Flaming Urge
Mr. Chalmers
1953
Film
The First Hundred Years
Judge Parker
1938
Film
Jack London
Kerwin Maxwell
1943
Film
Short Grass
Charlie Bissel
1950
Film
Blondie Goes to College
J.C. Dithers
1942
Film
The Judge
Judge Allan J. Brooks
1949
Film
Sea Devils
Court-Martial President (uncredited)
1937
Film
It's a Great Life
J.C. Dithers
1943
Film
The Voice of Bugle Ann
District Attorney
1936
Film
Spendthrift
Attorney
1936
Film
King of the Gamblers
Sam Hyland
1948
Film
Exiled to Shanghai
J.B. Willet
1937
Film
Sinner Take All
Dr. Harrison (uncredited)
1936
Film
Rodeo King and the Senorita
Dr. Sands
1951
Film
State Department: File 649
Director-General
1949
Film
Flight from Destiny
Dist. Atty. Johnson
1941
Film
There's Something About a Soldier
Gen. Sommerton
1943
Film
Racketeers in Exile
Alden Parker
1937
Film
The Phantom Speaks
Owen McAllister
1945
Film
Stampede
Varick
1949
Film
The Vigilantes Return
Judge Holden
1947
Film
Miss Annie Rooney
Mr. Martin White
1942
Film
The Black Parachute
King Stephen
1944
Film
The Saint's Double Trouble
Inspector Henry Fernack
1940
Film
The Calling of Dan Matthews
Club Owner (uncredited)
1935
Film
Three Live Ghosts
Detective Bolton
1936
Film
Dulcy
Homer Patterson
1940
Film
Man Alive
Osborne
1945
Film
Blondie's Blessed Event
J.C. Dithers
1942
Film
Duffy of San Quentin
Boyd
1954
Film
Man Of The People
Carter Spetner
1937
Film
You May Be Next!
Army Officer (uncredited)
1936
Film
Disaster
Police Commissioner Jerome
1948
Film
John Meade's Woman
Mr. Melton
1937
Film
A Night at the Ritz
Director (uncredited)
1935
Film
Private Affairs
George Gilkin
1940
Film
My Buddy
Senator Henry
1944
Film
The Big Guy
Jack Lane
1939
Film
The Pittsburgh Kid
Max Ellison
1941
Film
Gangs of New York
Warden
1938
Film
The Strange Mr. Gregory
Defense Attorney Blair
1945
Film
Rolling Home
Henry Kane
1946
Film
In Old Monterey
Stevenson
1939
Film
Yellow Jack
Major General Leonard Wood
1938
Film
Taxi
Mr. Barker (uncredited)
1953
Film
Flying Hostess
Kendall
1936
Film
Charlie Chan's Secret
Warren T. Phelps
1936
Film
Navy Wife
Norton
1935
Film
Allotment Wives
Brig. Gen. H.N. Gilbert
1945
Film
Thunder Afloat
Admiral Girard
1939
Film
Lone Star Ranger
Judge Longstreth
1942
Film
Sunny Side of the Street
Cyrus Pelley
1951
Film
Panic on the Air
Johnson (uncredited)
1936
Film
Insurance Investigator
Russell James
1951
Film
End of the Road
Gregory McCune
1944
Too Many Parents
Judge
1936
Film
The Cat Creeps
Walter Elliott
1946
Film
Federal Agent at Large
James Goodwin
1950
Film
Midnight Madonna
Stuart Kirkland
1937
Film
Lightning Strikes Twice
Capt. Nelson
1934
Film
Educating Father
Fred Humphrey
1936
Film
Leave It to Blondie
J.C. Dithers
1945
Film
Footlight Glamour
J.C. Dithers
1943
Road Demon
Anderson
1938
Film
Blondie Plays Cupid
J.C. Dithers
1940
Film
Riverboat Rhythm
Col. Edward Beeler
1946
Film
G.I. Honeymoon
Colonel Hammerhead Smith
1945
Film
Hit-and-Run Driver
Captain James (uncredited)
1935
Film
Too Tough to Kill
Chairman of the Board
1935
Film
Rose of the Yukon
Gen. Butler
1949
Film
Behind Southern Lines
General
1952