Alan Hale

Biography

Alan Hale decided on a film career after his attempt at becoming an opera singer didn't pan out. He quickly became much in demand as a supporting actor, starred in several films for Cecil B. DeMille and directed others for him. With the advent of sound Hale played leads in a few films, but soon settled down into a career as one of the busiest character actors in the business. He was one of the featured members of what became known as the "Warner Brothers Stock Co.", a corps of character actors and actresses who appeared in scores of Warner Bros. films of the 1930s and 1940s. Hale's best known role is probably in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), one of several films he made with his friend Errol Flynn, in which he played Little John, a role he played in two other films - Robin Hood (1922) and Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950).

57years old at death

Born February 10, 1892Washington, D.C.
Died January 22, 1950Hollywood
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
Rufus Edward Mackahan (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 39
Career span: 29 years1921 to 1950

Genres

Drama49%, 19 films
Romance38%, 15 films
Comedy23%, 9 films
War23%, 9 films
Action18%, 7 films

First and latest

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A change of course
Hale studied osteopathy at the University of Pennsylvania before he turned to acting. His other jobs included opera singer, journalist, and inventor.
A change of course
Hale's innovations included a sliding theater chair that let spectators slide back to admit newcomers instead of standing, plus a hand fire extinguisher and greaseless potato chips.
Behind the camera
During the 1920s and 1930s, Hale directed eight movies. Over his career he also appeared in 235 theatrical films in total.
Big break
From 1913 to 1915, Hale worked for the Biograph Company and became a leading man in its special feature films, which Marc Klaw and Abraham Erlanger sponsored and controlled.

Alan Hale movies on Netflix

Stars in My Crown1950IMDb rating 7.4as Jed Isbell
South of St. Louis1949IMDb rating 6.0as Jake Evarts
The Inspector General1949IMDb rating 6.7as Kovatch
Adventures of Don Juan1948IMDb rating 7.0as Leporello
Pursued1947IMDb rating 7.2as Jake Dingle
Night and Day1946IMDb rating 6.1as Leon Dowling
The Man I Love1946IMDb rating 6.7as Riley
Action in the North Atlantic1943IMDb rating 7.0as Boats O'Hara
Destination Tokyo1943IMDb rating 7.1as 'Cookie' Wainwright
Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7as Alan Hale
This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8as Sergeant McGee
Captains of the Clouds1942IMDb rating 6.4as Francis Patrick 'Tiny' Murphy
Desperate Journey1942IMDb rating 6.9as Sgt. Kirk Edwards
Gentleman Jim1942IMDb rating 7.5as Pat Corbett
The Strawberry Blonde1941IMDb rating 7.2as Old Man Grimes
Santa Fe Trail1940IMDb rating 6.2as Tex Bell
The Fighting 69th1940IMDb rating 6.6as Big Mike Wynn
The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6as Carl Pitt
They Drive by Night1940IMDb rating 7.2as Ed Carlsen
Virginia City1940IMDb rating 6.8as Olaf Swenson
Dodge City1939IMDb rating 7.1as Rusty Hart
Dust Be My Destiny1939IMDb rating 6.8as Michael 'Mike' Leonard
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0as Earl of Tyrone
Four Men and a Prayer1938IMDb rating 6.2as Furnoy
The Adventures of Robin Hood1938IMDb rating 7.9as Little John
Stella Dallas1937IMDb rating 7.4as Ed Munn
The Prince and the Pauper1937IMDb rating 7.2as Captain of the Guard
Our Relations1936IMDb rating 7.3as Joe Grogan
Another Face1935IMDb rating 6.0as Charles L. Kellar - Studio Head
The Good Fairy1935IMDb rating 7.4as Maurice Schlapkohl
Imitation of Life1934IMDb rating 7.5as Martin the Furniture Man
It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1as Danker
Of Human Bondage1934IMDb rating 7.0as Emil Miller
The Little Minister1934IMDb rating 6.2as Rob Daw
The Lost Patrol1934IMDb rating 6.8as Cook
Union Depot1932IMDb rating 7.1as The Baron - aka Bushy Sloan
The Sin of Madelon Claudet1931IMDb rating 6.6as Hubert
Robin Hood1922IMDb rating 7.0as Little John
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse1921IMDb rating 7.1as Karl von Hartrott

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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It Happened One Night1934 Comedy, Romanceas Danker
IMDb rating 8.1121K votes
The Adventures of Robin Hood1938 Action, Adventureas Little John
IMDb rating 7.958K votes
Destination Tokyo1943as 'Cookie' Wainwright
IMDb rating 7.16.3K votes
Action in the North Atlantic1943as Boats O'Hara
IMDb rating 7.05.1K votes
The Sea Hawk1940as Carl Pitt
IMDb rating 7.612K votes
They Drive by Night1940as Ed Carlsen
IMDb rating 7.210K votes
Stella Dallas1937as Ed Munn
IMDb rating 7.47.1K votes
Of Human Bondage1934as Emil Miller
IMDb rating 7.09.3K votes

Most often with

Michael Curtiz directed nine of these films, Raoul Walsh seven and William Keighley three. Errol Flynn appears in eleven of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Errol Flynn

John Litel

Olivia de Havilland

Frank McHugh

Reginald Denny

George TobiasMichael CurtizDirector, 9 films

Raoul WalshDirector, 7 films William KeighleyDirector, 3 films

Films together

Errol Flynn11 films together, 1937 to 1948
Errol Flynn's page
- Adventures of Don Juan1948IMDb rating 7.0Hale as LeporelloFlynn as Don Juan de Maraña
- Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Hale as Alan HaleFlynn as Errol Flynn
- Desperate Journey1942IMDb rating 6.9Hale as Sgt. Kirk EdwardsFlynn as Flight Lt. Terry Forbes
- Gentleman Jim1942IMDb rating 7.5Hale as Pat CorbettFlynn as James J. Corbett
- Santa Fe Trail1940IMDb rating 6.2Hale as Tex BellFlynn as Jeb Stuart
- The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6Hale as Carl PittFlynn as Geoffrey Thorpe
- Virginia City1940IMDb rating 6.8Hale as Olaf SwensonFlynn as Kerry Bradford
- Dodge City1939IMDb rating 7.1Hale as Rusty HartFlynn as Wade Hatton
- The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0Hale as Earl of TyroneFlynn as Earl of Essex
- The Adventures of Robin Hood1938IMDb rating 7.9Hale as Little JohnFlynn as Robin Hood
- The Prince and the Pauper1937IMDb rating 7.2Hale as Captain of the GuardFlynn as Miles Hendon
John Litel6 films together, 1939 to 1940
John Litel's page
- Santa Fe Trail1940IMDb rating 6.2Hale as Tex BellLitel as Martin
- The Fighting 69th1940IMDb rating 6.6Hale as Big Mike WynnLitel as Captain Mangan
- They Drive by Night1940IMDb rating 7.2Hale as Ed CarlsenLitel as Harry McNamara
- Virginia City1940IMDb rating 6.8Hale as Olaf SwensonLitel as Marshall
- Dodge City1939IMDb rating 7.1Hale as Rusty HartLitel as Matt Cole
- Dust Be My Destiny1939IMDb rating 6.8Hale as Michael 'Mike' LeonardLitel as Prosecutor
Olivia de Havilland6 films together, 1938 to 1943
Olivia de Havilland's page
- Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Hale as Alan HaleHavilland as Olivia de Havilland
- The Strawberry Blonde1941IMDb rating 7.2Hale as Old Man GrimesHavilland as Amy Lind
- Santa Fe Trail1940IMDb rating 6.2Hale as Tex BellHavilland as Kit Carson Holliday
- Dodge City1939IMDb rating 7.1Hale as Rusty HartHavilland as Abbie Irving
- The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0Hale as Earl of TyroneHavilland as Lady Penelope Gray
- The Adventures of Robin Hood1938IMDb rating 7.9Hale as Little JohnHavilland as Maid Marian
Frank McHugh5 films together, 1932 to 1940
Frank McHugh's page
- The Fighting 69th1940IMDb rating 6.6Hale as Big Mike WynnMcHugh as "Crepe Hanger" Burke
- Virginia City1940IMDb rating 6.8Hale as Olaf SwensonMcHugh as Mr. Upjohn
- Dodge City1939IMDb rating 7.1Hale as Rusty HartMcHugh as Joe Clemens
- Dust Be My Destiny1939IMDb rating 6.8Hale as Michael 'Mike' LeonardMcHugh as Caruthers
- Union Depot1932IMDb rating 7.1Hale as The Baron - aka Bushy SloanMcHugh as The Drunk
Reginald Denny5 films together, 1934 to 1942
Reginald Denny's page
- Captains of the Clouds1942IMDb rating 6.4Hale as Francis Patrick 'Tiny' MurphyDenny as Commanding Officer
- Four Men and a Prayer1938IMDb rating 6.2Hale as FurnoyDenny as Douglas Loveland
- Of Human Bondage1934IMDb rating 7.0Hale as Emil MillerDenny as Harry Griffiths
- The Little Minister1934IMDb rating 6.2Hale as Rob DawDenny as Captain Halliwell
- The Lost Patrol1934IMDb rating 6.8Hale as CookDenny as Brown
George Tobias5 films together, 1940 to 1943
George Tobias's page
- Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Hale as Alan HaleTobias as George Tobias
- This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8Hale as Sergeant McGeeTobias as Maxie Twardofsky
- Captains of the Clouds1942IMDb rating 6.4Hale as Francis Patrick 'Tiny' MurphyTobias as Blimp Lebec
- The Strawberry Blonde1941IMDb rating 7.2Hale as Old Man GrimesTobias as Nicholas Pappalas
- They Drive by Night1940IMDb rating 7.2Hale as Ed CarlsenTobias as George Rondolos
Michael CurtizDirector, 9 films, 1938 to 1946
All films by Michael Curtiz
- Night and Day1946IMDb rating 6.1Hale as Leon Dowling
- This Is the Army1943IMDb rating 5.8Hale as Sergeant McGee
- Captains of the Clouds1942IMDb rating 6.4Hale as Francis Patrick 'Tiny' Murphy
- Santa Fe Trail1940IMDb rating 6.2Hale as Tex Bell
- The Sea Hawk1940IMDb rating 7.6Hale as Carl Pitt
- Virginia City1940IMDb rating 6.8Hale as Olaf Swenson
- Dodge City1939IMDb rating 7.1Hale as Rusty Hart
- The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0Hale as Earl of Tyrone
- The Adventures of Robin Hood1938IMDb rating 7.9Hale as Little John
Raoul WalshDirector, 7 films, 1940 to 1947
All films by Raoul Walsh
- Pursued1947IMDb rating 7.2Hale as Jake Dingle
- The Man I Love1946IMDb rating 6.7Hale as Riley
- Action in the North Atlantic1943IMDb rating 7.0Hale as Boats O'Hara
- Desperate Journey1942IMDb rating 6.9Hale as Sgt. Kirk Edwards
- Gentleman Jim1942IMDb rating 7.5Hale as Pat Corbett
- The Strawberry Blonde1941IMDb rating 7.2Hale as Old Man Grimes
- They Drive by Night1940IMDb rating 7.2Hale as Ed Carlsen
William KeighleyDirector, 3 films, 1937 to 1940
All films by William Keighley
- The Fighting 69th1940IMDb rating 6.6Hale as Big Mike Wynn
- The Adventures of Robin Hood1938IMDb rating 7.9Hale as Little John
- The Prince and the Pauper1937IMDb rating 7.2Hale as Captain of the Guard

Box office

What Alan Hale's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$41.4 million

13 of the 39 films have a worldwide figure.

13Worldwide figure
4US gross only
22Figure not found

Top grosser

Adventures of Don Juan1948Leporello$4.8 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 78% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Adventures of Don Juan1948as Leporello
$4.8M11.5% of the total
2
Destination Tokyo1943as 'Cookie' Wainwright
$4.5M11.0% of the total
3
It Happened One Night1934as Danker
$4.5M10.9% of the total
4
The Adventures of Robin Hood1938as Little John
$4.0M9.6% of the total
5
Desperate Journey1942as Sgt. Kirk Edwards
$4.0M9.6% of the total
6
Thank Your Lucky Stars1943as Alan Hale
$3.6M8.7% of the total
7
Action in the North Atlantic1943as Boats O'Hara
$3.5M8.4% of the total
8
Captains of the Clouds1942as Francis Patrick 'Tiny' Murphy
$3.4M8.3% of the total