Jonathan Hale

Biography

Canadian-born Jonathan Hale had a long film career, appearing in over 200 pictures. He was a member of the diplomatic service prior to his film career, and his stately bearing stood him in good stead for the variety of corporate executives, military officers and high-level politicians he often played. His best known and most memorable part was that of Dagwood Bumstead's boss J.C. Dithers in the "Blondie" series, a role he assayed from the first entry (Blondie (1938)) until he left the series in 1946. In 1966, despondent over personal problems, he shot himself to death.

74years old at death

Born March 21, 1891Hamilton
Died February 28, 1966Woodland Hills
Star sign: AriesFirst day of the sign, on the Pisces cusp
Also credited as Jonathan Hatley

Movie Career

Films: 27
Career span: 20 years1935 to 1955

Genres

Drama67%, 18 films
Crime48%, 13 films
Thriller33%, 9 films
Romance22%, 6 films
Mystery19%, 5 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
Before he became an actor, Hale worked in the Diplomatic Corps, a job he held prior to his acting career.

Jonathan Hale movies on Netflix

The Night Holds Terror1955IMDb rating 6.3as Bob Henderson
Cattle Queen of Montana1954IMDb rating 5.7as Politician
She Couldn't Say No1954IMDb rating 5.9as John Bentley
Scandal Sheet1952IMDb rating 7.4as Frank Madison
The Steel Trap1952IMDb rating 6.9as Tom Bowers
Strangers on a Train1951IMDb rating 7.9as Mr. Antony
The Baron of Arizona1950IMDb rating 6.9as Governor
Stampede1949IMDb rating 6.0as Varick
Call Northside 7771948IMDb rating 7.4as Governor's Aide Robert Winston
Silver River1948IMDb rating 6.5as Major Spencer
High Wall1947IMDb rating 6.9as Emory Garrison
The Beginning or the End1947IMDb rating 6.5as Dr. Vannevar Bush
Dakota1945IMDb rating 6.0as Colonel Wordin
The Phantom Speaks1945IMDb rating 5.8as Owen McAllister
Dead Man's Eyes1944IMDb rating 6.0as Dr. Sam Welles
Hangmen Also Die!1943IMDb rating 7.4as Dedic
Johnny Apollo1940IMDb rating 6.9as Dr. Brown
In Name Only1939IMDb rating 7.0as Dr. Gateson
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell1939IMDb rating 6.9as President of Western Union
Boys Town1938IMDb rating 7.2as John Hargraves
The Saint in New York1938IMDb rating 6.3as Inspector Henry Fernack
Saratoga1937IMDb rating 6.5as Frank Clayton
Charlie Chan at the Race Track1936IMDb rating 7.1as Warren Fenton
Fury1936IMDb rating 7.8as Defense Attorney
Alice Adams1935IMDb rating 6.8as Mr. Palmer
Charlie Chan's Secret1935IMDb rating 6.9as Warren T. Phelps
The Raven1935IMDb rating 6.8as Bedside Dr. at Jerry's Right

Best known for

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

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Strangers on a Train1951 Crime, Film-Noir, Thrilleras Mr. Antony
IMDb rating 7.9149K votes
The Steel Trap1952 Crime, Drama, Thrilleras Tom Bowers
IMDb rating 6.92.0K votes
In Name Only1939as Dr. Gateson
IMDb rating 7.04.0K votes
Boys Town1938as John Hargraves
IMDb rating 7.27.0K votes
The Saint in New York1938as Inspector Henry Fernack
IMDb rating 6.31.2K votes
Scandal Sheet1952as Frank Madison
IMDb rating 7.44.3K votes
Dead Man's Eyes1944as Dr. Sam Welles
IMDb rating 6.01.2K votes
Alice Adams1935as Mr. Palmer
IMDb rating 6.85.0K votes

Most often with

Fritz Lang directed two of these films, Henry Hathaway two and Norman Taurog two. Four actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Paul Fix

Walter Brennan

George Irving

Pierre Watkin

Morris Ankrum

Byron Foulger

Fritz LangDirector, 2 films Henry HathawayDirector, 2 films Norman TaurogDirector, 2 films

Films together

Paul Fix3 films together, 1936 to 1945
Paul Fix's page
- Dakota1945IMDb rating 6.0Hale as Colonel WordinFix as Carp
- The Saint in New York1938IMDb rating 6.3Hale as Inspector Henry FernackFix as Phil Farrell
- Charlie Chan at the Race Track1936IMDb rating 7.1Hale as Warren FentonFix as Lefty
Walter Brennan3 films together, 1936 to 1945
Walter Brennan's page
- Dakota1945IMDb rating 6.0Hale as Colonel WordinBrennan as Bounce of the Riverbird
- Hangmen Also Die!1943IMDb rating 7.4Hale as DedicBrennan as Prof. Stephen Novotny
- Fury1936IMDb rating 7.8Hale as Defense AttorneyBrennan as Bugs Meyers
George Irving3 films together, 1936 to 1943
George Irving's page
- Hangmen Also Die!1943IMDb rating 7.4Hale as DedicIrving as Neeval
- The Saint in New York1938IMDb rating 6.3Hale as Inspector Henry FernackIrving as Judge
- Charlie Chan at the Race Track1936IMDb rating 7.1Hale as Warren FentonIrving as Major Gordon Kent
Pierre Watkin3 films together, 1944 to 1945
Pierre Watkin's page
- Dakota1945IMDb rating 6.0Hale as Colonel WordinWatkin as Wexton Geary
- The Phantom Speaks1945IMDb rating 5.8Hale as Owen McAllisterWatkin as Charlie Davis
- Dead Man's Eyes1944IMDb rating 6.0Hale as Dr. Sam WellesWatkin as Hayden's Lawyer
Morris Ankrum2 films together, 1947 to 1954
Morris Ankrum's page
- Cattle Queen of Montana1954IMDb rating 5.7Hale as PoliticianAnkrum as J.I. 'Pop' Jones
- High Wall1947IMDb rating 6.9Hale as Emory GarrisonAnkrum as Dr. Stanley Griffin
Byron Foulger2 films together, 1943 to 1954
Byron Foulger's page
- Cattle Queen of Montana1954IMDb rating 5.7Hale as PoliticianFoulger as Land Office Clerk
- Hangmen Also Die!1943IMDb rating 7.4Hale as DedicFoulger as Bartos
Fritz LangDirector, 2 films, 1936 to 1943
All films by Fritz Lang
- Hangmen Also Die!1943IMDb rating 7.4Hale as Dedic
- Fury1936IMDb rating 7.8Hale as Defense Attorney
Henry HathawayDirector, 2 films, 1940 to 1948
All films by Henry Hathaway
- Call Northside 7771948IMDb rating 7.4Hale as Governor's Aide Robert Winston
- Johnny Apollo1940IMDb rating 6.9Hale as Dr. Brown
Norman TaurogDirector, 2 films, 1938 to 1947
All films by Norman Taurog
- The Beginning or the End1947IMDb rating 6.5Hale as Dr. Vannevar Bush
- Boys Town1938IMDb rating 7.2Hale as John Hargraves
Also two films together25 more actors
- Henry O'NeillScandal Sheet (1952) and The Beginning or the End (1947)
- Spencer TracyBoys Town (1938) and Fury (1936)
- Robert BarratThe Baron of Arizona (1950) and Dakota (1945)
- Marjorie BennettThe Steel Trap (1952) and Silver River (1948)
- Russell HicksJohnny Apollo (1940) and The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939)
- Brian DonlevyThe Beginning or the End (1947) and Hangmen Also Die! (1943)
- Gene LockhartHangmen Also Die! (1943) and The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939)
- Moroni OlsenCall Northside 777 (1948) and High Wall (1947)
- Charles CoburnIn Name Only (1939) and The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939)
- Spencer ChartersIn Name Only (1939) and The Raven (1935)
- Jay AdlerScandal Sheet (1952) and The Saint in New York (1938)
- Hattie McDanielSaratoga (1937) and Alice Adams (1935)
- Arthur AylesworthIn Name Only (1939) and Boys Town (1938)
- Burt MustinCattle Queen of Montana (1954) and She Couldn't Say No (1954)
- Charley GrapewinJohnny Apollo (1940) and Alice Adams (1935)
- Frank AlbertsonFury (1936) and Alice Adams (1935)
- I. Stanford JolleyThe Baron of Arizona (1950) and Stampede (1949)
- Tom PowersThe Steel Trap (1952) and The Phantom Speaks (1945)
- Warner AndersonHigh Wall (1947) and The Beginning or the End (1947)
- Frankie DarroSaratoga (1937) and Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)
- Warner OlandCharlie Chan at the Race Track (1936) and Charlie Chan's Secret (1935)
- Audrey TotterHigh Wall (1947) and The Beginning or the End (1947)
- Eddie MarrThe Night Holds Terror (1955) and The Steel Trap (1952)
- Robert WalkerStrangers on a Train (1951) and The Beginning or the End (1947)
- Bobs WatsonThe Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) and Boys Town (1938)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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