Huntz Hall
Huntz Hall | |
|---|---|
 Trailer for Blues Busters (1950) | |
| Born | Henry Richard Hall August 15, 1920[1] New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 30, 1999 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1935–1994 |
| Spouses | Elsie May Anderson
(m. 1940; div. 1944)Leslie Wright
(m. 1948; div. 1953)Colleen Vico
(m. 1960, divorced)Leah Stevens (m. 1966) |
| Children | 2 |
Henry Richard "Huntz" Hall (August 15, 1920[1] – January 30, 1999) was an American radio, stage, and movie performer who appeared in the popular "Dead End Kids" movies, including Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), and in the later "Bowery Boys" movies, during the late 1930s to the late 1950s.
Life and career[edit]
Hall was born in 1920 in New York City[3] to Joseph Patrick Hall, an engineer from Ireland, and his wife, Mary Ellen (née Mullen) Hall.[1] The fourteenth of sixteen children, he was nicknamed "Huntz" because of his ostensibly Teutonic nose.[4][5] He attended Catholic schools[6] and started performing on radio at five years of age.[7]
He appeared on Broadway in the 1935 production of Dead End, a play written and directed by Sidney Kingsley.[8][9] Hall was then cast along with the other Dead End Kids in the 1937 film Dead End, directed by William Wyler and starring Humphrey Bogart.[10]
Hall served in the United States Army during World War II. In 1943, he appeared in the USN training film "Don't Kill Your Friends" as moronic Ensign Dilbert the Pilot, who carelessly causes the death of a civilian and three servicemen.
In 1948, Hall was arrested for possession of marijuana. His trial, held in 1949, resulted in a hung jury.[11]
Hall later played the increasingly buffoonish Horace DeBussy "Sach" Jones in 48 of "The Bowery Boys" films, gaining top billing when his longtime partner, Leo Gorcey, left the series in 1956. Hall and Gorcey reunited in Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar (1966) and The Phynx (1969).
He also appeared in such films as The Return of Doctor X (1939), A Walk in the Sun (1945), Gentle Giant (1967), Herbie Rides Again (1974), and The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery (1975) opposite Gabriel Dell, another former Bowery Boy.
He was one of the celebrities featured on the cover of The Beatles' 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In 1971, he co-starred with Art Metrano and Jamie Farr in the CBS situation comedy The Chicago Teddy Bears. His plans to produce a movie series, "The Ghetto Boys" (a take on the "Bowery Boys"), fell through. In 1973, Hall took part in Princess Grace of Monaco's Council for Drug Abuse, part of the Catholic Office of Drug Education.[12]
In 1976, he appeared in Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood, and in 1977 he played Jesse Lasky in Ken Russell's film Valentino. His later films included Gas Pump Girls (1979) and The Escape Artist (1982), the latter reuniting him with Gabriel Dell. His final film appearance was in Auntie Lee's Meat Pies in 1993.[7]
Behind Sach: The Huntz Hall Story by Jim Manago, published by BearManor Media in 2015, is the first biography of Hall.
Death[edit]
Hall died from congestive heart failure on January 30, 1999, at the age of 78 in North Hollywood, California. He was interred in a niche at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California.[7]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Dead End | Dippy | Dead End Kids film |
| 1938 | Crime School | Goofy | Dead End Kids film |
| 1938 | Little Tough Guy | Pig | Dead End Kids film |
| 1938 | Angels with Dirty Faces | Crab | Dead End Kids film |
| 1938 | Swingtime in the Movies | Himself | Dead End Kids film / Short / Uncredited |
| 1939 | They Made Me a Criminal | Dippy | Dead End Kids film |
| 1939 | Hell's Kitchen | Bingo | Dead End Kids film |
| 1939 | The Angels Wash Their Faces | Huntz | Dead End Kids film |
| 1939 | Call a Messenger | Pig | Little Tough Guys film |
| 1939 | On Dress Parade | Cadet Johnny Cabot | Little Tough Guys film |
| 1939 | The Return of Doctor X | Pinky | |
| 1940 | You're Not So Tough | Albert 'Pig' | Little Tough Guys film |
| 1940 | Junior G-Men | Gyp | Little Tough Guys film / Serial |
| 1940 | Give Us Wings | Pig | Little Tough Guys film |
| 1941 | Hit the Road | Pig Grogan | Little Tough Guys film |
| 1941 | Bowery Blitzkrieg | Limpy | East Side Kids film |
| 1941 | Sea Raiders | Toby Nelson | Little Tough Guys film / Serial |
| 1941 | Spooks Run Wild | Glimpy | East Side Kids film |
| 1941 | Mob Town | Pig | Little Tough Guys film |
| 1941 | Zis Boom Bah | Skeets Skillhorn | |
| 1942 | Mr. Wise Guy | Glimpy Stone | East Side Kids film |
| 1942 | Junior G-Men of the Air | 'Bolts' Larson | Little Tough Guys film / Serial |
| 1942 | Let's Get Tough! | Glimpy | East Side Kids film |
| 1942 | Private Buckaroo | Cpl. Anemic | |
| 1942 | Tough As They Come | Albert "Pig" | Little Tough Guys film |
| 1942 | Smart Alecks | Glimpy | East Side Kids film |
| 1942 | 'Neath Brooklyn Bridge | Glimpy | East Side Kids film |
| 1942 | Junior Army | Bushy Thomas | |
| 1942 | Mug Town | Pig | Little Tough Guys film |
| 1943 | Kid Dynamite | Glimpy McGleavey | East Side Kids film |
| 1943 | Clancy Street Boys | Glimpy Freedhoff | East Side Kids film |
| 1943 | Ghosts on the Loose | Glimpy Freedhoff | East Side Kids film |
| 1943 | Keep 'Em Slugging | Pig | Little Tough Guys film |
| 1943 | Mr. Muggs Steps Out | Glimpy Freedhoff | East Side Kids film |
| 1943 | Dilbert, Don't Kill Your Friends | Ensign Dilbert | Short / U.S. Navy training film |
| 1944 | Million Dollar Kid | Glimpy Freedhoff | East Side Kids film |
| 1944 | Follow the Leader | Glimpy Freedhoff | East Side Kids film |
| 1944 | Block Busters | Glimpy | East Side Kids film |
| 1944 | Bowery Champs | Glimpy McClusky | East Side Kids film |
| 1945 | Docks of New York | Glimpy | East Side Kids film |
| 1945 | Bring on the Girls | Sailor | |
| 1945 | Wonder Man | Sailor | |
| 1945 | Mr. Muggs Rides Again | Glimpy | East Side Kids film |
| 1945 | Come Out Fighting | Glimpy | East Side Kids film |
| 1945 | A Walk in the Sun | Pvt. Carraway | |
| 1946 | Live Wires | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1946 | In Fast Company | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1946 | Bowery Bombshell | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1946 | Spook Busters | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1946 | Mr. Hex | 'Sach' Sullivan | Bowery Boys film |
| 1947 | Hard Boiled Mahoney | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1947 | News Hounds | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1947 | Bowery Buckaroos | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1948 | Angels' Alley | Sach 'Turkey' Horace Debussy Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1948 | Jinx Money | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1948 | Smugglers' Cove | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1948 | Trouble Makers | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones "Chopper McGee" | Bowery Boys film |
| 1949 | Fighting Fools | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1949 | Hold That Baby! | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1949 | Angels in Disguise | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1949 | Master Minds | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones "Ali Ben Sachmo" | Bowery Boys film |
| 1950 | Blonde Dynamite | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1950 | Lucky Losers | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones "Sacramento Jones" | Bowery Boys film |
| 1950 | Triple Trouble | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1950 | Blues Busters | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1951 | Bowery Battalion | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1951 | Ghost Chasers | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1951 | Let's Go Navy! | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1951 | Crazy Over Horses | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1952 | Hold That Line | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1952 | Here Come the Marines | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones Jr. | Bowery Boys film |
| 1952 | Feudin' Fools | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1952 | No Holds Barred | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1953 | Jalopy | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1953 | Loose in London | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1953 | Clipped Wings | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1953 | Private Eyes | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1954 | Paris Playboys | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones / Prof. Maurice Gaston Le Beau | Bowery Boys film |
| 1954 | The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1954 | Jungle Gents | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1955 | Bowery to Bagdad | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1955 | High Society | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1955 | Spy Chasers | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1955 | Jail Busters | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1955 | Dig That Uranium | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1956 | Crashing Las Vegas | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1956 | Fighting Trouble | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1956 | Hot Shots | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1957 | Hold That Hypnotist | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1957 | Spook Chasers | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1957 | Looking for Danger | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1957 | Up in Smoke | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1958 | In the Money | Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones | Bowery Boys film |
| 1965 | Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar | Huntz | |
| 1967 | Gentle Giant | Dink Smith | |
| 1970 | The Phynx | Himself | |
| 1974 | Herbie Rides Again | Judge | |
| 1975 | The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery | Deputy Roy | |
| 1976 | Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood | Moving Man | |
| 1977 | Valentino | Jesse Lasky | |
| 1979 | Gas Pump Girls | Uncle Joe | |
| 1982 | The Escape Artist | Turnkey | |
| 1987 | Cyclone | Long John | |
| 1992 | Auntie Lee's Meat Pies | Farmer | Final film role |
Television[edit]
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Flipper | Barney | 2 Episodes: "Disaster in the Everglades, Parts 1 and 2" |
| 1970 | Barefoot in the Park | Fellows | Episode: "Disorder in the Court" |
| 1971 | Escape | Gilbert | TV movie |
| 1971 | The Chicago Teddy Bears | Dutch | 5 Episodes |
| 1972 | The Corner Bar | Sparky Schnauzer | Episode: "The Navy Reunion" |
| 1975 | The Ghost Busters | Gronk | 2 Episodes: "Which Witch Is Which?" & "Merlin the Magician" |
| 1975 | The Sky's the Limit | Hitchhiker | TV movie |
| 1976 | Matt Helm | Willy | Episode: "Die Once, Die Twice" |
| 1976 | Good Heavens | Barney | Episode: "Good Neighbor Maxine" |
| 1978 | CHiPs | Armored car driver | Episode: "Crack-Up" |
| 1982 | Diff'rent Strokes | The Happy Wanderer | Episode: "Big Brother" |
| 1984 | The Ratings Game | Benny Bentson | TV movie |
| 1988 | Night Heat | Father O'Malley | Episode: "Bless Me Father" |
| 1993 | Daddy Dearest | The Pretzel Man | Episode: "American We"; final role |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Leonard Getz in his 2006 book From Broadway to the Bowery published by McFarland & Company uses August 15, but the more authoritative Social Security Death Index uses August 18, 1920. The Independent uses August 15, 1919, and the New York Times lists his age as 78, which would make his birth year 1920. Walker and Roat's biography uses 1919. As was the case with many actors, their resumes often conflict with official documents submitted to the government.
- ^ Mango, Jim (2015). Behind Sach - The Huntz Hall Story. BearManor Media. ISBN 9781593937737. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Social Security Death Index
- ^ Huntz Hall, Allmovie
- ^ Leonard Getz (2006). From Broadway to the Bowery. McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-2535-0.
- ^ Vallance, Tom (March 3, 1999). "Huntz Hall". The Independent. London, UK. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c Michael T. Kaufman (February 2, 1999). "Huntz Hall, Perpetual Youth In 'Bowery' Films, Dies at 78". New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
- ^ "Huntz Hall". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
- ^ "BROADWAY TO BOWERY AND BACK: Huntz Hall reveals the secrets behind the Dead End Kids, East Side Kids & Bowery Boys". Screen Thrills Illustrated (5 (v02n01)): 37. 1963.
- ^ Hayes, David (1984). The Films of the Bowery Boys. Secaucus, NJ: The Citadel Press. ISBN 978-0806509310.
- ^ Vallance, Tom (February 3, 1999). "Obituary: Huntz Hall". The Independent. London.
- ^ David Ragan. "Who's Who in Hollywood 1900-1976", Arlington House, 1976, p. 176.
External links[edit]
- Huntz Hall at IMDb
- Huntz Hall at the Internet Broadway Database
- Huntz Hall at Find a Grave
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