RIP Hal Holbrook (1 Viewer)

[Adam Lenhardt]

Best known for playing the mysterious Deep Throat in All the President's Men and the vigilante police chief in the Dirty Harry sequel Magnum Force.

He was also one of the country's most prolific and acclaimed Mark Twain impersonators.

He was 95.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Here's a write up on this fine actor that lived a long and productive life. May he R.I.P. Below is his cinematic classic line of dialogue:

Follow the money!

Hal Holbrook, Emmy and Tony-Winning Actor Who Portrayed Mark Twain, Dies at 95

Emmy and Tony winner Hal Holbrook, best known for his role as Mark Twain, whom he portrayed for decades, died on Jan. 23. He was 95.

variety.com

 

[Josh Steinberg]

In addition to the above mentioned roles, I loved him in both The West Wing and Lincoln.

 

[Tino]

Loved him in Creepshow and Capricorn One among many others. RIP.

 

[TravisR]

He's in a bunch of movies that I like but as a big John Carpenter fan, he'll always be Father Malone in The Fog to me. He semi-recently played Katie Sagal's father on Sons Of Anarchy. Wonderful actor with a great body of work.

 

[Matt Hough]

I have loved him since I was a teenager when I first saw him when CBS broadcast his brilliant Mark Twain Tonight! Couldn't believe it wasn't Twain sitting there holding forth on numerous topics. Was furious when that didn't bring him his first Emmy. (He did win a Tony for it on stage.)

He was a brave actor choosing to play an out gay man in That Certain Summer decades before it was safe for actors to play such roles. That didn't bring him his first Emmy either though it should have. He finally won for Pueblo.

I never saw him give a bad performance, and I will miss him utterly in the years to come. R.I.P.

 

[Johnny Angell]

I was fortunate enough to see him on stage in San Diego as Mark Twain, twice. I also remembering watching the TV broadcast. When it concluded I thought “wait, that wasn’t an hour.” It was so good it went by in a flash.

Goodby Hal.

 

[John Dirk]

Legendary actor. My favorite character will always be this one. It's sad to say goodbye but it's always tempered when it has been a long and illustrious journey.

 

[David_B_K]

I also saw him a couple of times onstage as Twain. It is remarkable how during the entire program one feels it is Twain's timing and delivery one is enjoying and not Holbrook's performance. He disappeared into the role.

I also like his Lincoln miniseries. I think he portrayed Abe as more of a bumpkin in his speech than most actors before him. RIP.

 

[FrankXS]

Mr. Holbrook was married to Dixie Carter of "Designing Women" fame. They are together again!

 

[Angelo Colombus]

He did some great narration to some PBS documentaries like Lewis & Clark and The Last Boss. Rest in Peace.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I really need to see the taped version of Mark Twain Tonight again. I unfortunately never got to see it in person.

 

[Jeffrey D]

Loved him in Creepshow and Capricorn One among many others. RIP.

Yes that segment with Holbrook, Fritz Weaver and Adrienne Barbeau is great.
RIP, Hal.

 

[Phil Crosby]

I was lucky enough to know him and to work with him on a couple of projects. Class, grace, and intelligence were a part of everything he did ... and one of the kindest gents I have ever met. RIP Hal.

 

[jackR]

Saw him twice on B'way during the original run of Mark Twain Tonight. Same show, two different girls. For $10 for two people on a "two-fer" ticket - back when even teenagers could afford to get hooked on legitimate theater. Now you'd have to take out a second mortgage. After The Man of La Mancha (before its move to B'way), Hal's performance is till my fave. What a life, what a loss.