Philip Baker Hall

    Actor, Soundtrack

    Birthdate: Sep 10, 1931

    Birthplace: Toledo, Ohio, USA

    Died: Jun 12, 2022

    Philip Baker Hall was born in Toledo, Ohio, to Berdene (McDonald) and William Alexander Hall, a factory worker who was originally from Montgomery, Alabama. He did not start acting until he was 30 years old. Known to film fans for his turn as Richard Nixon in Robert Altman's one-man show film Secret Honor (1984), he shot to cult fame when he turned in another electrifying performance, as Sydney, the veteran gambler, in Paul Thomas Anderson's debut feature, Hard Eight (1996). However, it was his work in the same director's star-studded Magnolia (1999) that really caught the mass film public's attention; his performance as the legendary quiz show presenter "Jimmy Gator" was highly acclaimed. These acclaimed smaller films led to Hall's casting in multiple blockbuster hits of the 1990s and 2000s, including The Sum of All Fears (2002) and Dogville (2003), directed by Lars von Trier.

    Known For

    Magnolia
    Magnolia

    (1999)

    Boogie Nights
    Boogie Nights

    (1997)

    Hard Eight
    Hard Eight

    (1996)

    Rush Hour
    Rush Hour

    (1998)

    Philip Baker Hall Movies

    actor

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    Previous (45)

    • 2017 |

      Person to Person

      asJimmy
    • 2017 |

      The Last Word

      asEdward
    • 2014 |
      Playing It Coolas Granddad
    • 2013 |
      Bad Wordsas Dr. Bowman
    • 2012 |
      Bending the Rulesas Herb Gold
    • 2012 |

      People Like Us

      asIke Rafferty
    • 2011 |
      The Chicago 8as Judge Julius Hoffman
    • 2011 |
      50/50as Alan
    • 2011 |
      Mr. Popper's Penguinsas Franklin
    • 2010 |
      All Good Thingsas Malvern Bump
    • 2009 |
      Wonderful Worldas The Man
    • 2009 |
      The Lodgeras Captain Smith
    • 2009 |
      Fired Up!as Coach Byrnes
    • 2007 |
      You Kill Meas Roman Krzeminski
    • 2005 |
      Duckas Arthur Pratt
    • 2006 |
      Islanderas Popper
    • 2005 |
      The Zodiacas Frank Perkins
    • 2005 |
      The Amityville Horroras Father Callaway
    • 2004 |
      In Good Companyas Eugene Kalb
    • 2001 |
      A House on a Hillas Harry Mayfield
    • 2003 |
      Die, Mommie, Die!as Sol Sussman
    • 2003 |
      Bruce Almightyas Jack Baylor
    • 2003 |

      Bruce Almighty

      asJack Baylor
    • 2002 |
      A Gentleman's Gameas Charlie Logan
    • 2002 |
      The Sum of All Fearsas Defense Secretary Becker
    • 2002 |

      The Sum of All Fears

      asDefense Secretary Becker
    • 2000 |
      Lost Soulsas Father James
    • 2000 |
      The Contenderas Oscar Billings
    • 2000 |
      Rules of Engagementas General H. Lawrence Hodges
    • 1999 |
      The Talented Mr. Ripleyas Alvin MacCarron
    • 1999 |
      Cradle Will Rockas Gray Mathers
    • 1999 |
      The Insideras Don Hewitt
    • 1998 |
      Judas Kissas Pobby Malavero
    • 1996 |
      Hit Meas Lenny Ish
    • 1996 |
      Hard Eightas Sydney
    • 1996 |
      Eye for an Eyeas Sidney Hughes
    • 1995 |
      Kiss of Deathas Big Junior Brown
    • 1992 |
      Live Wireas Senator Thyme
    • 1990 |
      Blue Desertas Joe
    • 1987 |
      Three O'Clock Highas Detective Mulvahill
    • 1984 |
      Secret Honoras Richard Nixon
    • 1981 |
      Dream on!
    • 1980 |
      The Last Reunionas Mike Sills
    • 1970 |
      Love-in '72as Father Reis
    • 1960 |

      Psycho

      asSheriff Chambers