From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jonathan Hale (born Jonathan Hatley, March 21, 1891 – February 28, 1966) was a Canadian-born film and television actor.
Hale was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Before his acting career, Hale worked in the Diplomatic Corps. Hale is most well known as Dagwood Bumstead's boss, Julius Caesar Dithers, in the Blondie film series in the 1940s. He is also notable for playing Inspector Fernack in various The Saint films by RKO Pictures.
In 1950 he made two appearances in The Cisco Kid as Barry Owens. He also appeared in two different episodes of Adventures of Superman: "The Evil Three", in which he played a murderous "Southern Colonel"-type character, and "Panic in the Sky", one of the most famous episodes, in which he played the lead astronomer at the Metropolis Observatory, actually a California observatory.
Among the relatively few television programs on which Hale appeared are the religion anthology series Crossroads, The Loretta Young Show, Brave Eagle, Schlitz Playhouse, The Joey Bishop Show, and Walt Disney Presents: "A Tribute to Joel Chandler Harris".
Hale committed suicide on February 28, 1966. He was found dead that evening in his room at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Hale had taken his own life with a .38 caliber pistol, which was found near his body. He was 74. Hale was interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California. Sadly, Hale's grave went unmarked for more than four decades, until a proper headstone was erected by donations from the "Dearly Departed" fan-based group in 2013; he is now honored with the inscription, "We Remembered You".
Known For
Strangers on a Train
(1951)
Mr. Antony
'G' Men
(1935)
Congressman (uncredited)
Alice Adams
(1935)
Mr. Palmer
Fury
(1936)
Defense Attorney
The Raven
(1935)
Bedside Dr. at Jerry's Right (uncredited)
Scandal Sheet
(1952)
Frank Madison
Dakota
(1945)
Col. Wordin
Flight Lieutenant
(1942)
Joseph Sanford
A Star Is Born
(1937)
Judge George J. Parris (uncredited)
Silver River
(1948)
Major Spencer
High Wall
(1947)
Emory Garrison
Angel on My Shoulder
(1946)
Citizens for Better Government Chairman (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
(1937)
District Attorney (uncredited)
The Tall Target
(1951)
Passenger from Carolina (uncredited)
Hangmen Also Die!
(1943)
Dedic
In Name Only
(1939)
Dr. Gateson
Full Filmography
Acting
Lightning Strikes Twice
(1934)
Capt. Nelson
A Lost Lady
(1934)
(uncredited)
Gentlemen Are Born
(1934)
Second Broker
Housewife
(1934)
Doctor
The Case of the Howling Dog
(1934)
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Alice Adams
(1935)
Mr. Palmer
Hit-and-Run Driver
(1935)
Captain James (uncredited)
Let 'em Have It
(1935)
Microscopic Expert
One New York Night
(1935)
Mr. Stokes
Too Tough to Kill
(1935)
Chairman of the Board
A Night at the Opera
(1935)
The Stage Manager (uncredited)
A Night at the Ritz
(1935)
Director (uncredited)
Navy Wife
(1935)
Norton
3 Kids and a Queen
(1935)
Gangster
Public Hero Number 1
(1935)
Prison Board Member (uncredited)
Page Miss Glory
(1935)
Husband at Train Station (uncredited)
'G' Men
(1935)
Congressman (uncredited)
The Raven
(1935)
Bedside Dr. at Jerry's Right (uncredited)
If You Could Only Cook
(1935)
Henry Brown - Member of Board of Directors (uncredited)
The Calling of Dan Matthews
(1935)
Club Owner (uncredited)
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
(1936)
Warren Fenton
Charlie Chan's Secret
(1936)
Warren T. Phelps
36 Hours to Kill
(1936)
Mac - Train Conductor
The Accusing Finger
(1936)
Special Prosecutor
Too Many Parents
(1936)
Judge
The Case Against Mrs. Ames
(1936)
First trial judge
Happy Go Lucky
(1936)
J. Lansing Bennett
Sutter's Gold
(1936)
Prosecuting Attorney
Spendthrift
(1936)
Attorney
The Devil Is a Sissy
(1936)
Judge Holmes
Fury
(1936)
Defense Attorney
Three Live Ghosts
(1936)
Detective Bolton
The Singing Kid
(1936)
Dr. Brown (uncredited)
Sinner Take All
(1936)
Dr. Harrison (uncredited)
Flying Hostess
(1936)
Kendall
Panic on the Air
(1936)
Johnson
Educating Father
(1936)
Fred Humphrey
You May Be Next!
(1936)
Army Officer (uncredited)
The Voice of Bugle Ann
(1936)
District Attorney
China Clipper
(1936)
State Department Official (uncredited)
Charlie Chan at the Olympics
(1937)
Mr. Hopkins
Saratoga
(1937)
Frank Clayton
Danger – Love at Work
(1937)
Parsons, an attorney
Racketeers in Exile
(1937)
Alden Parker
She's Dangerous
(1937)
Charles Fitzgerald
John Meade's Woman
(1937)
Mr. Melton
Exiled to Shanghai
(1937)
J.B. Willet
Madame X
(1937)
Hugh Fariman Sr.
Man Of The People
(1937)
Carter Spetner
The Man Who Found Himself
(1937)
Dr. Tom Smythe
You Can't Buy Luck
(1937)
Prosecutor (uncredited)
Wings Over Honolulu
(1937)
Judge Advocate
Big Town Girl
(1937)
Hershell
This Is My Affair
(1937)
Judge
A Star Is Born
(1937)
Judge George J. Parris (uncredited)
Midnight Madonna
(1937)
Stuart Kirkland
You Only Live Once
(1937)
District Attorney (uncredited)
The League of Frightened Men
(1937)
Alexander Drummond
Sea Devils
(1937)
Court-Martial President (uncredited)
Outcast
(1937)
Blondie
(1938)
Mr. Dithers
Boys Town
(1938)
John Hargraves
The Saint in New York
(1938)
Inspector Henry Fernack
Arsène Lupin Returns
(1938)
F.B.I. Special Agent
Over the Wall
(1938)
Governor James McDonald
The Duke of West Point
(1938)
Steven's Father
Tarnished Angel
(1938)
Detective Sgt. Cramer
Her Jungle Love
(1938)
J.C. Martin
Judge Hardy's Children
(1938)
John Lee
Men with Wings
(1938)
Long
Letter of Introduction
(1938)
Lou Woodstock (uncredited)
Gangs of New York
(1938)
Warden
The First Hundred Years
(1938)
Judge Parker
Wives Under Suspicion
(1938)
Allison
Breaking the Ice
(1938)
Mr. Kane
Fugitives for a Night
(1938)
Police Captain
There's That Woman Again
(1938)
Rolfe Davis
Yellow Jack
(1938)
Major General Leonard Wood
Crime Ring
(1938)
Bank President
Road Demon
(1938)
Anderson
Blondie Brings Up Baby
(1939)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie Meets the Boss
(1939)
J.C. Dithars
The Saint Strikes Back
(1939)
Inspector Henry Fernack
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
(1939)
President of Western Union
In Old Monterey
(1939)
Stevenson
Barricade
(1939)
Assistant Secretary of State
In Name Only
(1939)
Dr. Gateson
The Amazing Mr. Williams
(1939)
Mayor
Stand Up and Fight
(1939)
Colonel Webb
Wings of the Navy
(1939)
Commandant
Tail Spin
(1939)
Racing Official Starter (Uncredited)
Thunder Afloat
(1939)
Admiral Girard
One Against the World
(1939)
Dr. Ephraim McDowell
The Big Guy
(1939)
Jack Lane
Blondie Has Servant Trouble
(1940)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie Plays Cupid
(1940)
J.C. Dithers
The Saint's Double Trouble
(1940)
Inspector Henry Fernack
The Saint Takes Over
(1940)
Inspector Henry Fernack
Johnny Apollo
(1940)
Dr. Brown
We Who Are Young
(1940)
Braddock
Dulcy
(1940)
Homer Patterson
Melody and Moonlight
(1940)
Otis Barnett
Private Affairs
(1940)
George Gilkin
Blondie in Society
(1941)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie Goes Latin
(1941)
J.C. Dithers
Strange Alibi
(1941)
Police Chief Sprague
The Saint In Palm Springs
(1941)
Inspector Henry Fernack
Flight from Destiny
(1941)
Dist. Atty. Johnson
The Pittsburgh Kid
(1941)
Max Ellison
Her First Beau
(1941)
Mr. Harris
Ringside Maisie
(1941)
Dr. Kramer
The Great Swindle
(1941)
Swann
Blondie for Victory
(1942)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie Goes to College
(1942)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie's Blessed Event
(1942)
J.C. Dithers
Flight Lieutenant
(1942)
Joseph Sanford
Miss Annie Rooney
(1942)
Mr. Martin White
Calling Dr. Gillespie
(1942)
Frank M. Todwell
Joe Smith, American
(1942)
Blake McKettrick
Lone Star Ranger
(1942)
Judge Longstreth
The Bugle Sounds
(1942)
Brigadier-General
Footlight Glamour
(1943)
J.C. Dithers
It's a Great Life
(1943)
J.C. Dithers
Hangmen Also Die!
(1943)
Dedic
Jack London
(1943)
Kerwin Maxwell
The Rear Gunner
(1943)
Commanding Officer
There's Something About a Soldier
(1943)
Gen. Sommerton
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
(1943)
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
(1943)
Mr. Fox
Nobody's Darling
(1943)
Jason Rhodes
End of the Road
(1944)
Gregory McCune
Dead Man's Eyes
(1944)
Dr. Sam Welles
The Black Parachute
(1944)
King Stephen
My Buddy
(1944)
Senator Henry
This Is the Life
(1944)
Dr. Plum
Hollywood Canteen
(1944)
Mr. Brodel (uncredited)
Life with Blondie
(1945)
J.C. Dithers
Leave It to Blondie
(1945)
J.C. Dithers
The Strange Mr. Gregory
(1945)
Defense Attorney Blair
Divorce
(1945)
Judge
Man Alive
(1945)
Osborne
The Phantom Speaks
(1945)
Owen McAllister
Dakota
(1945)
Col. Wordin
G.I. Honeymoon
(1945)
Colonel Hammerhead Smith
Watchtower Over Tomorrow
(1945)
Security Council Chair
Allotment Wives
(1945)
Brig. Gen. H.N. Gilbert
Blondie's Lucky Day
(1946)
J.C. Dithers
Blondie Knows Best
(1946)
J.C. Dithers
The Walls Came Tumbling Down
(1946)
Captain Griffin
Wife Wanted
(1946)
Philip Conway
Rolling Home
(1946)
Henry Kane
Riverboat Rhythm
(1946)
Col. Edward Beeler
Easy to Wed
(1946)
Hector Boswell
Gay Blades
(1946)
Whittlesey
The Cat Creeps
(1946)
Walter Elliott
Angel on My Shoulder
(1946)
Citizens for Better Government Chairman (uncredited)
High Wall
(1947)
Emory Garrison
The Ghost Goes Wild
(1947)
Max Atterbury
The Beginning or the End
(1947)
Dr. Vannevar Bush
Her Husband's Affairs
(1947)
Gov. Fox
Black Gold
(1947)
Senator Watkins
The Vigilantes Return
(1947)
Judge Holden
Silver River
(1948)
Major Spencer
Call Northside 777
(1948)
Governor's Aide Robert Winston (uncredited)
Johnny Belinda
(1948)
Dr. Horace M. Gray (uncredited)
Tap Roots
(1948)
Gen. Johnston (uncredited)
Disaster
(1948)
Police Commissioner Jerome
Rocky
(1948)
Kenneth Forrester
The Judge
(1949)
Judge Allan J. Brooks
State Department: File 649
(1949)
Director-General
Stampede
(1949)
Varick
The Fountainhead
(1949)
Guy Francon (uncredited)
A Dangerous Profession
(1949)
Rose of the Yukon
(1949)
Gen. Butler
The Baron of Arizona
(1950)
Governor
Short Grass
(1950)
Charlie Bissel
Federal Agent at Large
(1950)
James Goodwin
Three Husbands
(1950)
Edward Wurdeman - Attorney at Law
Triple Trouble
(1950)
The Judge
Insurance Investigator
(1951)
Russell James
Let's Go Navy!
(1951)
Captain
Sunny Side of the Street
(1951)
Cyrus Pelley
Rodeo King and the Senorita
(1951)
Dr. Sands
The Tall Target
(1951)
Passenger from Carolina (uncredited)
Strangers on a Train
(1951)
Mr. Antony
The Steel Trap
(1952)
Tom Bowers
Scandal Sheet
(1952)
Frank Madison
Son of Paleface
(1952)
Governor Freeman (uncredited)
Young Man with Ideas
(1952)
Stanley Rickson (uncredited)
Behind Southern Lines
(1952)
General
The Flaming Urge
(1953)
Mr. Chalmers
Kansas Pacific
(1953)
Sherman Johnson
Taxi
(1953)
Mr. Barker (uncredited)
Duffy of San Quentin
(1954)
Boyd
She Couldn't Say No
(1954)
John Bentley
Cattle Queen of Montana
(1954)
Politician (uncredited)
The Night Holds Terror
(1955)
Bob Henderson
Jaguar
(1956)
Dr. Powell
The Three Outlaws
(1956)
Pinkerton