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