Alan Hale, Sr.

Alan Hale Sr. ( born February 10, 1892 in Washington, DC; † January 22, 1950 in Hollywood, actually Rufus Alan McKahan ) was an American actor and director. Throughout his career, he appeared in more than 240 Hollywood films. Who became known as the sidekick of Errol Flynn in 13 films awareness.

Life

Alan Hale came in 1892 as the son of John MacKahn pharmaceutical company in Washington, DC to the world. After studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, he wanted to become an opera singer. He turned then, however, the first few profitable for him to acting. To supplement his income, he wrote obituaries for a Philadelphia-based newspaper and also dabbled as an inventor. As such, he developed and funded, for example, folding theater seats, vehicle brakes and non-greasy chips. After a series of theatrical engagements he came in 1911 at the Lubin Film Co. in Philadelphia for the still young medium of film, where he became a regular basis was used under the name of Alan Hale. From 1913 he was occasionally on Broadway on stage, such as in the play The Poor Little Rich Girl and the Musical Rock-a- Bye Baby. In the 1920s, he managed to establish himself with silent films such as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) and The Caravan (1923 ) on the canvas. As a sought-after character actor he was set soon to the role of sidekick to the side of the big stars in Hollywood. Alongside Hale tried as a director; 1915-1927 he made eight films. Under his direction, among other things, played Shirley Mason in The Scarlet Honeymoon (1925) and Bessie Love in Rubber Tires (1927 ). However, the emergence of sound film brought him before the camera enormous popularity, which is why he did not pursue the work as a director and intensified again concentrated on acting. His most famous role was that of Little John, whom he had first played in Robin Hood with Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in the title role in 1922. This role he should again in 1938, embody King of the Vagabonds at the side of Errol Flynn in Robin Hood.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Hale was part of the large ensemble of master actors at Warner Brothers. As a sidekick of Errol Flynn, he appeared in 13 films and made as such for the laugh at Flynn's side, such as when he is president of a women's association in Lord of the Wild West. In the cloak-and -dagger film The Love Adventures of Don Juan from 1947 they were the last time to see together on screen. In addition to Flynn Hale also worked with stars like Cary Grant in Destination Tokyo and Humphrey Bogart in use in the North Atlantic. You could see Hale also as grumpy beer garden waiter in the Laurel and Hardy comedy The Doppelgänger (1936 ) as well as a singing driver in Frank Capra's screwball comedy It Happened One Night (1934 ), the vain Claudette Colbert to steal the suitcase trying. In 1950, Hale played the role of Little John in Robin Hood's retaliation, a third and final time. It was his last of nearly 250 screen appearances.

Private life and honors

Alan Hale was married from 1914 until his death, with the silent film actress Gretchen Hartman ( 1897-1979 ). They had three children. His son, Alan Hale Jr. was also an actor, who achieved mainly with the role of skipper in the television series Gilligan's Island fame. On January 22, 1950 Hale died at the age of 57 years as a result of liver disease. His grave is at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Alan Hale received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

Filmography (selection)

As an actor

As a director,