Alan Hale Jr.
Alan Hale, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Alan Hale, Jr., as Skipper in Gilligan's Island | |
| Born | March 8, 1921[1] Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 2, 1990 (aged 68) Los Angeles, California |
| Cause of death | Thymus cancer |
| Resting place | Cremation |
| Other names | Alan Hale |
| Years active | 1933–1988 |
| Spouse(s) | Bettina Hale, divorced Naomi Ingram (m. 1964–1990) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Alan Hale, Sr. Gretchen Hartman Hale |
Alan Hale, Jr. (March 8, 1921 – January 2, 1990), also known as Alan Hale, was an American film, stage, and television actor.
The son of character actor Alan Hale, Sr., he is best known for his role as The Skipper on the sitcom Gilligan's Island. The series aired on CBS from 1964 to 1967. After its cancellation, the series would remain a popular staple in syndication. Hale reprised the role of "The Skipper" in three Gilligan's Island television films and two spin-off cartoon series. Over the course of his 55-year career, Hale appeared in more than 200 television and film roles.
Hale was married twice and had four children. He died of thymus cancer in 1990.
Early life
Hale was born in Los Angeles in 1921 (some sources state 1918).[2] His father was character actor Rufus Edward McKahan who used the stage name of Alan Hale, Sr. (1892-1950), and his mother was silent film actress, Gretchen Hartman (1897‒1979). Appearing in over 235 films, his father had a successful screen career both as a leading man in silent films and as a supporting actor in sound movies.[3]
During World War II, Hale, Jr., enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. After the death of his father in 1950, Hale dropped the "Junior" from his name.[4]
Career
In 1931, Hale made his Broadway stage debut in Caught Wet. The play opened on November 4 and closed later that month. He made his screen debut two years later in Wild Boys of the Road. However, his part was deleted out of the film's final release but he still received screen credit for the role.[5] He later appeared in roles in To the Shores of Tripoli (1942), Yanks Ahoy (1943), Sweetheart of Sigma Chi (1946), and When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950). During the late 1940s and early 1950s, he frequently appeared in Gene Autry films and also had a recurring role from 1950 to 1952 on The Gene Autry Show. In 1952, Hale landed the starring role in CBS's Biff Baker, U.S.A., but the series was canceled in 1954.
Hale continued his career with guest spots on The Range Rider (five times), Annie Oakley, Fireside Theater, Frontier, Matinee Theater, Fury, Northwest Passage, and The Man from Blackhawk (as Miles Mackenzie in the 1960 episode "The $100,000 Policy"). He also had roles in The Gunfighter (1950), Silver Lode (1954), The Sea Chase (1955), The Three Outlaws (1956), The True Story of Jesse James (1957), and Up Periscope (1959).
In 1957, Hale landed another starring role in the syndicated television series Casey Jones, which aired thirty-two episodes before it was canceled in 1958. From 1958 to 1960, Hale had a recurring role on Rory Calhoun's CBS western series The Texan.
Throughout the early 1960s, Hale continued his run of guest starring roles on episodes of The Real McCoys, Mister Ed, Assignment: Underwater, Hawaiian Eye, Adventures in Paradise, Lock Up, The Andy Griffith Show, Lassie, Tales of Wells Fargo, Route 66, Hazel, and Perry Mason.
In addition to numerous guest roles on television, Hale was also noted for his supporting character roles in such movies as the stock car racing film Thunder in Carolina (1960), starring Rory Calhoun, The Long Rope (1961), with Hugh Marlowe, Bullet for a Badman (1964) with Audie Murphy, Advance to the Rear (1964), starring Glenn Ford, and "hanging party" blacksmith Matt Stone in Hang 'Em High (1968), starring Clint Eastwood .
Gilligan's Island
In 1964, Hale won the role as The Skipper on the CBS sitcom Gilligan's Island. The series aired for a total of 99 episodes from 1964 to 1967. The role proved to be the most prominent role for Hale, as the show continued to be popular for later generations of viewers due to syndicated re-runs. The popularity of the show typecast its actors, making it difficult for them to successfully pursue diversified acting opportunities. They received no substantial residual payments for their roles, and the difficulty in finding roles often created financial hardship and resentment. However, Hale did not mind being so closely identified with the Skipper.[6]
Hale reprised the role of The Skipper in three television films, Rescue from Gilligan's Island in 1978, The New Adventures of Gilligan in 1979 and The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island in 1981. He also voiced The Skipper in two cartoon versions of the series, The New Adventures of Gilligan from 1974 to 1977 and Gilligan's Planet from 1982 to 1983. Hale also appeared as The Skipper in two unrelated sitcoms, The New Gidget in 1987 and ALF in 1989. He also promoted Gilligan's Island reruns on TBS, alongside Bob Denver. Denver and Hale also appeared as their characters at various promotional events.[7]
Later years
After the end of Gilligan's Island, Hale continued his career in television. He guest starred on several series including The Wild Wild West, Here Come the Brides, Land of the Giants, The Virginian, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Paul Lynde Show, The Love Boat, and Crazy Like a Fox.
Hale also appeared in film roles from the 1960s to the 1980s. During the 1970s, he starred in The Giant Spider Invasion (1975) and Angels Revenge (1978), both of which were later featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (as was his 1963 film The Crawling Hand). In 1983, Hale co-starred in comedy-drama film Hambone and Hillie, starring Lillian Gish. The following year he had a role in the comedy Johnny Dangerously and became a spokesman for a car dealership in Victoria, British Columbia. In 1987, Hale starred in the horror film Terror Night. Later that same year, he made his final film appearance in a cameo role with Bob Denver in Back to the Beach.
Other ventures
In addition to acting, Hale also co-owned Alan Hale's Lobster Barrel, a restaurant that was opened in the mid-1970s. The Lobster Barrel was located on La Cienega Boulevard on Los Angeles' Restaurant Row. According to Hale's agent, Hale was "phased out" of the business in 1982. He later opened Alan Hale's Quality and Leisure Travel office.[7]
Personal life
Hale was married twice; his first marriage was to Bettina Hale with whom he had four children: Alan Brian, Chris, Lana, and Dorian. The couple later divorced.[4][8] In 1964, Hale married former singer Naomi Ingram to whom he would remain married until his death.[9][10]
Death
Hale died on January 2, 1990, of cancer of the thymus at St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles.[3] Hale's body was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea by the Neptune Society.[11]
For his contribution to the television industry, Alan Hale, Jr. has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6653 Hollywood Blvd.[12]
Stage career
| Date | Production | Role |
|---|---|---|
| November 4 – November 1931 | Caught Wet | Brewster |
| September 26, 1934 – January 1935 | Small Miracle | George Nelson |
| April 10 – July 1935 | Ceiling Zero | Tay Lawson |
| March 30 – April 1937 | Red Harvest | Private Breen |
| March 28 – April 4, 1940 | The Scene of the Crime | Bob Hanley |
| April 29–29, 1952 | Hook n' Ladder | Mr. Gilkens |
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Wild Boys of the Road | One of the Boys | Uncredited |
| 1941 | I Wanted Wings | Cadet | Uncredited |
| 1941 | Dive Bomber | Pilot Trainee | Uncredited |
| 1941 | All-American Co-Ed | Tiny | |
| 1942 | To the Shores of Tripoli | Tom Hall | |
| 1942 | Eagle Squadron | Olsen | |
| 1942 | Rubber Racketeers | Red | |
| 1943 | No Time for Love | Union Checker | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Watch on the Rhine | Boy | Uncredited |
| 1946 | Monsieur Beaucaire | Courtier | Uncredited |
| 1946 | Sweetheart of Sigma Chi | Mike Mitchell | |
| 1947 | It Happened on Fifth Avenue | Whitey Temple | |
| 1947 | The Spirit of West Point | Oklahoma Cutter | |
| 1948 | Homecoming | Military Policeman | Uncredited |
| 1948 | One Sunday Afternoon | Marty | |
| 1949 | It Happens Every Spring | Schmidt | |
| 1949 | Rim of the Canyon | Matt Kimbrough | |
| 1950 | Kill the Umpire | Harry Shea | Uncredited |
| 1950 | The Underworld Story | Shaeffer, Durham Warehouse Thug | |
| 1950 | The West Point Story | Bull Gilbert | |
| 1951 | Home Town Story | Slim Haskins | |
| 1951 | Honeychile | Joe Boyd | |
| 1952 | The Big Trees | Tiny | |
| 1952 | Springfield Rifle | Mizzell | |
| 1952 | At Sword's Point | Porthos Jr. | |
| 1952 | Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie | George Oliphant | |
| 1953 | The Man Behind the Gun | Cpl. Olaf Swenson | |
| 1953 | Captain John Smith and Pocahontas | Fleming | |
| 1954 | Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl | Jay Simpson | |
| 1954 | Rogue Cop | Johnny Stark | |
| 1954 | Destry | Jack Larson | |
| 1955 | The Sea Chase | Wentz | |
| 1955 | A Man Alone | Acting Sheriff Jim Anderson | |
| 1956 | The Indian Fighter | Will Crabtree | |
| 1956 | The Killer Is Loose | Denny | |
| 1957 | Battle Hymn | Mess Sergeant | |
| 1957 | The True Story of Jesse James | Cole Younger | |
| 1957 | All Mine to Give | Tom Cullen | |
| 1958 | The Lady Takes a Flyer | Frank Henshaw | |
| 1959 | Up Periscope | Lt. Pat Malone | |
| 1960 | Thunder in Carolina | Buddy Schaeffer | |
| 1963 | The Crawling Hand | Sheriff Townsend | |
| 1964 | Advance to the Rear | Sgt. Beauregard Davis | |
| 1964 | Bullet for a Badman | Leach | Alternative title: Renegade Posse |
| 1968 | Hang 'Em High | Matt Stone, Cooper Hanging Party | |
| 1970 | There Was a Crooked Man... | Tobaccy | |
| 1975 | The Giant Spider Invasion | Sheriff | |
| 1979 | The North Avenue Irregulars | Harry, the Hat | |
| 1979 | Angels Revenge | Manny | Alternative titles: Angels' Brigade Seven from Heaven |
| 1979 | The Fifth Musketeer | Porthos | |
| 1984 | Johnny Dangerously | Desk Sergeant | |
| 1987 | Terror Night | Jake Nelson | Alternative title: Bloody Movie |
| 1987 | Back to the Beach | Bartender's Buddy |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950–1952 | The Gene Autry Show | Tiny - Sidekick | 9 episodes |
| 1953 | Man Against Crime | Lt. Olmstead | Episode: "Hide and Seek" |
| 1952–1954 | Biff Baker, U.S.A. | Biff Baker | 26 episodes |
| 1955 | The Public Defender | Sparky Albright | Segment: "The Hitchhiker" |
| 1955 | Stage 7 | Herb 'Bad News' Loftus | Episode: "The Traveling Salesman" |
| 1955 | Navy Log | Beartracks | Episode: "The Pollywog of Yosu" |
| 1956 | The Red Skelton Show | Muldoon | Episode: "Cookie Returns" |
| 1956 | Screen Directors Playhouse | Bowen | Episode: "A Ticket for Thaddeus" |
| 1957 | The Millionaire | Bill "Buffalo" Walker | Episode: "The Professor Amberson Adams Story" |
| 1957 | The Alcoa Hour | Red Regan | Episode: "The Animal Kingdom" |
| 1957–1958 | Casey Jones | Casey Jones | 32 episodes |
| 1958 | Northwest Passage | Sam Beal | Episode: "The Red Coat" |
| 1958 | Wanted: Dead or Alive | Dan Poe | Episode: "Passing of Shawnee Bill" |
| 1958–1960 | The Texan | Sculley | 6 episodes |
| 1959 | Bat Masterson | Bailey Harper | Episode: "A Personal Matter" |
| 1959 | Bonanza | Swede Lundberg | Episode: "The Saga of Annie O'Toole" |
| 1960 | The Alaskans | Hap Johnson | Episode: "Partners" |
| 1960 | Shotgun Slade | Sheriff Sloan | Episode: "Lost Gold" |
| 1961 | The Jack Benny Program | McGuire | Episode: "Jack Goes to Gym" |
| 1961 | Hawaiian Eye | Big Mac McConnel | Episode: "Dragon Road" |
| 1961 | Adventures in Paradise | Captain Arthur Butcher | 2 episodes, "Captain Butcher" and "The Serpent in the Garden" |
| 1961 | Marshal Dillion | Jake Higgins | Episode: "Minnie" |
| 1962 | The Andy Griffith Show | Jeff Pruitt | Episode: "The Farmer Takes a Wife" |
| 1962 | Wagon Train | Kirby | Episode: "The Lonnie Fallon Story" |
| 1962 | Follow the Sun | Charlie | Episode: "The Irresistible Miss Bullfinch" |
| 1963 | 77 Sunset Strip | Baxter | Episode: "Tarnished Idol" |
| 1963 | Empire | Fletcher | Episode: "The Convention" |
| 1963 | The Lucy Show | Fire Academy instructor | Episode: " Lucy Puts Out a Fire at the Bank" |
| 1964 | The New Phil Silvers Show | Charlie | Episode: "Pay the Two Dollars" |
| 1964 | My Favorite Martian | Omar M. Keck | Episode: "The Disastro-Nauts" |
| 1964–1967 | Gilligan's Island | Jonas "The Skipper" Grumby | 99 episodes |
| 1966 | Gunsmoke | Bull Bannock | Episode: "Champion of the World" |
| 1967 | Batman | Gilligan | Episode: "The Ogg and I" Uncredited |
| 1967 | Hondo | Ben Cobb | Episode: "Hondo and the Death Drive" |
| 1968 | Daktari | Big Joe Wonder | Episode: "African Showdown" |
| 1969 | Green Acres | Sheriff | Episode: "A Prize in Every Package" |
| 1969 | The Flying Nun | Uncle Reggie Overton Perkins | 2 episodes |
| 1969 | The Good Guys | Big Tom | 3 episodes |
| 1970 | The Andersonville Trial | The Board of Military Judges | Television movie |
| 1970 | Ironside | Laurence Drescher | Episode: "The People Against Judge McIntire" |
| 1971 | Alias Smith and Jones | Andrew J. Greer | Episode: "The Girl in Boxcar #3" |
| 1971 | The Doris Day Show | Charlie Dinser | Episode: "Have I Got a Fellow for You!" |
| 1971 | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | Episode: "Operation: Moonshine" | |
| 1973 | McMillan & Wife | Port Captain | Episode: "The Fine Art of Staying Alive" |
| 1974–1975 | The New Adventures of Gilligan | The Skipper (Voice) | 24 episodes |
| 1975 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Cholly | 2 episodes |
| 1978 | Rescue from Gilligan's Island | The Skipper | Television movie |
| 1979 | The Castaways on Gilligan's Island | The Skipper | Television movie |
| 1979 | ABC Weekend Special | Mayor | Episode: "The Revenge of Red Chief" |
| 1979 | The Littlest Hobo | Harry | Episode: "Stand-in" |
| 1980 | Fantasy Island | Judge Winston | Episode: "Rogues to Riches/Stark Terror" |
| 1981 | The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island | The Skipper | Television movie |
| 1982–1983 | Gilligan's Planet | The Skipper (Voice) | 13 episodes |
| 1983 | Matt Houston | Rawson Harmon IV | Episode: "The Yacht Club Murders" |
| 1986 | Murder, She Wrote | Fenton Harris | Episode: "Trial by Error" |
| 1986 | Magnum, P.I. | Russell Tate | Episode: "All Thieves on Deck" |
| 1987 | Simon & Simon | Silk McNabb | Episode: "For Old Crime's Sake" |
| 1987 | ALF | Skipper Jonas Grumby | Episode: "Somewhere Over the Rerun" |
| 1987 | Growing Pains | The Cabbie | Episode: "This Is Your Life" |
| 1988 | The Law & Harry McGraw | Episode: "Gilhooey's Is History" |
References
- ^ "U.S. Census 1940". Familysearch.org.
- ^ "Alan Hale, Jr., the skipper, dies". Star-News. January 4, 1990. p. 2A. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ a b Flint, Peter B. (1990-01-04). "Alan Hale Jr., Who Was Skipper On 'Gilligan's Island,' Dies at 68". The New York Times.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b "Alan Hale's Resemblance To His Father Confusing". The Washington Reporter. June 8, 1965. p. 8. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ Aaker, Everett (2006). Encyclopedia Of Early Television Crime Fighters: All Regular Cast Members In American Crime and Mystery Series, 1948–1959. McFarland. p. 246. ISBN 0-7864-2476-1.
- ^ Largo, Michael (2007). The Portable Obituary: How the Famous, Rich, and Powerful Really Died. HarperCollins. p. 94. ISBN 0-06-123166-5.
- ^ a b Lee, John H. (January 4, 1990). "Alan Hale Jr., 68; Skipper on TV's 'Gilligan's Island'". latimes.com. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- ^ Thomas, Nick (2011). Raised by the Stars: Interviews with 29 Children of Hollywood Actors. Mcfarland. p. 61. ISBN 0-7864-6403-8.
- ^ Shain, Percy (November 21, 1965). "Stars Palsy-Walsy On Gilligan's Isle". Boston Globe. p. B35.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ "Alan Hale Jr., Gillian's big buddy, dies". Ocala Star-Banner. January 4, 1990. p. 2A. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ "Actor Alan Hale Jr., Gilligan's Skipper". The Vindicator. 1990-01-03. p. 34. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ Lee, John H. (January 4, 1990). "Hollywood Star Walk: 6653 Hollywood Blvd". latimes.com. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
