Born: October 3, 1890 – Died: March 8, 1977
Henry Hull, the renowned actor who brought Jeeter to life on Broadway in "Tobacco Road," was born in Louisville, Kentucky on October 13, 1890. With a father who worked as a drama critic, Hull was destined to be immersed in the world of theater. Although he initially aspired to become an engineer, fate intervened and Hull made his Broadway debut in "Green Stockings" just days before his 21st birthday. From there, he ventured into the realm of film, leaving a lasting mark with his performances in notable movies such as "Lifeboat" and "High Sierra." Hull's talent and distinct voice paved the way for his success, leaving an indelible impression on the entertainment industry.
Early Life and Career
Henry Hull was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, growing up in a household immersed in the world of theater due to his father's profession as a drama critic. Hull initially had ambitions of becoming an engineer. However, his true passion for acting led him to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
Hull's journey in the acting world began on Broadway, where he made his debut in the play "Green Stockings" on October 2, 1911, less than two weeks before his 21st birthday. He continued to hone his craft and appeared in various theater productions, including "Believe Me, Xantippe" in 1913. However, he decided to temporarily leave the stage to pursue his dream of finding gold as a mining engineer. After this endeavor proved unsuccessful, Hull returned to acting and made his film debut at World Pictures in 1917.
Throughout his career, Hull appeared in a variety of films and theatrical productions. However, his first major successful role came in 1933 when he portrayed Jeeter Lester in the Broadway production of "Tobacco Road." This role became iconic and propelled him into stardom. The play ran for a record 3,182 performances, solidifying Hull's place in Broadway history.
While Hull received critical acclaim for his stage performances, he also made notable contributions to the film industry. He starred in several successful movies, including "Lifeboat" (1944), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and "High Sierra" (1941), alongside Humphrey Bogart. Hull's rich and distinct voice, combined with his acting prowess, made him a sought-after supporting actor during Hollywood's Golden Age.
Hull was married to actors Juliet Fremont and they had a son together, Henry Hull Jr., who also pursued a career in acting. Hull's impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry is evident through his extensive body of work, which spanned stage, film, and television.
Hull is considered a respected figure in the horror film genre, having portrayed the title role in the 1935 film "Werewolf of London." Hull's unique mannerisms and plummy voice made him a memorable presence on screen.
Hull's contributions to the arts, both on stage and screen, cemented his status as a respected actor and a prominent figure in Hollywood's history.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | The Chase | Mr. Briggs |
| 1965 | The Fool Killer | Dirty Jim Jelliman |
| 1963 | The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (TV Series) | Abel Menifee |
| 1960–1963 | Laramie (TV Series) | David Franklin | Ben Parkison |
| 1962 | Alcoa Premiere (TV Series) | Robert Bruce Maclean |
| 1961 | Master of the World | Prudent |
| 1961 | Play of the Week (TV Series) | Pop |
| 1961 | The Best of the Post (TV Series) | Quimbey |
| 1961 | Outlaws (TV Series) | Jeb Woods |
| 1959–1961 | Wagon Train (TV Series) | Gideon Banning | Mark Applewhite | Obediah Finch |
| 1960 | Route 66 (TV Series) | Amery Gant |
| 1960 | Bonanza (TV Series) | Charlie Trent | Sheriff B. Banneman Brown |
| 1960 | Goodyear Theatre (TV Series) | Ansel Pryor |
| 1960 | Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) | Hutch Wallace |
| 1959 | U.S. Marshal (TV Series) | Sheriff Pat Patterson |
| 1959 | The Oregon Trail | George Seton |
| 1959 | The Restless Gun (TV Series) | Matt Harper | Doc Kemmer | Jesse McKee |
| 1959 | Naked City (TV Series) | Alky |
| 1958–1959 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) | Victor Bishop | Old Henry |
| 1958 | Trackdown (TV Series) | Moss |
| 1958 | The Buccaneer | Ezra Peavey |
| 1958 | The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw | Doc Masters |
| 1958 | Bitter Heritage (TV Movie) | Old Henry |
| 1958 | The Proud Rebel | Judge Morley |
| 1957 | The Buckskin Lady | Doc Medley |
| 1956 | The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (TV Series) | Mr. Finchley |
| 1956 | Star Tonight (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1956 | Climax! (TV Series) | Abel Kirsch |
| 1955 | Man with the Gun | Marshal Lee Sims |
| 1955 | Windows (TV Series) | the Clown |
| 1955 | Kentucky Rifle | Preacher Bently |
| 1955 | Appointment with Adventure (TV Series) | Paul |
| 1955 | You Are There (TV Series) | Randolph McCoy |
| 1953–1955 | Danger (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1955 | The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) | Captain Lasher |
| 1954 | The Ray Milland Show (TV Series) | Professor Black |
| 1954 | The Motorola Television Hour (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1954 | Center Stage (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1954 | Campbell Summer Soundstage (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1953–1954 | The Web (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1953 | Thunder Over the Plains | Lt. Col. Chandler |
| 1953 | Inferno | Sam Elby |
| 1953 | The Last Posse | Ollie Stokely |
| 1953 | Your Favorite Story (TV Series) | Librarian |
| 1952 | Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) | Brig. Gen. William Elred | Jason W. Finchley |
| 1951–1952 | Suspense (TV Series) | Sheriff |
| 1951–1952 | Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) | Domenico |
| 1952 | The Treasure of Lost Canyon | Cousin Lucius Cooke |
| 1951 | Lights Out (TV Series) | Henry Potts |
| 1951 | Starlight Theatre (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1951 | Hollywood Story | Vincent St. Clair |
| 1950–1951 | The Ford Theatre Hour (TV Series) | Julian Northrup |
| 1950 | The Return of Jesse James | Hank Younger |
| 1949 | Song of Surrender | Deacon Parry |
| 1949 | The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1949 | The Great Dan Patch | Dan Palmer |
| 1949 | The Fountainhead | Henry Cameron |
| 1949 | The Great Gatsby | Dan Cody |
| 1949 | Colorado Territory | Fred Winslow |
| 1949 | Rimfire | Nathaniel Greeley |
| 1949 | El Paso | Judge Henry Jeffers |
| 1948 | Portrait of Jennie | Eke |
| 1948 | Fighter Squadron | Brig. Gen. Mike McCready |
| 1948 | Belle Starr's Daughter | The Old Marshal (uncredited) |
| 1948 | The Walls of Jericho | Jefferson Norman |
| 1948 | Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! | Milt Dominy |
| 1948 | On Our Merry Way | Dying Man (deleted sequence) (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Mourning Becomes Electra | Seth Beckwith |
| 1947 | Deep Valley | Mr. Saul |
| 1947 | High Barbaree | Dr. William G. Brooke |
| 1945 | Objective, Burma! | Mark Williams |
| 1944 | Goodnight, Sweetheart | Jeff Parker |
| 1944 | Lifeboat | Charles J. Rittenhouse |
| 1943 | The Woman of the Town | Inky Wilkinson |
| 1943 | Seeds of Freedom | Guerilla leader |
| 1943 | The West Side Kid | Sam Winston |
| 1940 | High Sierra | 'Doc' Banton |
| 1940 | The Return of Frank James | Major Rufus Cobb |
| 1940 | My Son, My Son! | Dermot O'Riorden |
| 1939 | Nick Carter, Master Detective | John A. Keller |
| 1939 | Bad Little Angel | Red Wilks |
| 1939 | Judge Hardy and Son | Dr. Jones |
| 1939 | Babes in Arms | Madox |
| 1939 | Miracles for Sale | Dave Duvallo |
| 1939 | Stanley and Livingstone | James Gordon Bennett Jr. |
| 1939 | The Return of the Cisco Kid | Colonel Joshua Bixby |
| 1939 | The Spirit of Culver | Doc Allen |
| 1939 | Jesse James | Maj. Rufus Cobb |
| 1938 | The Great Waltz | Franz Josef |
| 1938 | Boys Town | Dave Morris |
| 1938 | Port of Seven Seas | Uncle Elzear (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Three Comrades | Dr. Becker |
| 1938 | Yellow Jack | Dr. Jesse Lazear |
| 1938 | Paradise for Three | Sepp |
| 1935 | Werewolf of London | Dr. Wilfred Glendon |
| 1935 | Transient Lady | Sen. Hamp Baxter |
| 1934 | Great Expectations | Abel Magwitch |
| 1934 | Famous Scenes from Pagliacci (Short) | Pagliacci |
| 1934 | Midnight | Nolan |
| 1930 | Matinee Idle (Short) | Frank - the Actor |
| 1925 | The Wrongdoers | Jimmy Nolan |
| 1925 | Wasted Lives | Unknown |
| 1924 | For Woman's Favor | The Fool | The Lover |
| 1924 | The Hoosier Schoolmaster | Ralph Hartsook |
| 1924 | Roulette | Jimmy Moore |
| 1923 | A Bride for a Knight | Jimmy Poe |
| 1923 | The Last Moment | Hercules Napolean Cameron |
| 1922 | One Exciting Night | John Fairfax |
| 1919 | Tom's Little Star (Short) | Unknown |
| 1918 | Little Women | John Brooke |
| 1917 | The Volunteer | Jonathan Mendenhall |
| 1917 | Rasputin, the Black Monk | Kerensky |
| 1917 | The Family Honor | Anthony Wayne |
| 1917 | A Square Deal | Mark Dunbar |
General:
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