Hal Holbrook Birthday & Fun Facts

Hal Holbrook Birthday Highlights

Birth Name

Harold Rowe Holbrook Jr

Place Of Birth

Cleveland, USA

Age

98 years old

Birth Date

February 17 1925

Hal Holbrook Facts

Child Star?

no

Occupation

Education & Qualifications

Denison University

Net Worth

$5,000,000

Current Partner

Dixie Carter

Children

Eve Holbrook, Victoria Holbrook, David Halbrook

Parents

Harold Rowe Holbrook Sr, Aileen Holbrook

Hal Holbrook was a famous American actor, television producer, director, and screenwriter.

Hal Holbrook was born on February 17, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio. His father Harold Rowe Holbrook Sr and mother Aileen Halbrook (a vaudeville dancer) abandoned Hal Holbrook and his two older sisters when he was two years old.

Hal Holbrook was raised by his paternal grandparents in Weymouth, Massachusetts in his early life and in Cleveland, Ohio later on. Hal Holbrook completed his higher studies in Theater Arts at Denison University. Hal Holbrook also studied acting at HB Studio in New York, USA.

He started his career by performing in various stage shows and he made a one-man show called 'Mark Twain Tonight', where he performed solo as Mark Twain. His creativity in performing the role of Mark Twain was congratulated by a lot of viewers and was eventually telecasted on television. Hal Holbrook’s first performance as Mark Twain was at Lock Haven State Teachers College, Pennsylvania in 1954. Hal Holbrook was cast for several years and also performed 'Mark Twain Tonight' as a season opener in 1957. Hal Holbrook also served his country in World War II.

From 1942 - 1946, Hal Holbrook served as a staff sergeant for World War II when he was in his first year of theater studies at Denison University. During world war II, he was stationed in Newfoundland, where he performed in theater productions. Alongside working as a military engineer for three years, he started performing on stage. Finally, in 1948, Hall Holbrook completed his Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Denison University. Hal Holbrook had two houses, one in Mclemore Ville, Tennessee, and the other at Beverly Hills, California, where he took his last breath./

Throughout his career, Hal Holbrook received five primetime Emmy Awards for his work in films and television programs.

What was Hal Holbrook’s net worth?

At the time of Hal Holbrook’s death, his net worth was said to be $5 million.

How much did Hal Holbrook earn per year?

As he is no longer alive, there is no information about Hal Holbrook’s earnings per year.

How tall was Hal Holbrook?

Hal Holbrook was 6 ft (185 cm) tall.

How old was Hal Holbrook?

At the time of Hal Holbrook’s death, he was 95 years old. Hall Holbrook died on January 23, 2021.

Hal Holbrook and his two sisters were abandoned by his parents when he was barely two years old. Hal Holbrook was raised by his paternal grandparents in Cleveland, Ohio. Hal Holbrook’s high school alma mater is Culver Military Academy and he graduated from Denison University. He has also studied acting at HB Studio, New York.

Who was Hal Holbrook’s partner?

Hal Holbrook married thrice and had three children. He married Ruby Holbrook in 1945 and had two children together. The couple got divorced in 1965 and then in 1966, Hal Holbrook married Carol Eve Rossen. The couple had one child together and got divorced in 1983. Then in 1984, Hal Holbrook married an actress and singer, Dixie Carter and they remained married until Dixie Carter’s death from cancer in 2010. Hal Holbrook has three children - Eve Holbrook, Victoria Holbrook, and David Halbrook.

Best Known For…

Hal Holbrook is best known for his first solo performance in 'Mark Twain Tonight', which ran for more than six decades. The actor is also known for his role in 'Lincoln' as Abraham Lincoln. He got much more appreciation when he started working in films. He was also known for performing at several stage shows worldwide, even when people thought his age would hinder him.

Hal Holbrook continued his successful stint in the entertainment industry in the latter phase of his career as well. In 2007, he was featured in the critically acclaimed movie ‘Into The Wild’ directed by Sean Penn. For his exceptional acting in the movie, during the 80th Academy Awards, Hal Holbrook was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Performance by An Actor in Supporting Role. As his age at this time was 82, Hal Holbrook became the oldest person in the history of Academy Awards to be nominated under the category of Best Supporting Actor. Hal Holbrook also received a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in the movie. Towards the end of the year, he worked as the stage narrator for a stage production of Thornton Wilder's ‘Our Town’.

Charity Work

Hal Holbrook was donating funds to many charities, one of them being the Actors of America charity fund.

What awards did Hal Holbrook win?

Hal Holbrook won many awards, especially for his solo performance in  'Mark Twain Tonight'. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for an outstanding single performance and also won Tony Award for Best Actor in Play for 'Mark Twain Tonight'. He was also nominated for many Emmy Awards for his performance in 'The Bold Ones: 'The Lawyers' and 'The Bold Ones: The Senator'. He won his first Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for 'The Bold Ones: The Senator'. Hal Holbrook won Emmy Awards as best lead actor in a drama for 'Pueblo, 'Sandburg's Lincoln', and 'The Awakening Land. Hal Holbrook also won another Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Information Programming for 'Portrait Of America'. In total, Hal Holbrook has won three awards for his role as Mark Twain. He was also honored for charming audiences such as Mark Twain by President George W Bush with the National Humanities Award. Hall Holbrook also presented Grammy Award Nominations for his self-produced films.

Hal Holbrook’s Hobbies And Interests

Hal Holbrook was interested in acting, directing, playing music, and traveling. The actor was also interested in politics and had a strong and independent political view.

• Hal Holbrook served his country in World War II as a staff sergeant. He was posted in Newfoundland, where he performed in a few stage shows while on duty.
• His other stage shows include 'The Apple Tree' and 'I Never Sang For My Father'.
• After his famous performance in 'Mark Twain Tonight'.
• He went on a world tour twice to perform as Mark Twain. He started doing several television programs too. At the age of 41, Hal Holbrook made his debut in films with 'The Groups'.
• He also went on many world tours and especially European tours for his famous role as Mark Twain.
• When Hal Holbrook was the age of 47, he played the role of Doug Salter in 'That Certain Summer'.
• At the age of 51, Hal Holbrook played the role of Abraham Lincoln for a mini-series 'Lincoln'. From 1986 - 1989, Hal Holbrook played a recurring role opposite his wife Dixie Carter as Reese Watson on 'Designing Women'.
• He also directed and produced his own solo shows which earned him three Grammy award nominations.
• Hal Holbrook also bagged the role of 'Ron Franz' for 'Into The Wild'' in 2007. In 2000’s when Hal Holbrook was in his eighties, he became more active in films and television programs, despite his age.
• In 2006, Hal Holbrook appeared as a guest star in an HBO series called 'The Sopranos'.
• After almost six decades since the famous show 'Mark Twain Tonight', Hal Holbrook announced his retirement from the show in 2017.
• Hal Holbrook received an Oscar Nomination at 80th Academy Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as Ron Franz in 'Into The Wild'.
• After this award, he became the oldest actor to receive an award as a supporting actor.  In 2003, Hal Holbrook was also honored by President George W Bush with National Humanities Media.
• He was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashville Film Festival in 2009. Hal Holbrook also worked in the movies such as 'Frog' (1980), 'Julia' (1977), 'Wall Street' (1987), 'The Firm' (1993), 'Creepshow' (1982), and 'Men Of Honor' (2000).
• Hall Holbrook also appeared on several television programs like 'The West Wing', 'ER', 'Sons Of Anarchy', and 'Grey Anatomy '. His films like 'All The President’s Role' is said to be one of his great films. Hal Holbrook was also famous for his strong and independent political views.
• Hal Holbrook was a Christian, but had liberal views and was often found criticizing the Bible. Hal Holbrook died at his house in Beverly Hills, California at the age of 95.
• He was cremated in McLemoresville Cemetery in McLemoresville, Tennessee, next to his wife, Dixie Carter.
• He was part of the European tour initiated by the US Department of State.
• He also played the character of Albie Duncan in a few episodes of 'The West Wing'.
• Some of the popular television programs he featured in are 'Pueblo' and 'The Bold Ones'.
• The Academy Award-winning actor Hall Holbrook was active from the years 1948–2017. During this period he ventured into different fields such as actor, screenwriter, and director.

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