Richard Hale was an American actor.
Biography[]
Born James Richards Hale in Rogersville, Tennessee, he joined Minnie Fiske's theater group and made his first appearance on Broadway in 1914 with The Garden of Paradise. He continued to appear in plays such as The Silent Witness and The Seagull as well as providing narration for a production of Profokiev's Peter and the Wolf, reprising this role for a recording with Arthur Fiedler.
Hale made his screen debut as Rabbi Levin in None Shall Escape and had an extensive film career where he often played sinister or threatening characters; such as Mr. Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, though he also played positive characters in The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima and Scaramouche. Hale made a number of television guest appearances (frequently on westerns) including Cheyenne, Maverick and Gunsmoke.
Hale passed away in 1981.
Singing[]
An accomplished operatic baritone, Hale sang a number of times on stage, making his operatic debut in 1921. He appeared in the original productions of Green Grow the Lilacs and Susanna, Don't You Cry as Jeeter Fry and Jonathan Lamphrey respectively, as well as playing Dr. Brooks in the 1943 revival of Lady in the Dark.
Stage[]
Green Grow the Lilacs (1931)(originated the role)[]
- The Entire Little Brass Wagon
Susanna, Don't You Cry (1939)(originated the role)[]
- Ring de Banjo (contains solo lines)
- My Old Kentucky Home (contains solo lines)
- Louisiana Belle (contains solo lines)
Lady in the Dark (1943)[]
- It Looks Like Liza
- That Woman at the Altar