--- name: "Hal Holbrook" canonical: "https://film.one/person/hal-holbrook" fi1m_id: "hal-holbrook" imdb_id: "nm0001358" tmdb_id: 11066 wikidata_id: "Q314801" roles: ["Actor"] born: "17 February 1925" died: "23 January 2021" reviewed_on_fi1m: 10 average_fi1m_score: 76 average_as: "actor" average_over: 10 updated: "2026-10-04T23:01:33.391000+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Hal Holbrook ## Identity Hal Holbrook - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/hal-holbrook - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** hal-holbrook - **IMDb ID:** nm0001358 - **TMDB ID:** 11066 - **Wikidata ID:** Q314801 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Holbrook, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q314801, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001358/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11066 Actor. Born 17 February 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Died 23 January 2021. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 17 February 1925, Cleveland, Ohio, USA - **Died:** 23 January 2021 - **Active:** 1976–2013 - **Also known as:** Harold Rowe "Hal" Holbrook, Harold Rowe Holbrook - **Frequently works with:** [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://film.one/person/joseph-gordon-levitt.md) - **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 10 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 75 (2), 1980s 74 (1), 1990s 77 (3), 2000s 66 (2), 2010s 84 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 73 across 9 titles - **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 8 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 9, Crime 3, Thriller 3, Adventure 2, History 2, Mystery 2 - **Screen time:** 17 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $993m across 8 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Holbrook, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q314801, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001358/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11066 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*Hercules*](https://film.one/film/hercules.md) (75) - **HBO Max:** [*The Firm*](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md) (71) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Killshot*](https://film.one/film/killshot.md) (55) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Hal Holbrook > Hal Holbrook's gravelly voice suited men accustomed to being believed. We rate the quiet precision of his acting, particularly in *Into the Wild*, where he gives an older man's tenderness the attention usually reserved for the young hero. In *Into the Wild* (2007), Holbrook gives Ron Franz enough tenderness to make us interested in him before considering what he contributes to McCandless's journey. We were moved by how little he seemed to ask of us: the warmth was there without a speech explaining why it mattered. Sean Penn's film is too indulgent towards its restless hero, but Holbrook makes the company along the way a good reason to stay. He gives an older man a life worth considering in a film that can be overoccupied with a young man's thoughts. The gravelly voice also suited men whose respectability concealed things. His film debut was *The Group* (1966), and Deep Throat in *All the President's Men* (1976) gave him a part well suited to that guarded authority. Alongside the screen work was his stage portrayal of Mark Twain, begun in 1954 and sustained for more than six decades. The impersonation threatened to overshadow his other acting, and he sought different roles to get beyond it. By *Lincoln* (2012), in which he played Francis Preston Blair, there was little need to prove that he could make an establishment figure convincing. *Wall Street* (1987) puts him to work as Lou Mannheim, the veteran broker mentoring the protagonist. It is a sensible use of his authority, though our recommendation rests chiefly on Michael Douglas's persuasive Gordon Gekko and Oliver Stone's brisk handling of the financial dealings. The script keeps explaining its morals after we have understood them. Holbrook suits the part of a man worth listening to, but his presence does not cure the repetition. Penn's generosity towards his supporting cast pays off in *Into the Wild*. Alongside Catherine Keener's Jan Burres, Ron helps correct the impression that everyone McCandless meets exists to supply him with an experience. Both performances make us want to stay with people the journey will otherwise carry us past, and their warmth helps explain its appeal. The film's reflections can test our patience, but these passages do not need to announce what freedom means. Start there for Holbrook, if Penn's wandering reflections do not put you off. ## Biography Hal Holbrook was an American actor. Born Harold Rowe Holbrook Jr. on 17 February 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio, he died on 23 January 2021 in Beverly Hills, California. He first gained critical acclaim for his one-man stage show *Mark Twain Tonight!*, which he performed from 1954 until 2017. He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play in 1966 for the role. Holbrook received five Primetime Emmy Awards for his television work and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Ron Franz in *Into the Wild* (2007). His film credits include *The Group* (1966), *All the President's Men* (1976), *Hercules* (1997), *Men of Honor* (2000), *Water for Elephants* (2011) and *Lincoln* (2012). He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2003. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (10) - *Rectify* (2013), Fi1m 87, as Rutherford Gaines — [page](https://film.one/tv/rectify.md) - *Lincoln* (2012), Fi1m 82, as Preston Blair — [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md) - *Killshot* (2008), Fi1m 55, as Papa — [page](https://film.one/film/killshot.md) - *Into the Wild* (2007), Fi1m 78, as Ronald "Ron" Franz — [page](https://film.one/film/into-the-wild.md) - *The West Wing* (1999), Fi1m 86, as Albie Duncan — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md) - *Hercules* (1997), Fi1m 75, as Amphitryon (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/hercules.md) - *The Firm* (1993), Fi1m 71, as Oliver Lambert — [page](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md) - *Wall Street* (1987), Fi1m 74, as Lou Mannheim — [page](https://film.one/film/wall-street.md) - *Julia* (1977), Fi1m 60, as Alan — [page](https://film.one/film/julia.md) - *All the President's Men* (1976), Fi1m 90, as Deep Throat — [page](https://film.one/film/all-the-presidents-men.md) ## Complete filmography (140) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *An American Conscience: The Reinhold Niebuhr Story* (2017), as Reinhold Niebuhr (voice) - *Blackway* (2015), as Whizzer - *Planes: Fire & Rescue* (2014), as Mayday (voice) - *Savannah* (2013), as Judge Harden - *Rectify* (2013), series, as Rutherford Gaines — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/rectify.md) - *Monday Mornings* (2013), series, as Dr. Arvin Wayne - *Lincoln* (2012), as Preston Blair — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md) - *Promised Land* (2012), as Frank Yates - *Water for Elephants* (2011), as Old Jacob - *Good Day for It* (2011), as Hec - *Hawaii Five-0* (2010), series, as Leonard Patterson — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/hawaii-five-0.md) - *The Event* (2010), series, as James Dempsey (voice), James Dempsey - *Flying Lessons* (2010), as Harry Pleasant - *That Evening Sun* (2009), as Abner Meecham - *Killshot* (2008), as Papa — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/killshot.md) - *Sons of Anarchy* (2008), series, as Nate Madock — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/tv/sons-of-anarchy.md) - *Into the Wild* (2007), as Ronald "Ron" Franz — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/into-the-wild.md) - *Telling the Truth About Lies: The Making of "All the President's Men"* (2006), as Other - *Bones* (2005), series, as Red Hudmore — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/bones.md) - *The Seventh Day* (2005), series, as Host - *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Lewis Clatch — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md) - *Butch Cassidy and the Outlaw Trail* (2003), as Narrator - *NCIS* (2003), series, as Mickey Stokes — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md) - *Hope & Faith* (2003), series, as Edward Shanowski - *The Designing Women Reunion* (2003), Actor - *Shade* (2003), as The Professor - *The Street Lawyer* (2003), as Arthur Jacobs - *Good Morning, Miami* (2002), series, as Jim Templeton - *Eastwood & Co.: Making 'Unforgiven'* (2002), as Narrator (voice) - *Purpose* (2002), as Tom Walker - *The Majestic* (2001), as Congressman Doyle - *The Legend of the Three Trees* (2001), as Narrator - *Haven* (2001), as Harold L. Ickes - *Haven* (2001), series, as Harold L. Ickes - *Founding Fathers* (2000), series, as Benjamin Franklin (voice) - *The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus* (2000), as Ak - Master Woodsman of the World (voice) - *Men of Honor* (2000), as 'Mr. Pappy' - *Waking the Dead* (2000), as Isaac Green - *Battleships* (1999), as Narrator - *The Bachelor* (1999), as O'Dell - *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Albie Duncan — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md) - *Family Law* (1999), series, as Judge Richard Lloyd - *The Florentine* (1999), as Smitty - *Lost in Middle America (and What Happened Next)* (1999), as Narrator - *The Sopranos* (1999), series, as John Schwinn — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md) - *Becker* (1998), series, as Mr. Humphries - *Rusty: A Dog's Tale* (1998), as Boyd Callahan - *Judas Kiss* (1998), as Senator Rupert Hornbeck - *My Own Country* (1998), as Lloyd Flanders - *Walking to the Waterline* (1998), as Man on the Beach - *Hush* (1998), as Dr. Franklin Hill - *Beauty* (1998), as Alexander Miller - *The Third Twin* (1997), series, as Pete - *Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery* (1997), series, as Narrator (voice) - *Eye of God* (1997), as Sheriff Rogers - *All the Winters that Have Been* (1997), as Uncle Ren Corvin - *Trail of Hope* (1997), as Narrator - *Hercules* (1997), as Amphitryon (voice) — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/hercules.md) - *Cats Don't Dance* (1997), as Cranston (voice) - *Operation Delta Force* (1997), as Admiral Henshaw - *The Battle of The Alamo* (1996), as Voice - *Carried Away* (1996), as Doctor Evans - *Innocent Victims* (1996), as Bob Hennis - *Stormchasers* (1995), as Narrator - *She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal* (1995), as Adm. Kelso - *Perry Mason: The Case of the Jealous Jokester* (1995), as Wild Bill McKenzie - *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Justice Oliver Harbison - *Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor* (1994), as Wild Bill McKenzie - *ER* (1994), series, as Walter Perkins — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md) - *Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle* (1994), as William McKenzie - *The Firm* (1993), as Oliver Lambert — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md) - *Bonds of Love* (1993), as Jim Smith - *Eastwood & Co.: Making 'Unforgiven'* (1992), as Narrator (voice) - *Evening Shade* (1990), series, as Evan Evans - *A Killing in a Small Town* (1990), as Dr. Beardsley - *Sorry, Wrong Number* (1989), as Jim Coltrane - *Day One* (1989), as Gen. George Marshall - *Fletch Lives* (1989), as Hamilton "Ham" Johnson - *I'll Be Home for Christmas* (1988), as Joseph Bundy - *Emma: Queen of the South Seas* (1988), series, as Jonas Coe - *American Experience* (1988), series, as Narrator (voice) - *The Unholy* (1988), as Archbishop Mosely - *The Fortunate Pilgrim* (1988), series, as Dr. Andrew McKay - *Wall Street* (1987), as Lou Mannheim — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/wall-street.md) - *Plaza Suite* (1987), as Sam Nash - *Designing Women* (1986), series, as Reese Watson · Director - *Dress Gray* (1986), series, as Gen. Charles Hedges - *Under Siege* (1986), as President Maxwell Monroe - *92 Grosvenor Street* (1985), Actor - *North and South* (1985), series, as Abraham Lincoln - *The Three Wishes of Billy Grier* (1984), as Grandpa Grier - *George Washington* (1984), series, as John Adams - *Celebrity* (1984), series, as Calvin Sledge - *America Remembers John F. Kennedy* (1983), as Host - *The Star Chamber* (1983), as Benjamin Caulfield - *Hazardous Waste: The Search for Solutions* (1983), as Narrator (voice) - *Creepshow* (1982), as Henry Northrup (segment "The Crate") - *Girls Nite Out* (1982), as Jim MacVey - *The Killing of Randy Webster* (1981), as John Webster - *The Kidnapping of the President* (1980), as President Adam Scott - *Off the Minnesota Strip* (1980), as Bud Johansen - *The Fog* (1980), as Father Malone - *Natural Enemies* (1979), as Paul Steward - *When Hell Was in Session* (1979), as Cmdr. Jeremiah A. Denton - *The Legend of the Golden Gun* (1979), as J.R. Swackhammer - *Murder by Natural Causes* (1979), as Arthur Sinclair - *The Awakening Land* (1978), series, as Portius Wheeler - The Solitary - *Capricorn One* (1977), as Dr. James Kelloway - *Julia* (1977), as Alan — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/julia.md) - *Rituals* (1977), as Harry - *Our Town* (1977), as Stage manager - *Midway* (1976), as Cmdr. Joseph Rochefort - *All the President's Men* (1976), as Deep Throat — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/all-the-presidents-men.md) - *The Girl from Petrovka* (1974), as Joe - *Lincoln* (1974), series, as Abraham Lincoln - *Magnum Force* (1973), as Lieutenant Briggs - *Jonathan Livingston Seagull* (1973), as Elder (voice) - *Pueblo* (1973), as Capt. Lloyd Bucher - *Jane Goodall and the World of Animal Behavior: The Wild Dogs of Africa* (1973), as Narrator - *They Only Kill Their Masters* (1972), as Dr. Warren G. Watkins - *That Certain Summer* (1972), as Doug Salter - *Appointment With Destiny* (1971), series, as Narrator - *Goodbye, Raggedy Ann* (1971), as Harlan Webb - *Suddenly Single* (1971), as Larry Hackett - *Travis Logan, D.A.* (1971), as Matthew Sand - *The Wacky Zoo of Morgan City* (1970), as Mitch Collins - *The Great White Hope* (1970), as Cameron - *The Bold Ones: The Senator* (1970), series, as Senator Hays Stowe - *The People Next Door* (1970), as David Hoffman - *A Clear and Present Danger* (1970), as Hays Stowe - *The Whole World Is Watching* (1969), as Chancellor Graham - *The Brotherhood* (1968), as Man at the Table (uncredited) - *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as John Adrian - *Wild in the Streets* (1968), as Senator Fergus - *Mark Twain Tonight!* (1967), as Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) · Writer - *The Glass Menagerie* (1966), as her son - *CBS Playhouse* (1966), series, as Tom Wingfield - *The Group* (1966), as Gus Leroy - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Christopher Simes - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Mitch Collins ## Gallery - ![Hal Holbrook](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-22d0d0fcd61e.jpg) Hal Holbrook — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Hal_Holbrook_Our_Town_1977_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![From Wash. D.C. June 14, 1999 © copyright John Mathew Smith 2001 (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-ba03390ff1c9.jpg) From Wash. D.C. June 14, 1999 © copyright John Mathew Smith 2001 (2010) — Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Hal_Holbrook.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![1989 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks.](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-ef0aec73433a.jpg) 1989 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Hal_Holbrook_%284225194241%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Hal Holbrook at the Emmy Awards (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-635317d6a1e9.jpg) Hal Holbrook at the Emmy Awards (2009) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Hal_Holbrook_%284225963358_1aaba3d838_n%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Hal Holbrook](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-3e0afc3d62d9.jpg) Hal Holbrook — Image via TMDB - ![Hal Holbrook](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-febcc46e2f33.jpg) Hal Holbrook — Image via TMDB - ![Hal Holbrook](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-73aef7ee8f00.jpg) Hal Holbrook — Image via TMDB - ![From 1998 (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-65fe6fe798e3.jpg) From 1998 (2018) — John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Hal_Holbrook_%2845346460095%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![From 1998 (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-86dc6c8997df.jpg) From 1998 (2018) — John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Hal_Holbrook_%2845346460095%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Hal Holbrook](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-d3a4dca8d94a.jpg) Hal Holbrook — Image via TMDB - ![Hal Holbrook](https://film.one/media/person/99763/gallery-1805fcf02f28.jpg) Hal Holbrook — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 2008: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Into the Wild* ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won - 1971: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *The Bold Ones* ### Other awards — 2 won - National Humanities Medal 2003: National Humanities Medal (won) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1966: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/hal-holbrook