Arthur Hill (Canadian actor)
Arthur Edward Spence Hill (August 1, 1922 – October 22, 2006) was a Canadian actor. He was known in British and American theatre, film, and television. He attended the University of British Columbia law school. He studied acting in Seattle, Washington.
Arthur Hill | |
|---|---|
 Hill in 1971 as Owen Marshall. | |
| Born | Arthur Edward Spence Hill August 1, 1922 Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Died | October 22, 2006 (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of British Columbia |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1949–1990 |
| Spouse(s) | Peggy Hassard (1942–1998; her death; 2 children) Anne-Sophie Taraba (2001–2006; his death) |
Life Education Military
Arthur Hill was born Arthur Edward Spence Hill in Melfort, Saskatchewan on 1st August, 1922. The son of Edith Georgina (Spence) and Olin Drake Hill, a lawyer. As part of the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, Arthur Hill served in the mechanic corps. He attended the University of British Columbia. He studied law. He was drafted into the RCAF while in UBC pre-law.[1] After the war, finishing the university degree, he was lured to the stage. He married Peggy Hassard, September, 1942. Their children were Douglas Hill and Jennifer Hill.[2] Moved to Great Britain, 1948. In London he was at the BBC, both radio and television. Moved to New York City, 1958.[3] Moved to Los Angeles in 1968. Retired in 1990. First wife, Peggy Hassard passed on in 1998, married second wife Anne-Sophie Taraba, 2001.[4][5]
Career
Arthur Hill's broadway theater debut was in the 1957 revival of Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, playing Cornelius Hackl. In 1963 the Tonys awarded Arthur Hill as Best Dramatic Actor, for his portrayal of George in the original Broadway production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Other Broadway credits include: Ben Gant in the original production of Look Homeward, Angel (1957); All the Way Home (1960); Something More! (1964); and More Stately Mansions (1967).[6]
In the film The Andromeda Strain (1971), Arthur Hill played Dr. Jeremy Stone. Other film work: The Ugly American (1963); Harper (1966); Petulia (1968); The Chairman (1969); The Killer Elite (1975); Futureworld (1976); A Bridge Too Far (1977) (uncredited); and narration of Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983).[3]
Arthur Hill's television role portraying lawyer Owen Marshall, in the 1971–74 TV series Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law had high status at the time.[6] He appeared on many other television shows, including The Reporter, a 1964 drama starring Harry Guardino. Grandpa Lansford Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie (1976) was another of Arthur Hill's portrayals.
Other television shows were: Mission Impossible, episode 'The Carriers' (S1:E10) 1966; Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, episode 'The Monster from the Inferno' 1966; The F.B.I., (S1:E23) 'Flight to Harbin' 1966; The Invaders, episode 'The Leeches' 1967; Murder, She Wrote, the pilot episode, 1984, reprising the role in 1990; and Columbo, episode 'Agenda for Murder' portraying a governor, was his final role in 1990.
Death
Arthur Hill died in Pacific Palisades, California. He resided in a nursing home. He was 84 years of age, cause attributed to Alzheimer's disease.[7]
Selected filmography
- I Was a Male War Bride (1949) as Dependents Clearing Officer (uncredited)
- Miss Pilgrim's Progress (1949) as American Vice-Consul (uncredited)
- The Body Said No! (1950) as Robin King
- Mister Drake's Duck (1951) as American Vice Consul
- Scarlet Thread (1951) as Shaw
- Salute the Toff (1952) as Ted Harrison
- You're Only Young Twice (1952) as Mystery Man (uncredited)
- Penny Princess (1952) as Representative of Johnson K. Johnson (uncredited)
- Paul Temple Returns (1952) as Cranmer Guest
- A Day to Remember (1953) as Al
- Life with the Lyons (1954) as Slim Cassidy
- The Crowded Day (1954) as Alice's Escort
- Raising a Riot (1955) as American Sergeant (uncredited)
- The Deep Blue Sea (1955) as Jackie Jackson
- The Silver Curtain (1955) as Jerry Winton
- The Young Doctors (1961) as Tomaselli
- The Ugly American (1963) as Grainger
- In the Cool of the Day (1963) as Sam Bonner
- Moment to Moment (1965) as Neil Stanton
- Harper (1966) as Albert Graves
- Petulia (1968) as Barney
- The Chairman (1969) as Shelby
- Don't Let the Angels Fall (1969) as Robert
- Rabbit, Run (1970) as Rev. Jack Eccles
- The Pursuit of Happiness (1971) as John Popper
- The Andromeda Strain (1971) as Dr. Jeremy Stone
- The Killer Elite (1975) as Cap Collis
- Futureworld (1976) as Duffy
- A Bridge Too Far (1977) as U.S. Medical Colonel (uncredited)
- The Champ (1979) as Mike
- A Little Romance (1979) as Richard King
- Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979) as Governor (uncredited)
- Revenge of the Stepford Wives (1980) as Dale 'Diz' Corbett
- Dirty Tricks (1981) as Professor Prosser
- The Amateur (1981) as Brewer
- Making Love (1982) as Henry
- Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) as Narrator (voice)
- Murder in Space (1985) as Vice President
- One Magic Christmas (1985) as Caleb Grainger
- A Fine Mess (1986) (uncredited)
References
- Martin, Douglas (October 27, 2006). "Arthur Hill, Actor Who Won Tony for 'Virginia Woolf,' Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
- "Arthur Hill BIography (1922-)". Film Reference.
- "Arthur Hill: Actor". Variety. October 27, 2006.
- Thurber, Jon (October 27, 2006). "Arthur Hill, 84; won Tony for 'Woolf' role". Los Angeles Times.
- Vallance, Tom (October 28, 2006). "Arthur Hill Actor of quiet authority". The Independent.
- Byrge, Duane (October 27, 2006). "Actor Arthur Hill dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press.
- Martin, Douglas (October 27, 2006). "Arthur Hill, Actor Who Won Tony for 'Virginia Woolf,' Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2012.