Jonathan Hale

Jonathan Hale

Deceased · Born: Mar 21, 1891 · Died: Feb 28, 1966

1952
1950
1949
1948
1947
1942
1940
1939
1938
1937
1936

Personal Details

BornMar 21, 1891 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Spouse
  • Hester Hyde

    ( Jan 20, 1920 to Dec 31, 1969 )
  • ?

Biography

Jonathan Hale, a renowned Canadian character actor, embarked on a illustrious film career, boasting an impressive portfolio of over 260 cinematic and television appearances.

Prior to his successful foray into the world of film, Hale served in the diplomatic service, where his dignified demeanor proved to be a valuable asset when portraying high-ranking corporate executives, military officers, and politicians on the big and small screens.

One of Hale's most iconic and enduring roles was that of J.C. Dithers, the authoritative boss of Dagwood Bumstead, in the beloved "Blondie" film series. He skillfully portrayed this character in 16 of the 28 films, starting from the inaugural installment, "Blondie" (1938),until his departure from the series in 1946.

Tragically, Hale's life was cut short in 1966, as he succumbed to his struggles with health and personal issues, ultimately taking his own life.

Career

1956
Jaguar
Jaguar as Dr. Powell
1955
The Night Holds Terror
The Night Holds Terror as Bob Henderson
Cattle Queen of Montana
Cattle Queen of Montana as Politician (uncredited)
She Couldn't Say No
She Couldn't Say No as John Bentley
1953
The Flaming Urge
The Flaming Urge as Mr. Chalmers
Taxi
Taxi as Mr. Barker (uncredited)
Kansas Pacific
Kansas Pacific as Sherman Johnson
1952
Scandal Sheet
Scandal Sheet as Frank Madison
The Steel Trap
The Steel Trap as Tom Bowers
Young Man with Ideas
Young Man with Ideas as Stanley Rickson (uncredited)
Son of Paleface
Son of Paleface as Governor Freeman (uncredited)
1951
Insurance Investigator
Insurance Investigator as Russell James
The Tall Target
The Tall Target as Passenger from Carolina (uncredited)
1950
Federal Agent at Large
Federal Agent at Large as James Goodwin
Three Husbands
Three Husbands as Edward Wurdeman - Attorney at Law
Short Grass
Short Grass as Charlie Bissel
Triple Trouble
Triple Trouble as The Judge
1949
State Department: File 649
State Department: File 649 as Director-General
Stampede
Stampede as Varick
The Judge
The Judge as Judge Allan J. Brooks
The Fountainhead
The Fountainhead as Guy Francon (uncredited)
1948
Silver River
Silver River as Major Spencer
Tap Roots
Tap Roots as Gen. Johnston (uncredited)
Johnny Belinda
Johnny Belinda as Dr. Horace M. Gray (uncredited)
Call Northside 777
Call Northside 777 as Governor's Aide Robert Winston (uncredited)
1947
The Ghost Goes Wild
The Ghost Goes Wild as Max Atterbury
Black Gold
Black Gold as Senator Watkins
High Wall
High Wall as Emory Garrison
The Beginning or the End
The Beginning or the End as Dr. Vannevar Bush
1946
Riverboat Rhythm
Riverboat Rhythm as Col. Edward Beeler
Gay Blades
Gay Blades as Whittlesey
Wife Wanted
Wife Wanted as Philip Conway
Blondie's Lucky Day
Blondie's Lucky Day as J.C. Dithers
Rolling Home
Rolling Home as Henry Kane
The Cat Creeps
The Cat Creeps as Walter Elliott
Blondie Knows Best
Blondie Knows Best as J.C. Dithers
Easy to Wed
Easy to Wed as Hector Boswell
Angel on My Shoulder
Angel on My Shoulder as Citizens for Better Government Chairman (uncredited)
1945
The Strange Mr. Gregory
The Strange Mr. Gregory as Defense Attorney Blair
The Phantom Speaks
The Phantom Speaks as Owen McAllister
G.I. Honeymoon
G.I. Honeymoon as Colonel Hammerhead Smith
Allotment Wives
Allotment Wives as Brig. Gen. H.N. Gilbert
Leave It to Blondie
Leave It to Blondie as J.C. Dithers
Life with Blondie
Life with Blondie as J.C. Dithers
Man Alive
Man Alive as Osborne
Divorce
Divorce as Judge
Dakota
Dakota as Colonel Wordin
1944
Dead Man's Eyes
Dead Man's Eyes as Dr. Sam Welles
End of the Road
End of the Road as Gregory McCune
My Buddy
My Buddy as Senator Henry
The Black Parachute
The Black Parachute as King Stephen
Hollywood Canteen
Hollywood Canteen as Mr. Brodel (uncredited)
1943
It's a Great Life
It's a Great Life as J.C. Dithers
Jack London
Jack London as Kerwin Maxwell
Footlight Glamour
Footlight Glamour as J.C. Dithers
The Rear Gunner
The Rear Gunner as Commanding Officer
Nobody's Darling
Nobody's Darling as Jason Rhodes
1942
Blondie for Victory
Blondie for Victory as J.C. Dithers
Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant as Joseph Sanford
Miss Annie Rooney
Miss Annie Rooney as Mr. Martin White
Joe Smith, American
Joe Smith, American as Blake McKettrick
Lone Star Ranger
Lone Star Ranger as Judge Longstreth
Calling Dr. Gillespie
Calling Dr. Gillespie as Frank M. Todwell
The Bugle Sounds
The Bugle Sounds as Brigadier-General
1941
Blondie in Society
Blondie in Society as J.C. Dithers
Flight from Destiny
Flight from Destiny as Dist. Atty. Johnson
The Saint in Palm Springs
The Saint in Palm Springs as Inspector Henry Fernack
Her First Beau
Her First Beau as Mr. Harris
Blondie Goes Latin
Blondie Goes Latin as J.C. Dithers
Strange Alibi
Strange Alibi as Police Chief Sprague
Ringside Maisie
Ringside Maisie as Dr. Kramer
1940
Blondie Plays Cupid
Blondie Plays Cupid as J.C. Dithers
Melody and Moonlight
Melody and Moonlight as Otis Barnett
Private Affairs
Private Affairs as George Gilkin
The Saint Takes Over
The Saint Takes Over as Inspector Henry Fernack
Dulcy
Dulcy as Homer Patterson
Johnny Apollo
Johnny Apollo as Dr. Brown
The Saint's Double Trouble
The Saint's Double Trouble as Inspector Henry Fernack
1939
In Name Only
In Name Only as Dr. Gateson
In Old Monterey
In Old Monterey as Stevenson
The Saint Strikes Back
The Saint Strikes Back as Inspector Henry Fernack
Barricade
Barricade as Assistant Secretary of State
Wings of the Navy
Wings of the Navy as Commandant
Tail Spin
Tail Spin as Racing Official Starter (Uncredited)
Stand Up and Fight
Stand Up and Fight as Colonel Webb
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell as President of Western Union
1938
Over the Wall
Over the Wall as Governor James McDonald
Tarnished Angel
Tarnished Angel as Detective Sgt. Cramer
Letter of Introduction
Letter of Introduction as Lou Woodstock (uncredited)
Boys Town
Boys Town as John Hargraves
The Saint in New York
The Saint in New York as Inspector Henry Fernack
Her Jungle Love
Her Jungle Love as J.C. Martin
Blondie
Blondie as Mr. Dithers
Yellow Jack
Yellow Jack as Major General Leonard Wood
The Duke of West Point
The Duke of West Point as Steven's Father
Arsène Lupin Returns
Arsène Lupin Returns as F.B.I. Special Agent
1937
Saratoga
Saratoga as Frank Clayton
Man of the People
Man of the People as Carter Spetner
Exiled to Shanghai
Exiled to Shanghai as J.B. Willet
She's Dangerous
She's Dangerous as Charles Fitzgerald
Madame X
Madame X as Hugh Fariman Sr.
Wings Over Honolulu
Wings Over Honolulu as Judge Advocate
Sea Devils
Sea Devils as Court-Martial President (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
A Star Is Born as Judge George J. Parris (uncredited)
You Only Live Once
You Only Live Once as District Attorney (uncredited)
1936
The Devil Is a Sissy
The Devil Is a Sissy as Judge Holmes
36 Hours to Kill
36 Hours to Kill as Mac - Train Conductor
The Voice of Bugle Ann
The Voice of Bugle Ann as District Attorney
Three Live Ghosts
Three Live Ghosts as Detective Bolton
Charlie Chan's Secret
Charlie Chan's Secret as Warren T. Phelps
The Case Against Mrs. Ames
The Case Against Mrs. Ames as First trial judge
Happy-Go-Lucky
Happy-Go-Lucky as J. Lansing Bennett
The Accusing Finger
The Accusing Finger as Special Prosecutor
Sutter's Gold
Sutter's Gold as Prosecuting Attorney
Sinner Take All
Sinner Take All as Dr. Harrison (uncredited)
You May Be Next!
You May Be Next! as Army Officer (uncredited)
China Clipper
China Clipper as State Department Official (uncredited)
Fury
Fury as Defense Attorney
1935
Alice Adams
Alice Adams as Mr. Palmer
The Raven
The Raven as Bedside Dr. at Jerry's Right (uncredited)
A Night at the Ritz
A Night at the Ritz as Director (uncredited)
Page Miss Glory
Page Miss Glory as Husband at Train Station (uncredited)
Let 'em Have It
Let 'em Have It as Microscopic Expert
If You Could Only Cook
If You Could Only Cook as Henry Brown - Member of Board of Directors (uncredited)
Public Hero Number 1
Public Hero Number 1 as Prison Board Member (uncredited)
'G' Men
'G' Men as Congressman (uncredited)
A Night at the Opera
A Night at the Opera as The Stage Manager (uncredited)
1934
A Lost Lady
A Lost Lady as (uncredited)
The Case of the Howling Dog
The Case of the Howling Dog as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Housewife
Housewife as Doctor