RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
06-13-22 | 12:21 PM
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RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Hollywood star Philip Baker Hall has died, aged 90.
The news was announced by his friend and neighbour Sam Farmer on Monday (13 June).
In a tweet, Los Angeles Times sports writer Farmer wrote: “My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most talented and kindest people I’ve ever met, Philip Baker Hall, died peacefully last night. He was surrounded by loved ones. The world has an empty space in it.”
A cause of death was not given, though, the actor suffered from emphysema, partly as a result of contracting pneumonia as a child, and could only film a few minutes at a time towards the end of his career.
Hall had a prolific career in Hollywood, boasting 185 film and TV credits, according to IMDb. He is known for his work with Paul Thomas Anderson in Boogie Nights (1997) and Magnolia (1999), and for a turn in Seinfeld as the scene-stealing library cop Lieutenant Bookman.
“He has a basset-hound look, a gravitas and weight,” actor John C Reilly, who starred with Hall in Anderson’s Hard Eight in 1996, told The Washington Post in 2017.
“Philip has made me laugh harder than any actor I’ve worked with,” Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who hired Hall repeatedly, told the publication.
The news was announced by his friend and neighbour Sam Farmer on Monday (13 June).
In a tweet, Los Angeles Times sports writer Farmer wrote: “My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most talented and kindest people I’ve ever met, Philip Baker Hall, died peacefully last night. He was surrounded by loved ones. The world has an empty space in it.”
A cause of death was not given, though, the actor suffered from emphysema, partly as a result of contracting pneumonia as a child, and could only film a few minutes at a time towards the end of his career.
Hall had a prolific career in Hollywood, boasting 185 film and TV credits, according to IMDb. He is known for his work with Paul Thomas Anderson in Boogie Nights (1997) and Magnolia (1999), and for a turn in Seinfeld as the scene-stealing library cop Lieutenant Bookman.
“He has a basset-hound look, a gravitas and weight,” actor John C Reilly, who starred with Hall in Anderson’s Hard Eight in 1996, told The Washington Post in 2017.
“Philip has made me laugh harder than any actor I’ve worked with,” Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who hired Hall repeatedly, told the publication.
06-13-22 | 12:24 PM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Damn. Quoted his character from Boogie Nights in a thread a few hours ago and been laughing about it and his delivery since.
He liked simple pleasures, like butter in his ass and lollipops in his mouth. RIP PBH
He liked simple pleasures, like butter in his ass and lollipops in his mouth. RIP PBH
Last edited by Nesbit; 06-13-22 at 12:29 PM.
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Why So Blu? (06-13-22)
06-13-22 | 12:34 PM
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Aww. RIP Bookman.
06-13-22 | 12:40 PM
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Secret weapon of Magnolia. He was amazing in that.
06-13-22 | 12:47 PM
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Oh wow. Didn't know his name but for damn sure knew his face and voice. RIP.
06-13-22 | 01:04 PM
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
I remember when the librarian was a much older woman. Kindly, discreet, unattractive. We didn't know anything about her private life. We didn't want to know anything about her private life.
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Vipper II (06-15-22)
06-13-22 | 02:29 PM
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
such a great character actor. Mamet, Anderson, he could do it all with such grizzled grace and panache. loved seeing him on screen in anything.
06-13-22 | 02:49 PM
#10
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
After I saw PBH's great performance in Hard Eight, I wondered why he didn't get more starring roles.
RIP Philip Baker Hall.
RIP Philip Baker Hall.
06-13-22 | 03:24 PM
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Hard Eight, Boogie Nights and Magnolia - a PTA fixture and was fantastic in all of them.
Also, yet another fatality of the Modern Family curse. But is it really a curse when the person is 90 years old?
So that's Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ricky Jay, Robert Downey Sr. and now Philip Baker Hall - actors who were in both Boogie Nights and Magnolia who've died.
Also, yet another fatality of the Modern Family curse. But is it really a curse when the person is 90 years old?
So that's Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ricky Jay, Robert Downey Sr. and now Philip Baker Hall - actors who were in both Boogie Nights and Magnolia who've died.
06-13-22 | 03:46 PM
#12
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Sad news. He was one of those character actors that always made a movie better with his presence.
For those who never saw his appearance on Seinfeld. It’s a classic.
For those who never saw his appearance on Seinfeld. It’s a classic.
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andicus (06-13-22)
06-13-22 | 04:02 PM
#13
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
I know he did more but his guest appearance on Seinfeld was great. A lot of great actors/actresses from that show are passing recently. RIP.
06-13-22 | 04:20 PM
#14
Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
This is one of those celebrity deaths, where I paused and thought - "Didn't this guy already pass?"
But it's still terrible news, regardless. I loved him in Magnolia.
But it's still terrible news, regardless. I loved him in Magnolia.
06-13-22 | 04:48 PM
#15
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
He was great in Zodiac.
The Boogie Nights line was epic, though.
The Boogie Nights line was epic, though.
06-13-22 | 05:14 PM
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DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Any fan of Hall should definitely check out Secret Honor, a one man show of him playing Richard Nixon in his final days in office directed by the great Robert Altman. He’s amazing in it.
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William Fuld (06-14-22)
06-13-22 | 06:33 PM
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
A first ballot PTA Hall of Famer. RIP PBH
06-13-22 | 07:32 PM
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Hard Eight was the film I first noticed him in and made me an instant fan. So glad that PTA was able to make that film with him in the lead. It's one of my faves from the 90's. Hard to believe it's over 25 years old now. Such a great presence and voice. So glad he found broader recognition in later life.
06-13-22 | 07:44 PM
#20
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Agree with many others above on first seeing him in Hard Eight. Simply mesmerizing in that movie and really brings everyone up to another level of acting. Made me a fan from that point on. He was always top notch in everything from Seinfeld to his continuing PTA appearances. One of the great character actors. RIP.
06-13-22 | 08:07 PM
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06-14-22 | 03:36 AM
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
RIP I remember him in Hard 8 and Magnolia and usually any film he appeared in usually you knew it was going to be quality stuff.
06-14-22 | 11:59 AM
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06-14-22 | 04:59 PM
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Re: RIP: Philip Baker Hall - Dead at 90
Hard Eight is streaming on Showtime Anytime if you have it. It’s a delight seeing for second time. Hall owns the whole movie. Owns it. Just a mesmerizing performance. So suave, debonair. Such a joy to watch.