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Alan Hale, Sr.

Alan Hale Sr.
Alan Hale 1921.jpg
Alan Hale in 1921
Born Rufus Edward Mackahan
(1892-02-10)February 10, 1892
Washington, D.C.,U.S.
Died January 22, 1950(1950-01-22) (aged 57)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Cause of death Liver Ailment
Occupation Actor/Director
Years active 1899–1950
Spouse(s) Gretchen Hartman(1914–1950; his death)
Children Alan Hale Jr.(son)

Alan Hale Sr. (February 10, 1892 – January 22, 1950) was an American movie actor and director, most widely remembered for his many supporting character roles, in particular as frequent sidekick of Errol Flynn, as well as movies supporting Lon Chaney, Wallace Beery, Douglas Fairbanks, James Cagney, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart and Ronald Reagan, among dozens of others.

Hale was born Rufus Edward Mackahan in Washington, D.C.. He studied to be an opera singer and also had success as an inventor. Among his innovations were a sliding theater chair (to allow spectators to slide back to admit newcomers rather than having to stand up), the hand fire extinguisher, and greaseless potato chips.

His first film role was in the 1911 silent movie The Cowboy and the Lady. He played "Little John" in the 1922 film Robin Hood, with Douglas Fairbanks and Wallace Beery, reprised the role 16 years later in The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, then played him yet again in Rogues of Sherwood Forest in 1950 with John Derek as Robin Hood's son, an unprecedented 28-year span of portrayals of the same character in theatrical films.


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