Philip Baker Hall

**Philip Baker Hall** (September 10, 1931 – June 12, 2022) was an illustrious American character actor. His collaborations with *Paul Thomas Anderson*, including *Hard Eight*, *Boogie Nights*, and *Magnolia* were met with acclaimed recognition. As a versatile actor, Hall executed leading roles in films such as *Secret Honor* and *Duck*, while also supporting roles in numerous films like *Midnight Run*, *Say Anything*, *The Talented Mr. Ripley*, *The Contender*, *Bruce Almighty*, and *Argo*. His performance in *Hard Eight* even earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Male Lead and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for his work in Boogie Nights and Magnolia. Hall's film career was parallelled by his prolific work in television. His early work portrayed in *M*A*S*H*, *Murder, She Wrote*, and *Cheers*, and one of his most memorable roles in television was as Lt. Joe Bookman in *Seinfeld*. He had recurring roles in shows like *The Practice*, *The West Wing*, *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, *Modern Family*, and *BoJack Horseman*. Hall was born in Toledo, Ohio, to parents Alice Birdene (née McDonald) and William Alexander Hall. He served as an Army translator and a high school teacher and laid roots to his acting career after his film debut *Cowards*. He has guest starred in episodes of *Murder, She Wrote* and has had over 200 guest roles since 1977. His performance as Richard Nixon in the one-character film *Secret Honor* was deemed with 'savage intensity' and 'venom' and was highly praised by critics.