Philip Baker Hall Biography

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Philip Baker Hall in The Weinstein Company's The Matador - 2005

Birth Date: September 10, 1931

Birth Place: Toledo, Ohio, USA

Philip Baker Hall received critical acclaim for his starring role in Paul Thomas Anderson's debut feature, “Hard Eight,” culminating in an IFP Spirit Award nomination for Best Actor of 1997. He then appeared in Anderson's next two films, the Academy Award-nominated “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia.” Recently, Hall co-starred in the hit comedy “Bruce Almighty,” with Jim Carrey; in Lars Von Trier's “Dogville,” with Nicole Kidman; in the Weitz Bros.' comedy “In Good Company,” opposite Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace; “The Matador,” opposite Pierce Brosnan; and “The Amityville Horror.” He recently completed “Mrs. Harris,” with Annette Bening and Ellen Burstyn, and the thriller “The Zodiac.”

Hall's other credits include: Phil Alden Robinson's “The Sum of All Fears,” Rod Lurie's “The Contender,” Michael Mann's “The Insider,” Tim Robbins' “The Cradle Will Rock,” Anthony Minghella's “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and William Friedkin's “Rules of Engagement.” Additional credits include: Wolfgang Petersen's “Air Force One,” Michael Bay's “The Rock,” Larry David's “Sour Grapes,” John Schlesinger's “An Eye for an Eye,” Barbet Schroeder's “Kiss of Death,” Peter Weir's “The Truman Show,” Ridley Scott's “Enemy of the State,” Gus Van Sant's 1998 version of “Psycho” and Brett Ratner's hit comedy “Rush Hour.”

Hall is also recognized for his memorable performance as Richard Nixon in Robert Altman's award-winning “Secret Honor,” which was filmed subsequent to Mr. Hall's stage presentation of the Donald Freed play, directed by Robert Harders. Hall received a Drama Desk nomination for this role from the New York Theatre Critics Association.

Hall began his career in the theater, appearing in many Broadway, off-Broadway and regional productions. In New York, he appeared with Helen Hayes in “The Skin of Our Teeth” and with John Cazale in “J.B.,” as well as the title role in “Gorky.” In the Los Angeles area, he has starred in plays at The Mark Taper Forum and The South Coast Repertory. At the Los Angeles Theatre Center, he starred in “All My Sons” opposite Bill Pullman, “Death of a Salesman,” “The Crucible,” “Short Eyes” and “The Petrified Forest,” among other productions.

Hall is also known to television audiences for recurring roles on David E. Kelley's “The Practice” and “Boston Legal” and Chris Carter's “Millennium.” He has guest-starred on such series as “Seinfield,” where he played Mr. Bookman, the library cop in a classic episode; “3rd Rock from the Sun”; “West Wing”; and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” among others. He was also seen in the NBC miniseries “Witness to the Mob,” produced by Robert De Niro.

Philip Baker Hall Filmography

Islander (2007) Popper

You Kill Me (2007) Roman Krzeminski

Zodiac (2007) Sherwood Morrill

The Shaggy Dog (2006) Lance Strictland

The Zodiac (2006) Frank Perkins

The Amityville Horror (2005) Father Callaway

The Matador (2005) Mr. Randy

Dogville (2004) Tom Edison Sr

In Good Company (2004) Eugene Kalb

Bruce Almighty (2003) Jack Keller

Die Mommie Die! (2003) Sol Sussman