Dennis Hoey (born Samuel David Hyams, 30 March 1893 – 25 July 1960) was a British film and stage actor, best remembered for playing

Inspector Lestrade Detective Inspector G. Lestrade ( or ) is a fictional character appearing in the Sherlock Holmes stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle. Lestrade's first appearance was in the first Sherlock Holmes story, the 1887 novel ''A Study in Scarlet''. Hi ...

in six films of

Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company that is a subsidiary of Comcast ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of N ...

's Sherlock Holmes series.

Early life

Hoey was born Samuel David Hyams in London to Ellis and Leah (Green) Hyams, both of Russian Jewish descent, who ran a bed and breakfast in

Brighton Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...

East Sussex East Sussex is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, Surrey to the north-west, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement ...

. Hoey received his formal education at

Brighton College Brighton College is a fee-charging, co-educational, boarding and day public school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 in Brighton and Hove, England. The school has three sites: Brighton College (the senior school, ages 11 to 18), Brighton Co ...

, and originally planned to be a teacher. He served in the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. After a career as a singer, which included entertaining British troops during his war service, he moved into theatre-acting in 1918, and later into cinema films. In 1931, Hoey moved to the United States and commenced a career in Hollywood.

Film

Hoey's first film was '' Tell England''. He is best known for playing

in six

's Sherlock Holmes series. He also portrayed the master of Harrow in '' The Foxes of Harrow'' and appeared in ''

Tarzan and the Leopard Woman ''Tarzan and the Leopard Woman'' is a 1946 American action film based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs and portrayed by Johnny Weissmuller. Directed by Kurt Neumann, the film sees Tarzan encounter a tribe of leopard-wors ...

''.

Stage

Hoey "appeared frequently in London" stage productions, including those of Sydney Carroll's Shakespearean repertory company. He played Mr. Rochester opposite

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress whose Katharine Hepburn on screen and stage, career as a Golden Age of Hollywood, Hollywood leading lady spanned six decades. She was known for her headstrong ...

in the American production of Helen Jerome's stage adaptation of ''

Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The firs ...

''. He also wrote a play called ''The Haven'' and toured in it in 1946 with

Melville Cooper George Melville Cooper (15 October 1896 – 13 March 1973) was an English actor. His many notable screen roles include the High Sheriff of Nottingham in ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' (1938), Mr. Collins in ''Pride and Prejudice'' (1940) and ...

, Valerie Cossart and Viola Roache. Hoey's Broadway credits include ''Hassan'' (1924), ''Katja'' (1926–1927), '' Green Waters'' (1936), ''

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

'' (1937), ''Empress of Destiny'' (1938), ''The Circle'' (1938), ''Lorelei'' (1938), ''The Burning Deck'' (1940), ''Heart of a City'' (1942), ''The Haven'' (1946), and ''Getting Married'' (1951).

Radio

On radio, Hoey played Mr. Welby in ''Pretty Kitty Kelly'' on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

Personal life

Issue No. 45 of ''Films of the Golden Age'' (magazine) features an interview with Hoey's son,

Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * he He ..., a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name * Michael (bishop elect)">Michael (surname)">he He ..., a given nam ...

(1934–2014), who extensively discusses his father's life and career. In Michael's book, ''Elvis, Sherlock and Me: How I Survived Growing Up in Hollywood'' (Bear Manor Media-2007), he discusses his father's career and their sometimes turbulent relationship.

Death

Hoey died at the age of 67 in

Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. Located on a barrier island in east-central Palm Beach County, the town is separated from West Palm Beach, Florida, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach, Florida, ...

, of kidney disease on 25 July 1960. His body was buried at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park cemetery, in

Tampa Tampa ( ) is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Tampa's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and t ...

, Florida.NNDB
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Filmography

* '' Tip Toes'' (1927) as Hotelier (film debut) * '' The Man from Chicago'' (1930) as Jimmy Donovan * '' Tell England'' (1931) as The Padre * '' Never Trouble Trouble'' (1931) as Stranger * '' Love Lies'' (1932) as Cyrus Watt * '' Life Goes On'' (1932) as Anthony Carlisle * ''

The Maid of the Mountains ''The Maid of the Mountains'', called in its original score a musical play, is an operetta or "Edwardian" musical comedy in three acts. The music was by Harold Fraser-Simson, with additional music by James W. Tate, lyrics by Harry Graham a ...

'' (1932) as Orsino * '' Baroud'' (1933) as Captain Sabry * ''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a Concert Party (entertainment), concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established hi ...

'' (1933) as Joe Brundit * ''

The Wandering Jew The Wandering Jew (occasionally referred to as the Eternal Jew, a calque from German ) is a mythical Immortality, immortal man whose legend began to spread in Europe in the 13th century. In the original legend, a Jew who taunted Jesus on the way ...

'' (1933) as Lord de Beaudricourt * '' Maid Happy'' (1933) as Sir Rudolph Bartlett * '' Facing the Music'' (1933) as Capradossi * '' My Old Duchess'' (1934) as Montagu Neilson * '' Lily of Killarney'' (1934) as Miles-Na-Copaleen * '' Chu Chin Chow'' (1934) as Rakham, chief henchman * '' I Spy'' (1934) as MNT * '' Jew Süss'' (1934) as Dieterle * ''

Brewster's Millions ''Brewster's Millions'' is a comedic novel written by George Barr McCutcheon in 1902, originally under the pseudonym of Richard Greaves. The plot concerns a young man whose grandfather leaves him $1 million in a will, but a competing will from ...

'' (1935) as Mario * '' Immortal Gentleman'' (1935) as Soldier/Toby Belch * '' Honeymoon for Three'' (1935) as Mons Daumery * '' The Tunnel'' (1935) as Worker (uncredited) * ''

The Mystery of the Mary Celeste ''The Mystery of the Mary Celeste'' (U.S. title: ''The Phantom Ship'') is a 1935 British mystery film A mystery film is a film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private invest ...

'' (1935) as Tom Goodschard * '' Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn'' (1935) as Gambling Winner * '' Black Roses'' (1935) as Nikander * '' Uncivilised'' (1937) as Mara the White Chief * '' A Yank in the R.A.F.'' (1941) as Intelligence Officer * '' Confirm or Deny'' (1941) as Duffield, Ministry of Information * '' Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake'' (1942) as Lord Tarrant * '' This Above All'' (1942) as Parsons * ''

Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...

'' (1942) as Colonel Woodhue * ''

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon ''Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon'' (1942) is the fourth in the Sherlock Holmes (1939 film series), Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce series of 14 Sherlock Holmes films which updated the characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the then p ...

'' (1942) as

* '' Forever and a Day'' (1943) as Mover * '' Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man'' (1943) as Inspector Owen * ''

They Came to Blow Up America ''They Came to Blow Up America'', also known as ''School for Sabotage'' and ''School for Saboteurs'', is a 1943 American war spy film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring George Sanders and Anna Sten. It is based on the World War II Operation P ...

'' (1943) as Col. Taeger * '' Bomber's Moon'' (1943) as Colonel von Grunow * ''

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death ''Sherlock Holmes Faces Death'' is the sixth film in the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce series of Sherlock Holmes films. Made in 1943, it is a loose adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1893 Holmes short story " The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritua ...

'' (1943) as Inspector Lestrade * ''

The Spider Woman ''The Spider Woman'' (alternatively titled ''Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman'' and ''Spider Woman'') is a 1943 mystery film starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, the seventh of fourteen such films the ...

'' (1944) as Inspector Lestrade * '' Uncertain Glory'' (1944) as Father Le Clerc * '' The Pearl of Death'' (1944) as Inspector Lestrade * '' National Velvet'' (1944) as Mr. Greenford * ''

The Keys of the Kingdom ''The Keys of the Kingdom'' is a 1941 in literature, 1941 novel by A. J. Cronin. Spanning six decades, it tells the story of Father Francis Chisholm, an unconventional Scottish Catholic priest who struggles to establish a mission (Christian), ...

'' (1944) as Alec Chisholm (uncredited) * '' Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear'' (1945) as Inspector Lestrade * '' A Thousand and One Nights'' (1945) as Sultan Kamar Al-Kir/Prince Hadji * '' Kitty'' (1945) as Mr. Jonathan Selby * ''

'' (1946) as Commissioner * '' Terror by Night'' (1946) as Inspector Lestrade * '' She-Wolf of London'' (1946) as Inspector Pierce * '' Anna and the King of Siam'' (1946) as Sir Edward * '' Roll on Texas Moon'' (1946) as Cole Gregory * '' The Strange Woman'' (1946) as Tim Hager * '' The Crimson Key'' (1947) as Steven Loring * '' Second Chance'' (1947) as Roger Elwood * '' Golden Earrings'' (1947) as Hoff * '' The Foxes of Harrow'' (1947) as Master of Harrow * ''

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...

'' (1947) as Williams-Butler * '' Where There's Life'' (1947) as Minister of War Grubitch * '' If Winter Comes'' (1947) as Tiny Wilson * '' Ruthless'' (1948) as Mr. Burnside * ''

Joan of Arc Joan of Arc ( ; ; – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the Coronation of the French monarch, coronation of Charles VII o ...

'' (1948) as Sir William Glasdale * '' Wake of the Red Witch'' (1948) as Captain Munsey * '' Bad Men of Tombstone'' (1949) as Mr. Smith * ''

The Secret Garden ''The Secret Garden'' is a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in book form in 1911, after serialisation in ''The American Magazine'' (November 1910 – August 1911). Set in England, it is seen as a classic of English c ...

'' (1949) as Mr. Pitcher * '' The Kid from Texas'' (1950) as Major Harper * '' The Adventures of Ellery Queen'' (1950, TV) as Ronny Sinclair * '' David and Bathsheba'' (1951) as

Joab Joab (; ), the son of Zeruiah, was the nephew of King David and the commander of his army according to the Hebrew Bible. Name The name Joab is, like many other Hebrew names, theophoric—derived from Yahweh (), the name of the God of Israel, ...

* '' Caribbean Gold'' (1952) as Burford * '' Plymouth Adventure'' (1952) as Head Constable (final film, uncredited) * '' Omnibus'' (1956, TV) as

Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Hol ...

Stage

* ''Hassan'' (1924), Masrur * ''Katja'' (1926), Ivo * ''Green Waters'' (1936), Ian McRuvie * ''Jane Eyre'' (1936), Mr. Rochester * ''Virginia'' (1937), Sir Guy Carleton * ''Empress of Destiny'' (1938), Potemkin * ''The Circle'' (1938), Lord Porteous * ''Lorelei'' (1938), Reprecht Eisenkranz * ''The Burning Deck'' (1940), Captain Applegate * ''Heart of a City'' (1942), Leo Saddle * ''The Haven'' (1946), Edmund Durward * ''

Getting Married ''Getting Married'' is a play by George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on ...

'' (1951), The General

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hoey, Dennis 1893 births 1960 deaths English male film actors English male stage actors English expatriate male actors in the United States English people of Russian-Jewish descent British Army personnel of World War I Male actors from London 20th-century English male actors