William Harold "Hal" Riddle (December 11, 1919,
Fulton, Kentucky, USA – June 17, 2009,
Woodland Hills, California) was a Broadway, movie and television actor. Better known as a character actor than a featured player, Riddle appeared in numerous supporting roles in the 1950s – 1980s.
Career
Riddle's interest in acting started after receiving an autographed picture from actor
Billie Dove. Riddle quit a salesman job at National Cash Register Company in New York City in 1946 to join
Hayloft Summer Theater in
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Allenschteddel'', ''Allenschtadt'', or ''Ellsdaun'') is a city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The city has a population of 125,845 as of the 2020 United ...
as a secretary.
[ While there he was given small parts and roomed with an unknown ]Jack Lemmon
John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001) was an American actor. Considered equally proficient in both dramatic and comic roles, Lemmon was known for his anxious, middle-class everyman screen persona in dramedy pictures, leadin ...
. After leaving Hayloft Riddle joined Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse where he worked with Grace Kelly and Steve McQueen.
Riddle made his Broadway debut in 1950 in '' Mister Roberts'' and moved to Hollywood to take a part in 1958 film '' Onionhead''. Riddle retired from acting in 1995.
Hollywood memorabilia collection
Riddle's interest in Hollywood and acting started when, as an 11-year-old, he received an autographed picture from silent film star Billie Dove. Over the next 80 years Riddle added original movie posters, autographed pictures, and letters to the collection. In 2001, Riddle donated his collection of more than 1,700 movie-related items spanning over 70 years to his alma mater, Murray State University in Kentucky.
Billie Dove friendship
In 1995, Riddle retired to the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital. While there, Riddle struck up a friendship with Billie Dove who in 1922 sparked Riddle's interest in acting. In 1998, Riddle delivered fellow actor Billie Dove's eulogy.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Riddle, Hal
1919 births
2009 deaths
American male stage actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
People from Fulton, Kentucky
20th-century American male actors