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Halliwell Hobbes

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Halliwell Hobbes
Hobbes in Fit for a King (1937)
Born
Herbert Halliwell Hobbes

(1877-11-16)16 November 1877
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, UK
Died20 February 1962(1962-02-20) (aged 84)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1898–1956
Spouse
Nancie B. Marsland
​
​
(m. 1915)​
ChildrenPeter Halliwell Hobbes[1][2]

Herbert Halliwell Hobbes (16 November 1877[3] – 20 February 1962) was an English actor.

Early years

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Hobbes's schooling came at Trinity College in Straford-upon-Avon.[4]

Career

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Hobbes's stage debut was as a member of Frank Benson's company, in the role of Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet in 1898.[5] In 1908 and 1910 he played Prince Michael in The Prince and the Beggar Maid at the Lyceum Theatre in London.

Of his performance in a 1924 production of Ferenc Molnar's The Swan, Benjamin De Casseres wrote:

I would like to enlarge, if space permitted, on that delicious and wonderful Father Hyacinth (Halliwell Hobbes) in "The Swan." Here is a man of the cloth, sane, human, a portrait that is hard to forget. No neurosis there! No agenbite of inwit there! Because Father Hyacinth has the thing that saves—humor. He is tolerant of all things except sham, and is not even intolerant of that. In the drama, as in life, it is the smile that sets us free.[6]

Hobbes moved back to Broadway by the mid-1940s, appearing in Romeo and Juliet as Lord Capulet[3] and continuing there until late 1955. By 1950 he had moved to American television in the diverse playhouse format.

A heart ailment caused Hobbes to retire in 1956.[7]

Personal life

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In 1915, Hobbes married Nancie Brenda Marsland,[3] an actress. They had one son, actor Peter Hobbes.[4][8][1][2]

Death

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After Hobbes died from a heart attack on February 20, 1962, he was buried at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles.[3]

Filmography

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Partial Broadway credits

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Monogram to Distribute John Loder Picture". Showmen's Trade Review. 13 December 1941. p. 18. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Obituaries: Peter Hobbes". The Stage. 8 February 1996. p. 31. ProQuest 962587127. Peter Hobbes, son of Halliwell Hobbes, has died at his Berkshire home. He began his career in Hollywood in the thirties, appearing in many films, including The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Top Hat and Robin Hood. [...] After the war, he returned to his theatrical career in such plays as The Linden Tree. He entered the world of television and for some time was resident announcer and newscaster for Anglia TV. His resonant voice was used for many commercials and commentaries. Latterly he appeared in a number of series including Lovejoy, Trainer, Casualty and The Chief.
  3. ^ a b c d Gordon, Dr Roger L. (2018). Supporting Actors in Motion Pictures. Dorrance. p. 50. ISBN 9781480944992. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Halliwell Hobbes". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. 11 November 1923. p. D 17. Retrieved 22 December 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Broadway Comedy Stars Veteran Halliwell Hobbes". The Indianapolis Star. Indiana, Indianapolis. Associated Press. 10 December 1944. p. 76. Retrieved 22 December 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ De Casseres, Benjamin (April 1924) "Religious Hysteria as a Motive for Drama". Arts & Decoration. p. 66. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Veteran Actor Hobbes Is Dead". Des Moines Tribune. Iowa, Des Moines. Associated Press. 23 February 1962. p. 8. Retrieved 22 December 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ York, Cal (March 1934). "Cal York's Monthly Broadcast from Hollywood". Photoplay. p. 96. Retrieved May 8, 2023. Cal York was a pseudonym, meaning California and New York, and standing for the editors.

Further reading

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