Photo: NBC Television / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
What I admire most about Holbrook is the discipline of a lifetime. He built his Mark Twain one-man show as a student and kept refining it for decades, which tells you everything about his craftsmanship. He was never the flashy lead; he was the character actor who quietly anchored a scene and made everyone around him better. Living to 95 and working nearly to the end, he embodied the kind of patient, role-first acting that gives American film and television their depth. I'll always prefer this sort of lifelong dedication over star wattage.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Hal Holbrook
- Name (Japanese)
- ハル・ホルブルック
- Reading
- はる・ほるぶるっく
- Born
- February 17, 1925 – January 23, 2021
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Ox
- Origin
- Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- character actor / stage actor / film actor / television actor / screenwriter
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Denison University
Awards & achievements
- 2003 National Humanities Medal
- 1966 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
- 1971 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | North & South | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Hal Holbrook born?
February 17, 1925 – January 23, 2021.
Where is Hal Holbrook from?
Hal Holbrook is from Cleveland, Ohio, United States.
What does Hal Holbrook do?
Hal Holbrook works as character actor, stage actor, film actor, television actor, screenwriter.
What is Hal Holbrook known for?
Notable works include North & South.
Character actor — see all → · Stage actor — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.