Philip Baker Hall has sadly passed away at the age of 90.
The news was announced on Monday by Twitter by Hall's neighbor and LA Times reporter Sam Farmer, who wrote alongside a picture of the late actor: "My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most talented and kindest people I’ve ever met, Philip Baker Hall, died peacefully last night. He was surrounded by loved ones. The world has an empty space in it."
Born in Toledo, Ohio, on September 10, 1931, Hall would serve in Germany as a United States Army translator, before becoming a high school teacher.
His acting career spanned six decades, with Hall having memorable roles on stage, and both the big and little screen.
Movie fans will remember the gruff-voiced star for his roles in The Amityville Horror, Bruce Almighty, Magnolia, The Truman Show, Ghostbusters II, The Rock, and Enemy of the State. (Me, personally, I can first remember watching Hall as the ball-busting Captain Diel in Rush Hour alongside Chris Tucker.)
His television credits include some of the biggest shows of all time, such as M*A*S*H, Quincy, M.E., Family Ties, Seinfeld, Cheers, The West Wing, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Modern Family.
Speaking to the A.V. Club back in 2012, Hall said of his role in Modern Family: "It's always fun to have a good part on one of the best shows on TV. It's a great show, and I'm grateful for the time I got to be on there."
According to IMDb, Hall's final acting credit came back in 2020, when he appeared in six episodes of Messiah as Zelman Katz.
Towards the end of his life, Hall was often photographed requiring the use of an oxygen tank. This was down to his battle with emphysema, which stemmed from decades of smoking, per Rolling Stone. Nevertheless, he continued to work regularly.
Our thoughts go out to Hall's family, friends, and fans at this time.
