It’s a sad time for horror fans. It’s just been announced that actor Hal Holbrook, which fans will likely recognize from classics such as George Romero’s Creepshow, and John Carpenter’s The Fog, has been confirmed dead at age 95. Hal Holbrook, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in February 1925, first became something of a horror icon in 1980 when he played Father Malone in The Fog. It was one of many movies that earned John Carpenter the title “Master of Horror”, and it couldn’t have happened without the great support from cast members like Hal Holbrook. Likewise, he was in fellow “Master of Horror” George Romero’s Creepshow. In that film, he appeared in the classic segment The Crate, based on a short story by Stephen King.
Obviously those two films were giant milestones for the horror genre, and it’s remarkable that Hal Holbrook was able to be a part of both of them. His characters in both projects were incredibly memorable, and are great testaments to his acting abilities.
With that being said, Hal Holbrook’s career far outspans his appearances in those two films. He also appeared in numerous television shows, and earned a Tony Award for his portrayal of famous author Mark Twain. In fact, Hal Holbrook earned 10 Emmy nominations throughout his career. So while horror fans will always hold Hal Holbrook in high regard, he’s no doubt left a much bigger impact on the entertainment world.
A few of Hal Holbrook’s other genre appearances include Rituals (1977), The Unholy (1988), Hush (1998), and the year 2000 episode Final Appeal from The Outer Limits. A few of his other non-genre appearances included Wild in the Streets, Magnum Force, Capricorn One, The Star Chamber, Wall Street, All the President’s Men, Water for Elephants, Promised Land and director Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln.
According to the actor’s publicist, Holbrook was confirmed dead on January 23, 2021. Hal Holbrook is survived by his three children Victoria, David, and Eve, as well as his two step-children, and a variety of grandchildren.