Philip Baker Hall, the prolific cinema and theatrical character actor who played in Paul Thomas Anderson’s early films and famously tracked down a long-overdue library book in “Seinfeld,” has died. He was 90 years old.
Hall died Sunday in Glendale, California, surrounded by loved ones, according to Holly Wolfle Hall, the actor’s wife of nearly 40 years. Hall had been in good health until a few weeks ago, she claimed, and had spent his final days in good spirits, reflecting on his life.
“His voice was still just as forceful at the end,” Wolfle Hall remarked.
“My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most accomplished, and kindest individuals I’ve ever encountered, Philip Baker Hall, died quietly last night,” wrote Los Angeles Times reporter Sam Farmer.
“He was surrounded by loved ones,” Farmer wrote. “There is an empty vacuum in the world.”
Hall had been a well-traveled stage actor and bit-part presence in films and television before a then-unknown Paul Thomas Anderson sought him out to star in his 1993 short film “Cigarettes & Coffee.” Hall was born in Toledo, Ohio, and had been a well-traveled stage actor and bit-part presence in films and television before a then-unknown Paul Thomas Anderson sought him out to star in his 1993 short film “Cigarettes & Coffee.” After the short, which starred Hall as an itinerant gambler, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Anderson extended it into his feature debut, “Hard Eight,” in 1997, which launched Hall’s career. In “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia,” Anderson would cast him again.
Many people remember Hall from one of the most memorable guest appearances on “Seinfeld.” Hall played Lt. Joe Bookman, the library detective who goes after Seinfeld for a long-overdue copy of “Tropic of Cancer” in the 22nd episode of the comedy in 1991. “Well, I got a flash for ya, Joy-boy: Party time is finished,” Hall said to Seinfeld, as if he were an old-school noir investigator.
Other roles Hall has had include playing Richard Nixon in Robert Altman’s thriller “Secret Honor” from 1984. “The Truman Show,” “The Insider,” “Zodiac,” “Argo,” and “Rush Hour” were among the films in which he appeared.
His wife, four daughters, four granddaughters, and brother survive him.