Philip Baker Hall, who is known for his roles in Modern Family, Magnolia, and Hard Eight among many others, has just died at age 90.
Philip Baker Hall, who is known for his extensive filmography with highlight performances in films such as Magnolia and Hard Eight has died at the age of 90. His neighbor, Sam Farmer, announced the actor’s death on Twitter.
“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.”
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. pic.twitter.com/pBCaILjHPT
— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) June 13, 2022
A heralded character actor, Hall worked extensively throughout the decades, appearing in everything from M*A*S*H to Ghosbusters II.
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After befriending a budding young filmmaker in the 90s, Hall would go on to memorably star in several Paul Thomas Anderson films (Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, Magnolia), which grew Hall’s profile further in Hollywood.
On television, he appeared in both Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, with Larry David once proclaiming, “Philip has made me laugh harder than any actor I’ve worked with.” In his later years, Hall’s voice could be heard in Bojack Horseman, while he also appeared briefly in The Newsroom and Modern Family.
It was his role as library cop Joe Bookman in Seinfeld, however, that he’s arguably best known for. “Bookman is the one that everyone remembers,” Hall himself once said. “People will say forever, at the supermarket or wherever, it doesn’t matter where, ‘Oh, you’re Bookman, right? I really loved that Bookman. Now, I know you’ve done a lot of other things, but I loved that Bookman character.’
When they say, ‘I know you’ve done a lot of other things,’ it’s like, ‘You don’t know the half of it!’ But Bookman? Bookman hits a response button. And I’m not ungrateful for that.”
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Check out Philip Baker Hall in Seinfeld:
