It is always hard to talk about the death of an actor who has been part of your life, but in the case of Philip Baker Hall we have the consolation that he will be remembered forever in one way or another by any of its 185! credits. She started acting late, at the age of 39, but from the 1970s until very recently, her face was one of those that you have seen in a thousand movie series. And what series and movies.
always good in everything
You’ve seen Philip Baker Hall in ‘Boogie nights’, ‘Magnolia’ (the unforgettable Jimmy Gator), ‘The Truman Show’, ‘Dogville’ or ‘Zodiac’, but also in different episodes of ‘Falcon Crest’, ‘Miami Vice’, ‘Murder Wrote’, ‘Seinfeld’ or ‘Modern Family’ . I was 90 years oldBut I wish it had lasted much longer.
The man with the basset-hound look, as John C. Reilly described him in his day, has left an indelible mark on all those who have worked with him. Larry David himself, who worked with him on both ‘Seinfeld’ (one of the series’ best guest stars) and ‘Curb your enthusiasm’ has said that made him “laugh louder than any other actor I’ve ever worked with”. It has much merit.
Hollywood in general has paid his respects to one of those actors who was always good at everything, but it is possible that it is Patton Oswalt who has best managed to encapsulate it: “I hope he’s in heaven eating a sandwichdrinking a glass of milk, doing some fucking thing.” May he rest in peace.