Hal Holbrook, the Tony- and Emmy-winning actor famous for his portrayals of Mark Twain on the stage and the iconic figure known as Deep Throat in the 1976 Watergate docudrama “All the President’s Men,” died in his Beverly Hills home on Jan. 23, his assistant Joyce Cohen confirmed to The New York Times. He was 95 years old.
Holbrook was a World War II veteran who discovered his love of the stage while participating in Army performances as he was stationed in Newfoundland from 1942 to 1946, The New York Post reports.
According to the site, Holbrook is most notably recognized for his decadeslong stage performances as Mark Twain. He first played the legendary author in a 1954 one-man show that he developed while studying at Denison University. Twelve years later, the actor took home a Tony Award for his performance in “Mark Twain Tonight!”
According to IMDb, he won four Primetime Emmys over the course of his auspicious career, nabbing two awards for his role in the 1973 made-for-TV movie “Pueblo.”
Holbrook received his lone Academy Award nomination in 2007 for his role as Ron Franz in Sean Penn’s R-rated adaptation of the Jon Krakauer book “Into the Wild.” People reports that Holbrook was 82 years old when he was nominated for the award, making him, at the time, the oldest actor to ever receive the honor.
As The New York Times reported, Holbrook is survived by his three children, two stepdaughters, two grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
After the news was released regarding Holbrook’s passing, several journalists and members of the film community took to Twitter to pay homage to the late actor. Here is a small sampling of the messages that were posted.
Rest well Father Malone. The estimable Hal Holbrook has passed away, but what work he leaves behind. Loved his performances in The Fog, All The President’s Men, Magnum Force, Creepshow, Capricorn One, The Star Chamber, Wild In The Streets & Into The Wild, among many many others. pic.twitter.com/Vwfw1eGvJI
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) February 2, 2021
The great Hal Holbrook.
— Frances Fisher (@Frances_Fisher) February 2, 2021
Every role infused with integrity.
I believed him, everytime.
Best memory: Dixie Carter standing beside her grand piano singing Send in The Clowns to him & all of her fellows on The Edge of Night. They had just met.
Everlasting Love#ripHalHolbrook
RIP Hal Holbrook, one of the best things about the best journalism film of all-time. pic.twitter.com/UdtuonpKSq
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 2, 2021
Hal Holbrook made every movie better, and particularly excelled at portraying the figures of America's looming white-collar cynicism—lawyers, judges, day-traders, politicians, dirty cops, spiritual leaders, bureaucrats. A great and singular actor. pic.twitter.com/iXjTbhseWr
— Sean Fennessey (@SeanFennessey) February 2, 2021
I loved Hal Holbrook in ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN and INTO THE WILD. He is also a secretly vengeful husband in “The Crate,” a segment of 1982’s CREEPSHOW that is the most perfect short horror film ever made. pic.twitter.com/f04HVKzDIA
— Joshua Rothkopf (@joshrothkopf) February 2, 2021
Fantastic actor. Rip - https://t.co/yszmGpBcKq
— John Cusack (@johncusack) February 2, 2021