Herbert Halliwell Hobbes (16 November 187720 February 1962) was an English actor.

Early years

The future actor was the son of William Albert Hobbes (1841-1909), a

Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avo ...

solicitor A solicitor is a legal practitioner who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some jurisdictions. A person must have legally-defined qualifications, which vary from one jurisdiction to another, to be described as a solicitor and ...

, and his wife, Marion Hobbes, née Dennis, (1838-1925). His schooling came at Trinity College in Straford-on-Avon.

Career

Hobbes's stage debut was as a member of Frank Benson's company, in the role of

Tybalt Tybalt () is a character in William Shakespeare's play ''Romeo and Juliet''. He is the son of Lady Capulet's brother, Juliet's short-tempered first cousin, and Romeo's rival. Tybalt shares the same name as the character Tibert / Tybalt ''"the ...

in ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with ''Ham ...

'' in 1898, playing in Shakespearean rep alongside actors such as

Ellen Terry Dame Alice Ellen Terry, (27 February 184721 July 1928), was a leading English actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into a family of actors, Terry began performing as a child, acting in Shakespeare plays in London, and tour ...

and

Mrs Patrick Campbell Beatrice Rose Stella Tanner (9 February 1865 – 9 April 1940), better known by her stage name Mrs Patrick Campbell or Mrs Pat, was an English stage actress, best known for appearing in plays by Shakespeare, Shaw and Barrie. She also toured th ...

. His earliest American work was as an actor and director from 1906, before moving to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

in early 1929 (aged 51) to play older men's roles such as clerics, butlers, doctors, lords and diplomats. He remained a British subject throughout his life. Receiving fewer film roles during the 1940s (though he still managed to have been in over 100 films by 1949), he moved back to

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

by the mid-1940s, appearing in ''Romeo and Juliet'' as Lord Capulet and continuing there until late 1955. By 1950 he had moved to American television in the diverse playhouse format. A heart ailment caused Hobbes to retire in 1956.

Personal life

In 1915, Hobbes married Nancie Brenda Marsland, an actress. They had one son. He increased the sunkenness of his cheeks by having his four 12-year-molars removed.

Death

After Hobbes died from a heart attack on February 20, 1962, he was buried at the

Chapel of the Pines Crematory Chapel of the Pines Crematory is a crematory and columbarium located at 1605 South Catalina Street, Los Angeles, in the U.S. state of California, in the historic West Adams District a short distance southwest of Downtown. It is beside Angelus- ...

in Los Angeles.

Filmography

* '' Lucky in Love'' (1929) as Earl of Balkerry (film debut) * ''

Jealousy Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgus ...

'' (1929) as Rigaud * '' Grumpy'' (1930) as Ruddick * '' Charley's Aunt'' (1930) as Stephen Spettigue * '' The Bachelor Father'' (1931) as Larkin, the Butler * '' The Right of Way'' (1931) as The Siegneur * '' The Lady Refuses'' (1931) as Sir James - Lawyer (uncredited) * '' Five and Ten'' (1931) as Hopkins (uncredited) * '' The Woman Between'' (1931) as Barton - the Butler * ''

The Sin of Madelon Claudet ''The Sin of Madelon Claudet'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Edgar Selwyn and starring Helen Hayes. The screenplay by Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht was adapted from the play ''The Lullaby'' by Edward Knoblock. It tell ...

'' (1931) as Roget * '' Platinum Blonde'' (1931) as Butler * '' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1931) as Brig. Gen. Danvers Carew * '' Forbidden'' (1932) as Florist (uncredited) * ''

Lovers Courageous ''Lovers Courageous'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Frederick Lonsdale. The film stars Robert Montgomery, Madge Evans, Roland Young, Frederick Kerr, Reginald Owen and Beryl Mercer. The ...

'' (1932) as Mr. Smith * '' The Menace'' (1932) as Phillips * '' Love Affair'' (1932) as Kibbee * '' Devil's Lottery'' (1932) as Lord Litchfield * '' Man About Town'' (1932) as Hilton * '' Week Ends Only'' (1932) as Martin * ''

Six Hours to Live ''Six Hours to Live'' is a 1932 American pre-Code science fiction drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Warner Baxter, Miriam Jordan and John Boles.Solomon p.336 Cast * Warner Baxter as Capt. Paul Onslow * Miriam Jordan as Ba ...

'' (1932) as Baron Emil von Sturm * '' Payment Deferred'' (1932) as A Prospective Tenant * ''

Cynara ''Cynara'' is a genus of thistle-like perennial plants in the family Asteraceae. They are native to the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, northwestern Africa, and the Canary Islands. The genus name comes from the Greek ''kynara'', which me ...

'' (1932) as Coroner at Inquest * ''

Looking Forward ''Looking Forward'' is the third and final studio album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and their fifth, overall. It is the fourteenth and final album when conflated with releases by the trio of Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was released on Reprise ...

'' (1933) as Mr. James Felton * '' A Study in Scarlet'' (1933) as Dearing * ''

Midnight Mary ''Midnight Mary'' is a 1933 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Loretta Young, Ricardo Cortez, and Franchot Tone. Plot The very scary story begins with an indifferent Mary Martin (Young) sitting in a c ...

'' (1933) as Churchill * '' Captured!'' (1933) as British Major General * '' The Masquerader'' (1933) as Brock * '' Lady for a Day'' (1933) as Butler * '' If I Were Free'' (1933) as Burford - Gordon's Butler (uncredited) * ''

Should Ladies Behave ''Should Ladies Behave'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and written by Bella Spewack and Sam Spewack, adapted from the play, "The Vinegar Tree" by Paul Osborn. The film stars Lionel Barrymore, Alice Brady, ...

'' (1933) as Louis * '' I Am Suzanne'' (1933) as Dr. Lorenzo * ''

Mandalay Mandalay ( or ; ) is the second-largest city in Myanmar, after Yangon. Located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, 631km (392 miles) (Road Distance) north of Yangon, the city has a population of 1,225,553 (2014 census). Mandalay was fou ...

'' (1934) as Col. Dawson Ames * ''

Riptide A rip tide, or riptide, is a strong offshore current that is caused by the tide pulling water through an inlet along a barrier beach, at a lagoon or inland marina where tide water flows steadily out to sea during ebb tide. It is a strong tidal flo ...

'' (1934) as Bollard * ''

All Men Are Enemies ''All Men Are Enemies'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and written by Lenore J. Coffee. The film stars Helen Twelvetrees, Mona Barrie, Hugh Williams, Herbert Mundin, Henry Stephenson and Walter Byron. T ...

'' (1934) as Clarendon * ''

Double Door Double Door, a concert hall and nightclub, was located in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The venue was first opened on June 12, 1994, and was co-owned by Andrew Barrett, Sean Mulroney and Joe Shanahan. On J ...

'' (1934) as Mr. Chase * '' The Key'' (1934) as General C.O. Furlong * ''

Madame Du Barry Jeanne Bécu, Comtesse du Barry (19 August 1743 – 8 December 1793) was the last '' maîtresse-en-titre'' of King Louis XV of France. She was executed, by guillotine, during the French Revolution due to accounts of treason—particularly bei ...

'' (1934) as English Ambassador * '' Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back'' (1934) as First Bobby * ''

She Was a Lady ''She Was a Lady'' is the title of a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris featuring his creation, Simon Templar, alias The Saint. The novel was first published in serialized form in the magazine ''Thriller'' in February and March 1930, and after be ...

'' (1934) as George Dane * '' British Agent'' (1934) as Sir Walter Carrister * '' We Live Again'' (1934) as Official (uncredited) * '' Menace'' (1934) as Skinner * ''

Father Brown, Detective ''Father Brown, Detective '' is a 1934 American mystery film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Walter Connolly, Paul Lukas and Gertrude Michael. It is based on the 1910 Father Brown story "The Blue Cross" by G. K. Chesterton. Plot When i ...

'' (1934) as Sir Leopold Fischer * '' The Right to Live'' (1935) as Sir Stephen Barr * '' Folies Bergère de Paris'' (1935) as Monsieur Paulet * '' Vanessa: Her Love Story'' (1935) as Father of Little Girl (uncredited) * ''

Cardinal Richelieu Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (; 9 September 1585 – 4 December 1642), known as Cardinal Richelieu, was a French clergyman and statesman. He was also known as ''l'Éminence rouge'', or "the Red Eminence", a term derived from the ...

'' (1935) as Father Joseph * '' Jalna'' (1935) as Uncle Ernest Whiteoak * ''

Charlie Chan in Shanghai ''Charlie Chan in Shanghai'' is the ninth Charlie Chan film produced by Fox Film Corporation with the title character played by Warner Oland. Plot Charlie Chan arrives in Shanghai at the behest of the U.S. government to help stop an opium smuggli ...

'' (1935) as Chief of Police * ''

Millions in the Air ''Millions in the Air'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Ray McCarey and written by Sig Herzig and Jane Storm. The film stars John Howard, Wendy Barrie, Willie Howard, George Barbier, Benny Baker, Eleanore Whitney and Robert Cumming ...

'' (1935) as Theodore * '' Captain Blood'' (1935) as Lord Sunderland (uncredited) * ''

Rose Marie Rose Marie (born Rose Marie Mazzetta; August 15, 1923 – December 28, 2017) was an American actress, singer, comedian, and vaudeville performer with a career ultimately spanning nine decades, which included film, radio, records, theater, night ...

'' (1936) as Mr. Gordon (uncredited) * '' Here Comes Trouble'' (1936) as Prof. Howard * '' The Story of Louis Pasteur'' (1936) as Dr. Lister * '' Dracula's Daughter'' (1936) as Hawkins * ''Changing of the Guard'' (1936, Short) as Grandfather, the Colonel * ''

Hearts Divided ''Hearts Divided'' is a 1936 American musical film about the real-life marriage between American Elizabeth 'Betsy' Patterson and Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon. It stars Marion Davies and Dick Powell as the couple. The film was a remake ...

'' (1936) as Cambaceres * '' The White Angel'' (1936) as Lord Raglan * '' Spendthrift'' (1936) as Beuhl - the Butler * '' Mary of Scotland'' (1936) as Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Give Me Your Heart'' (1936) as Oliver * '' Love Letters of a Star'' (1936) as Hotchkiss * ''

Maid of Salem ''Maid of Salem'' is a 1937 film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. Plot It tells the story of a young girl in Salem, Massachusetts, 1692, who has an affair with an adventurer. ...

'' (1937) as Jeremiah * ''

The Prince and the Pauper ''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. Set in 1547 ...

'' (1937) as

Archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdio ...

* '' Parnell'' (1937) as W.H. Smith (uncredited) * '' Fit for a King'' (1937) as Count Strunsky * '' Varsity Show'' (1937) as Dean Meredith * ''

The Jury's Secret ''The Jury's Secret'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Edward Sloman and starring Kent Taylor, Fay Wray, and Jane Darwell. Cast *Kent Taylor as Walter Rusell *Fay Wray as Linda Ware *Jane Darwell as Mrs. Sheldon *Nan Grey as Mary Norris ...

'' (1938) as John, The Butler * ''

Bulldog Drummond's Peril ''Bulldog Drummond's Peril'' is a 1938 American adventure crime mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and starring John Barrymore and John Howard. The film is based on Herman C. McNeile's novel ''The Third Round''. Plot The intended wedding ...

'' (1938) as Professor Bernard Goodman * ''

Kidnapped Kidnapped may refer to: * subject to the crime of kidnapping Literature * ''Kidnapped'' (novel), an 1886 novel by Robert Louis Stevenson * ''Kidnapped'' (comics), a 2007 graphic novel adaptation of R. L. Stevenson's novel by Alan Grant and Cam ...

'' (1938) as Dominie Campbell * '' You Can't Take It With You'' (1938) as DePinna * ''

Service de Luxe ''Service de Luxe'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Constance Bennett, Vincent Price (in his film debut) and Charles Ruggles.Kellow p.211 Plot Helen Murphy, alias Dorothy Madison number 1 (Constance Benne ...

'' (1938) as Butler * '' Storm Over Bengal'' (1938) as Sir John Galt * ''

A Christmas Carol ''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. ''A Christmas ...

'' (1938) as Clergyman Sliding on Sidewalk (uncredited) * '' Pacific Liner'' (1939) as Captain Mathews * ''

The Hardys Ride High ''The Hardys Ride High'' (1939) is the sixth film of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Andy Hardy series. Plot summary Judge Hardy learns that he has inherited two million dollars. He and his family travel to Detroit to claim the inheritance and they expe ...

'' (1939) as Dobbs, the Butler * ''

Tell No Tales ''Tell No Tales'' is the third studio album by the Norwegian hard rock band TNT. It was the best-selling TNT album in the U.S., according to their bass guitarist Morty Black. This album diverted from the power metal style of '' Knights of the N ...

'' (1939) as Dr. Lovelake * '' Naughty but Nice'' (1939) as Dean Burton, Winfield College * ''

Nurse Edith Cavell ''Nurse Edith Cavell'' is a 1939 American film directed by British director Herbert Wilcox about Edith Cavell. The film was nominated at the 1939 Oscars for Best Original Score. Plot The story follows the broadly true story of Edith Cavell w ...

'' (1939) as English Chaplain * ''

Remember? ''Remember?'' is an American romantic comedy released on December 19, 1939, directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Robert Taylor, Greer Garson and Lew Ayres. It was rushed into production by MGM studio chief Louis B. Mayer to capitalize on t ...

'' (1939) as Butler Williams * '' The Light That Failed'' (1939) as Doctor * ''

The Earl of Chicago ''The Earl of Chicago'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Robert Montgomery, Edward Arnold, Reginald Owen and Edmund Gwenn. It is the first MGM film in the 1940s. Plot To remedy the ill doings of his past, Rob ...

'' (1940) as Lord Chancellor * '' Waterloo Bridge'' (1940) as Vicar at St. Matthews (uncredited) * ''

The Sea Hawk ''The Sea Hawk'' is a 1915 novel by Rafael Sabatini. The story is set over the years 1588–1593 and concerns a retired Cornish seafaring gentleman, Sir Oliver Tressilian, who is villainously betrayed by a jealous half-brother. After being ...

'' (1940) as Astronomer * '' Third Finger, Left Hand'' (1940) as Burton * '' Lady with Red Hair'' (1940) as Divorce Judge (uncredited) * '' That Hamilton Woman'' (1941) as Rev. Nelson * '' Sunny'' (1941) as Johnson (uncredited) * ''

Here Comes Mr. Jordan ''Here Comes Mr. Jordan'' is a 1941 American fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Hall, in which a boxer, mistakenly taken to Heaven before his time, is given a second chance back on Earth. It stars Robert Montgomery, Claude Rains ...

'' (1941) as Sisk * '' Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day'' (1941) as Minister (uncredited) * '' Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake'' (1942) as Purdy * ''

To Be or Not to Be To Be or Not to Be may refer to: * ''To be, or not to be'', the soliloquy from ''Hamlet''. Films and TV, theatre and books * ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1942 film), directed by Ernst Lubitsch * ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1983 film), a remake produced ...

'' (1942) as General Armstrong * '' The War Against Mrs. Hadley'' (1942) as Bennett * '' The Undying Monster'' (1942) as Walton, the Butler * ''

Journey for Margaret ''Journey for Margaret'' is a 1942 American drama film set in London in World War II. It stars Robert Young and Laraine Day as a couple who have to deal with the loss of their unborn child due to a bombing raid. It is an adaptation of the book ...

'' (1942) as Mr. Barrie * '' Forever and a Day'' (1943) as Doctor * '' Sherlock Holmes Faces Death'' (1943) as Brunton * '' Mr. Muggs Steps Out'' (1943) as Charney, the Butler * '' His Butler's Sister'' (1943) as Willebrandt (uncredited) * '' Gaslight'' (1944) as Mr. Muffin * ''

Mr. Skeffington ''Mr. Skeffington'' is a 1944 American drama film directed by Vincent Sherman, based on the 1940 novel of the same name by Elizabeth von Arnim. The film stars Bette Davis as a beautiful but self-centered woman who has many suitors but marries Jo ...

'' (1944) as Soames (uncredited) * '' The Invisible Man's Revenge'' (1944) as Cleghorn * ''

Casanova Brown ''Casanova Brown'' is a 1944 American comedy romantic film directed by Sam Wood, written by Nunnally Johnson, and starring Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, and Frank Morgan. The film had its world premiere in western France after the Allies had ...

'' (1944) as Charles * ''Information Please'' (1944, Short) as Leutnant Eberhard (uncredited) * '' Canyon Passage'' (1946) as Clenchfield * ''

If Winter Comes ''If Winter Comes'' is a 1947 drama film released by MGM. The movie was directed by Victor Saville and based on the 1921 novel by A.S.M. Hutchinson. The film tells the story of an English textbook writer who takes in a pregnant girl. The novel ...

'' (1947) as The Coroner * '' The Black Arrow'' (1948) as Bishop of Tisbury * '' You Gotta Stay Happy'' (1948) as Martin * '' That Forsyte Woman'' (1949) as Nicholas Forsyte * '' Miracle in the Rain'' (1956) as Ely B. 'Windy' Windgate (final film)

Partial Broadway credits

* ''

And Then There Were None ''And Then There Were None'' is a mystery novel by the English writer Agatha Christie, described by her as the most difficult of her books to write. It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on 6 November 1939, a ...

'' (1943) * '' Murder on the Nile/Hidden Horizon'' (1944–45)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hobbes 1877 births 1962 deaths English male film actors People from Stratford-upon-Avon 20th-century English male actors Burials at Chapel of the Pines Crematory English male stage actors British emigrants to the United States