Henry Hull was a prominent American actor who had a long and successful career on stage and screen. He is best known for his role as the first werewolf in film history, as well as his portrayal of Jeeter Lester in the Broadway play Tobacco Road. But how did he die and what was his impact on the entertainment industry? Here is a brief overview of his life and legacy.
Contents
Early Years and Stage Debut
Henry Hull was born on October 3, 1890, in Louisville, Kentucky, to a theater manager and a journalist. He was named after his godfather, Henry Watterson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Hull attended Columbia University and Cooper Union, where he studied engineering, but he was drawn to the stage by his brother Shelly, who was an actor. He made his Broadway debut in 1911 in a comedy called Green Stockings, and two years later, he appeared with John Barrymore in Believe Me, Xantippe. He also tried his luck as a gold prospector, but returned to acting when he failed to find his fortune.
Film Career and Werewolf of London
Hull made his first film appearance in 1917, playing the Russian revolutionary leader Alexander Kerensky in Rasputin, the Black Monk. He also starred in the second film adaptation of Little Women in 1918, playing Professor Bhaer. However, he focused mainly on his stage career until 1934, when he moved to Hollywood to play Abel Magwitch in Great Expectations. The following year, he starred in Werewolf of London, the first sound film to feature a werewolf. Hull played Dr. Wilfred Glendon, a botanist who is bitten by a werewolf in Tibet and becomes a murderous beast under the full moon. The film was a commercial and critical success, and Hull’s performance was praised for its subtlety and sophistication. He wore a minimal makeup that allowed him to express his emotions and convey his inner conflict. Hull is considered to be the pioneer of the werewolf genre, and his influence can be seen in later films such as The Wolf Man (1941) and An American Werewolf in London (1981).
Broadway Success and Tobacco Road
Hull’s greatest achievement on stage was his role as Jeeter Lester, the patriarch of a poor and degenerate family in rural Georgia, in the play Tobacco Road. The play was based on the novel by Erskine Caldwell, and it was a controversial and provocative depiction of poverty, ignorance, and immorality. Hull created the role in 1933 and played it for more than a year, earning rave reviews and a loyal fan base. The play ran for a record-breaking 3,182 performances, making it the longest-running drama in Broadway history. Hull reprised his role in a radio adaptation in 1939, but he did not appear in the film version in 1941, which was directed by John Ford and starred Charley Grapewin as Jeeter.
Later Years and Death
Hull continued to work in films and theater until the 1960s, playing supporting roles in various genres. He appeared in films such as Jesse James (1939), The Return of Frank James (1940), Lifeboat (1944), The Fountainhead (1949), and The Buccaneer (1958). He also toured in a one-man show, doing readings from the works of Mark Twain, whom he had met as a child. He retired from acting in 1966, after appearing in the film The Chase. He died on March 8, 1977, in Cornwall, England, following a stroke. He was 86 years old. He was survived by his wife, Juliet Fremont, whom he had married in 1913, and their three children.
Conclusion
Henry Hull was a versatile and talented actor who had a long and distinguished career on stage and screen. He was a pioneer of the werewolf genre, a star of the Broadway stage, and a respected character actor. He left behind a legacy of memorable performances and a lasting impression on the entertainment industry. He was a true legend of the silver screen and the theater.