# Hal Riddle > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hal_Riddle > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hal_Riddle.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Riddle > Source revision: 1336861797 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American actor (1919–2009)}} {{Infobox person | name = William Harold Riddle | image = Publicity_Photo_of_Hal_Riddle.jpg | alt = | caption = Publicity Photo of Hal Riddle | birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|12|11}} | birth_place = [Fulton, Kentucky](/source/Fulton%2C_Kentucky), US | death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|06|17|1919|12|11}} | death_place = [Woodland Hills, California](/source/Woodland_Hills%2C_California), US | other_names = Hal Riddle | known_for = | occupation = Television and movie actor }} '''William Harold "Hal" Riddle''' (December 11, 1919, [Fulton, Kentucky](/source/Fulton%2C_Kentucky), USA – June 17, 2009, [Woodland Hills, California](/source/Woodland_Hills%2C_California)) was a Broadway, movie and television actor. Better known as a character actor than a featured player, Riddle appeared in numerous supporting roles in the 1950s – 1980s. ==Career== Riddle's interest in acting started after receiving an autographed picture from actor [Billie Dove](/source/Billie_Dove). Riddle quit a salesman job at National Cash Register Company in New York City in 1946 to join [Hayloft Summer Theater](/source/Hayloft_Summer_Theater) in [Allentown, Pennsylvania](/source/Allentown%2C_Pennsylvania) as a secretary. While there he was given small parts and roomed with an unknown [Jack Lemmon](/source/Jack_Lemmon).{{cite news| url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,485274_4,00.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122153215/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,485274_4,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 22, 2013 | work=Entertainment Weekly | title=The Riddle Of Fame}} After leaving Hayloft Riddle joined Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse where he worked with Grace Kelly and Steve McQueen. Riddle made his Broadway debut in 1950 in ''[Mister Roberts](/source/Mister_Roberts_(play))'' and moved to Hollywood to take a part in 1958 film ''[Onionhead](/source/Onionhead)''. Riddle retired from acting in 1995. ==Hollywood memorabilia collection== Riddle's interest in Hollywood and acting started when, as an 11-year-old, he received an autographed picture from silent film star [Billie Dove](/source/Billie_Dove). Over the next 80 years Riddle added original movie posters, autographed pictures, and letters to the collection. In 2001, Riddle donated his collection of more than 1,700 movie-related items spanning over 70 years to his alma mater, Murray State University in Kentucky.{{cite news| url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005248?refCatId=25 | work=Variety | first=Pat | last=Saperstein | title=Character actor Hal Riddle dies | date=June 22, 2009}} ==Billie Dove friendship== In 1995, Riddle retired to the [Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital](/source/Motion_Picture_%26_Television_Country_House_and_Hospital).{{cite news |title=Forgotten Hollywood Actors Retire in Style |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/forgotten-hollywood-actors-retire-in-style |newspaper=[Fox News](/source/Fox_News) |date=May 23, 2002 |access-date=2011-03-22 |first=Jennifer |last=D'Angelo}}{{cite news| url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,485274,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425171801/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,485274,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 25, 2009 | work=Entertainment Weekly | first=Chris | last=Nashawaty | title=The Riddle Of Fame | date=September 19, 2003}} While there, Riddle struck up a friendship with Billie Dove who in 1922 sparked Riddle's interest in acting. In 1998, Riddle delivered fellow actor [Billie Dove's](/source/Billie_Dove) eulogy.{{cite news| url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,485274_7,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020231254/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,485274_7,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 20, 2012 | work=Entertainment Weekly | title=The Riddle Of Fame}} ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links== {{Portal|Biography}} * {{IMDb name|0725747}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Riddle, Hal}} Category:1919 births Category:2009 deaths Category:American male stage actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:People from Fulton, Kentucky Category:20th-century American male actors --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hal Riddle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Riddle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Riddle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.