Paul Thomas Anderson has developed a reputation as a director who can resurrect actors’ careers from the dead. Burt Reynolds in “Boogie Nights” and Jason Robards in “Magnolia” are two examples that jump to mind. But there’s one actor who became Anderson’s secret weapon in many of his films – and that’s Phillip Baker Hall.
He didn’t have the most memorable name in Hollywood, but most movie fans probably recognize Hall’s face from at least one show or film they saw. Amazingly, the late actor first started his acting career in his 40s, with his film debut coming in an uncredited role in 1970’s “Zabriskie Point.”
The Start of a Whole New Life
For the next few decades, Hall took on a long list of minor roles in movies such as “Ghostbusters II,” “Midnight Run,” and “An Innocent Man,” among others.
He also seemed to show up in every other show throughout the 80s, appearing in the likes of “M*A*S*H,” “The Waltons,” “T.J. Hooker,” “Miami Vice,” and many more. Hall also played an unforgettable character in a couple of episodes of “Seinfeld,” as the library investigations officer, aptly named Lieutenant Bookman.
It was the year 1996 in which Hall, now already 60-something, started to really make a name for himself. And it’s all thanks to Paul Thomas Anderson, who saw star quality in the middle-aged character actor. He decided to cast Hall in the lead role of his directorial debut, “Hard Eight.” Despite starring alongside younger stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Hall certainly didn’t look out of place.
And it seemed like other studios took notice of Hall’s fantastic performance. That same year, he landed a small role in the hit action movie “The Rock,” playing an FBI guy. He’d go on to star in other noteworthy movies such as “Air Force One,” “The Truman Show,” “Rush Hour,” “50/50,” “Argo,” and many more.
But most importantly, Hall developed a prolific collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson, basically proving to be his lucky charm during the early stages of his career. He would also have noteworthy roles in movies such as “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia.”
After an incredibly successful, albeit late-blooming acting career, Philip Baker Hall passed away in 2022 at the age of 90. As for Anderson, he’d go on to be nominated for 10 Academy Awards. And although Daniel Day-Lewis won “Best Actor” for his role in “There Will Be Blood,” that first win still eludes Anderson.