wilsonblogclassic® Originally posted Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Saturday the 3rd saw the passing of another great character actor. Pat Hingle, a fixture on stage, television and in the movies for over fifty years was a familiar face to many, although most probably didn't know his name. Pat served his country during WWII in the Navy and afterward returned to college. It was there that he developed his love of acting and he continued to work in his chosen profession right up to his last years. To younger viewers he is probably best remembered as Police Commissioner James Gordon in the series of 4 Batman films. To people like me that grew up watching TV in the 1970s it seemed like Pat was on every show in that decade, and he nearly was! Pat made appearances in a multitude of shows over the years, he could be seen in everything from The Twilight Zone to Magnum, P.I., from The Untouchables to The Equalizer. Two of my personal favorite performances would be as Judge Fenton in Hang 'Em High (1968) and as Warren Beatty's father in Splendor in the Grass (1961). Pat will be missed.