Harold Franklin England[1] (October 2, 1932 – November 6, 2003) was an American actor.
Hal England | |
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![]() Hal England in Bewitched 1969 | |
Born | Harold Franklin England October 2, 1932 Kings Mountain, North Carolina, US |
Died | November 6, 2003(2003-11-06) (aged 71) |
Alma mater | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Occupation | actor |
He was born on October 2, 1932[1][2] to W. F. England[1] and Della Irene England[3] in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.[1][3][4][5][6] He attended Kings Mountain High School and graduated with honors.[1] After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Mars Hill Junior College to study for the ministry, but left a year later to study pre-law[1] at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[7] After a year of pre-law, he switched to dramatics and joined the campus theater group Carolina Playmakers.[1] He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in dramatic arts.[1] He died on November 6, 2003 of heart failure at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center.[8] Fred W. Bennett, a producer, was his life partner for forty years.[3]
After graduating from university, England went to New York and starred in a number of off-Broadway productions, including Candide and The Seagull.[9] He understudied Robert Morse for two years in the Broadway production How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,[10] and then starred in several Broadway productions including Love Me Little, Say Darling,[8] and The Beggars Opera.[11] He was a life member of the Actors Studio.[3]
England also had over 100 guest starring roles in television,[3] and appeared in over 200 TV commercials.[7] He once had a lawsuit brought against him for $25,000 by Kentucky Fried Chicken, which he had completed a commercial for, for breach of contract, because he had also completed a commercial for their rival McDonald's; it was later settled out of court.[7]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1968 | Hang 'Em High | Brother | |
1972 | Deadhead Miles | Driver of Wrecked Car | |
1972 | The Dirt Gang | Sidney | |
1990 | The Bonfire of the Vanities | French Restaurant Patron | |
1991 | Going Under | General Telephone |