Jonathan Hale

Canadian-born character actor Jonathan Hale had a long and distinguished film career, appearing in over 260 pictures and television programs. He was a member of the diplomatic service prior to his film career, and his stately bearing stood him in good stead for the large variety of corporate executives, military officers and high-level politicians he often played. His best known and most memorable role was that of Dagwood Bumstead's boss, J.C. Dithers, in the "Blondie" film series, a role he assayed from the first entry (Blondie (1938)) until he left the series in 1946 having appeared in 16 of the 28 "Blondie" films. In 1966, despondent over health and personal problems, he shot himself to death.