Pat Hingle 1924-2009

Veteran actor Martin Patterson ‘Pat’ Hingle, 84, whose career spanned over fifty years, died at his home in Carolina Beach, North Carolina on Saturday, January 4, 2009.  Cause of death was reported to be leukemia, a blood cancer.

He was best known for his portrayal of Commissioner Gordon in the first four Batman films.  His body of film work had him in roles opposite many prominent actors, including  Clint Eastwood, Sally Fields, Warren Beatty, Marlon Brando and Anjelica Huston.

His greatest love was Broadway.  He had roles in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs and J.B.   He told The Times in his later years:  “The stage is an actors’ medium.  When the curtain goes up, there are those crazy actors.  The story comes through them.  The director can pull his hair in the back of the house and the producer and playwright can cry on each others shoulders.  But there go those galloping actors.”

Said his very close friend, James Morrison, who currently plays Bill Buchanan on 24:  “You were the most important thing when you worked opposite him.  He was present, right there, in his life and in his work.  He was the most authentic man I’ve ever met.”

Hingle is survived by his wife Julia, five children and 11 grandchildren.

Check out photos as well as video of Hingle playing Commissioner Gordon below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dQBge7jA3M[/youtube]

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