Henry O'Neill (August 10, 1891 – May 18, 1961) was an American actor known for playing gray-haired fathers, lawyers, and similarly dignified roles on film during the 1930s and 1940s.

Early life

Henry O'Neill was born in Orange, New Jersey on August 10, 1891 where he grew up before moving to Los Angeles, California.

Career

O'Neill began his acting career on the stage, after dropping out of college to join a traveling theater company. He served in the Navy in World War I, after which he worked at several jobs, including being an usher in a funeral home. Eventually, he returned to the stage. His Broadway debut came in The Spring (1921), and his final Broadway appearance was in Shooting Star (1933). He also acted with the Provincetown Players and the Celtic Players. In the early 1930s he began appearing in films, including The Big Shakedown (1934), the Western Santa Fe Trail (1940), the musical Anchors Aweigh (1945), The Green Years (1946), and The Reckless Moment (1949). His last film was The Wings of Eagles (1957), starring John Wayne.

Personal life

He was on the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1924, O'Neill married Anna Barry. They had one child and remained wed until his death. O'Neill died in Hollywood, California, at the age of 69. His remains are interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in North Hollywood.

Selected filmography