Kevin Peter Hall

Kevin Peter Hall
Born (1955-05-09)May 9, 1955
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died April 10, 1991(1991-04-10) (aged 35)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Cause of death AIDS-related pneumonia
Education Penn Hills High School
Alma mater George Washington University
Occupation Actor
Years active 1978–1991
Known for The Predator
Height 7 ft 2 in (218 cm)
Spouse(s)
Alaina Reed Hall (m. 1988–1991)

Kevin Peter Hall (May 9, 1955 – April 10, 1991) was an American actor best known for his roles as the title character in the first two films in the Predator franchise and the title character of Harry in the film and television series, Harry and the Hendersons. He also appeared in the television series Misfits of Science and 227, along with the film Without Warning.

Early life

Hall was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were of above-average stature; his father, Charles Hall, was 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and his mother, Sylvia Hall, was 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m). At 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) tall,[1] he was the tallest of seven brothers, all over 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m).

During his high school years at Penn Hills High School, he was a star basketball player. He subsequently attended George Washington University in Washington, DC, where he played for its basketball team and majored in Theatrical Arts.[2]

After graduation, Hall moved to Venezuela to play professional basketball.

Career

Due to Hall's height, he was often cast in monster roles. He made his acting debut in the 1979 horror film Prophecy. He appeared as the alien in the 1980 horror film Without Warning and as Gorvil in the 1982 television movie Mazes and Monsters. In 1985, he co-starred in the short-lived series Misfits of Science. He guest-starred on the sitcom Night Court as a huge but gentle mental patient who humorously towered over bailiff Bull Shannon, played by Richard Moll, who is 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m), and a fellow mental patient, played by James Cromwell, who is 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m). The next year, Hall portrayed yet another monster in the horror film Monster in the Closet, followed by the role of Harry in Harry and the Hendersons.

In 1986, Hall was cast as the main antagonist in Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. During its developmental stages, the Predator was going to be played by Jean-Claude Van Damme, who played the Predator for the first few scenes, but was not billed in the end credits. The producers decided to recast the role with Hall so that the Predator could more convincingly dominate the film's human characters with its greater size. Hall would go on to reprise the role in the 1990 sequel.

Following his role in Predator, Hall appeared in the feature film Big Top Pee-wee (1988) and had a guest spot on Star Trek: The Next Generation; Hall had been one of the actors considered for the role of Geordi La Forge on the latter, before the role went to LeVar Burton.[3] From 1989 to 1990, he had a recurring role on the NBC sitcom 227. In 1990, Hall reprised his role as Harry in the television series Harry and the Hendersons, based on the 1987 film of the same name. He died during the series' first season.

Personal life and death

Hall met actress Alaina Reed while taping a guest role on the television show 227. The couple would marry both on the show and in real life.[4]

While working on the TV series Harry and the Hendersons, Hall announced that he had contracted HIV from a blood transfusion.[5] He died from AIDS-related pneumonia on April 10, 1991,[6] a month short of his 36th birthday.[6]

Honors

Hall was posthumously inducted into the Penn Hills Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class on May 8, 2009.[7]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1979 Prophecy Mutant bear Uncredited
1980 Without Warning The Alien Credited as Kevin Hall
1982 One Dark Night Eddie
1982 Mazes and Monsters Gorvil Television Movie
1984 The Wild Life Bouncer Credited as Kevin Hall
1984 E/R Donald Haines Episode: "Mr. Fix-It"
1985 Night Court Wendell Martin Episode: "Nuts About Harry"
1985 The Dukes of Hazzard Floyd Malone Episode: "Opening Night at the Boar's Nest"
1985–1986 Misfits of Science Dr. Elvin "El" Lincoln 16 episodes
1986 Monster in the Closet Monster
1987 Harry and the Hendersons Harry
1987 Predator The Predator / Helicopter pilot
1988 Big Top Pee-wee Big John
1989 Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place Richard Small Television special
1989 Shannon's Deal Harry Television movie
1989 Star Trek: The Next Generation Leyor Episode: "The Price"
1989–1990 227 Warren Merriwether 11 episodes
1990 Predator 2 The Predator / Elder Predator
1990–1991 Harry and the Hendersons Harry 4 episodes
1991 Highway to Hell Charon (final film role)

References

  1. ↑ Halliwell, Leslie; Walker, John (2003). Halliwell's Who's Who In the Movies (15th ed.). HarperCollins. p. 209. ISBN 0-06-053423-0.
  2. ↑ Donnelley, Paul (2005-11-01). Fade To Black: A Book Of Movie Obituaries (3rd ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 436. ISBN 1-84449-430-6.
  3. ↑ "STAR TREK/Casting". Letters of Note. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Actor Kevin Peter Hall Dies In L.A. At Age 35". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 80 (2): 62. 2009-04-29. ISSN 0021-5996.
  5. ↑ Snauffer, Douglas; Thurm, Joel (2008). The Show Must Go on: How the Deaths of Lead Actors Have Affected Television. McFarland. p. 201. ISBN 0-7864-3295-0.
  6. 1 2 "Kevin Peter Hall, Actor, 35". The New York Times. 1991-04-19. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  7. ↑ "Penn Hills Arts and Music Education". Phameonline.org. 2009.
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