Dennis Hoey
Dennis Hoey was a British film and stage actor, best remembered for playing Inspector Lestrade in six films of Universal's Sherlock Holmes series.
Early life
Hoey was born Samuel David Hyams in London to Ellis and Leah Hyams, both of Russian Jewish descent, who ran a bed and breakfast in Brighton, East Sussex.
Hoey received his formal education at Brighton College, and originally planned to be a teacher. He served in the British Army during World War I. After a career as a singer, which included entertaining British troops during his war service, he moved into theatre-acting in 1918, and later into cinema films. In 1931, Hoey moved to the United States and commenced a career in Hollywood.
Film
Hoey's first film was Tell England. He is best known for playing Inspector Lestrade in six Universal's Sherlock Holmes series. He also portrayed the master of Harrow in The Foxes of Harrow and appeared in Tarzan and the Leopard Woman.
He came to Australia to star in Uncivilised.
Stage
Hoey "appeared frequently in London" stage productions, including those of Sydney Carroll's Shakespearean repertory company. He played Mr. Rochester opposite Katharine Hepburn in the American production of Helen Jerome's stage adaptation of Jane Eyre. He also wrote a play called The Haven and toured in it in 1946 with Melville Cooper, Valerie Cossart and Viola Roache.
Hoey's Broadway credits include Hassan, Katja, Green Waters, Virginia, Empress of Destiny, The Circle, Lorelei, The Burning Deck, Heart of a City, The Haven, and Getting Married.
Radio
On radio, Hoey played Mr. Welby in Pretty Kitty Kelly on CBS.
Personal life
Issue No. 45 of Films of the Golden Age features an interview with Hoey's son, Michael, who extensively discusses his father's life and career. In Michael's book, Elvis, Sherlock and Me: How I Survived Growing Up in Hollywood, he discusses his father's career and their sometimes turbulent relationship.
Death
Hoey died at the age of 67 in Palm Beach, Florida, of kidney disease on 25 July 1960. His body was buried at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park cemetery, in Tampa, Florida.
Filmography
Tip Toes as Hotelier The Man from Chicago as Jimmy DonovanTell England as The PadreNever Trouble Trouble as StrangerLove Lies as Cyrus WattLife Goes On as Anthony CarlisleThe Maid of the Mountains as Orsino Baroud as Captain SabryThe Good Companions as Joe BrunditThe Wandering Jew as Lord de BeaudricourtMaid Happy as Sir Rudolph BartlettFacing the Music as Capradossi My Old Duchess as Montagu NeilsonLily of Killarney as Miles-Na-CopaleenChu Chin Chow as Rakham, chief henchmanI Spy as MNTJew Süss as DieterleBrewster's Millions as MarioImmortal Gentleman as Soldier/Toby BelchHoneymoon for Three as Mons DaumeryThe Tunnel as Worker The Mystery of the Mary Celeste as Tom GoodschardMaria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn as Gambling WinnerBlack Roses as NikanderUncivilised as Mara the White ChiefA Yank in the R.A.F. as Intelligence OfficerConfirm or Deny as Duffield, Ministry of InformationSon of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake as Lord TarrantThis Above All as ParsonsCairo as Colonel WoodhueSherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon as Inspector LestradeForever and a Day as MoverFrankenstein Meets the Wolf Man as Inspector OwenThey Came to Blow Up America as Col. TaegerBomber's Moon as Colonel von GrunowSherlock Holmes Faces Death as Inspector LestradeThe Spider Woman as Inspector LestradeUncertain Glory as Father Le ClercThe Pearl of Death as Inspector LestradeNational Velvet as Mr. GreenfordThe Keys of the Kingdom as Alec Chisholm Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear as Inspector LestradeA Thousand and One Nights as Sultan Kamar Al-Kir/Prince HadjiKitty as Mr. Jonathan SelbyTarzan and the Leopard Woman as CommissionerTerror by Night as Inspector LestradeShe-Wolf of London as Inspector PierceAnna and the King of Siam as Sir EdwardRoll on Texas Moon as Cole GregoryThe Strange Woman as Tim HagerThe Crimson Key as Steven LoringSecond Chance as Roger ElwoodGolden Earrings as HoffThe Foxes of Harrow as Master of HarrowChristmas Eve as Williams-ButlerWhere There's Life as Minister of War GrubitchIf Winter Comes as Tiny WilsonRuthless as Mr. BurnsideJoan of Arc as Sir William GlasdaleWake of the Red Witch as Captain MunseyBad Men of Tombstone as Mr. SmithThe Secret Garden as Mr. PitcherThe Kid from Texas as Major HarperThe Adventures of Ellery Queen as Ronny Sinclair David and Bathsheba as JoabCaribbean Gold as BurfordPlymouth Adventure as Head Constable Omnibus as Arthur Conan Doyle
Stage
Hassan, MasrurKatja, IvoGreen Waters, Ian McRuvieJane Eyre, Mr. RochesterVirginia, Sir Guy CarletonEmpress of Destiny, PotemkinThe Circle, Lord PorteousLorelei, Reprecht EisenkranzThe Burning Deck, Captain ApplegateHeart of a City, Leo SaddleThe Haven, Edmund DurwardGetting Married, The General