Trivia

In 2008, at age 82, he became the oldest male actor to be nominated for an Academy Award. His nomination displaced Ralph Richardson, who previously held that distinction.

Served in the Army during WWII, and acted in some plays where he was stationed.

He was just 29 when he began touring his one-man show of the elderly Mark Twain, even performing for President Dwight D. Eisenhower at one point. In June 2005, he returned his "Mark Twain Tonight" to Broadway for a sold-out, month-long run, receiving rave reviews from The New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

He was a 1948 graduate of Denison University (Granville, Ohio).

He starred in two projects based on John Grisham books, The Firm (1993) and The Street Lawyer (2003).

After his numerous portrayals of Abraham Lincoln, one of which won him an Emmy, he played a supporting role in Lincoln (2012), for which Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar.

Stepfather of Mary Dixie Carter and Ginna Carter.

The only actor (so far) to win an Emmy Award for having played Abraham Lincoln.

Won the 1966 Tony Award (New York City) for Actor in a Drama for "Mark Twain Tonight".

Portrayed Abraham Lincoln in The Ed Sullivan Show (1948), Lincoln (1974), North & South: Book 1, North & South (1985), and North & South: Book 2, Love & War (1986).

The Hal Holbrook Theatre is located in the Dixie Performing Arts Center in Huntingdon, Tennessee. The Dixie was named in honor of his wife, Dixie Carter, who was from McLemoresville, a nearby town in northwest Tennessee.

He had appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: All the President's Men (1976), Julia (1977), and Lincoln (2012).

He studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.

One daughter, Eve, with Carol Eve Rossen.

Two children, Victoria Holbrook and David Holbrook, with Ruby Holbrook.

In his guest appearance on The West Wing (1999), his character first describes the fate of the USS Pueblo, an intelligence gathering surface vessel, caught spying by North Korea in 1968, while referring to the fictional USS Portland. In 1973's Pueblo (1973), Holbrook portrayed the lead character.

He appeared as Mark Twain at the restored/revived Midland Theatre in downtown Newark, Ohio near Granville, the home of Denison University. In his honor, a statue of Twain sitting on a bench was installed in front of the Midland Theatre. The plaque reads, "'Mark Twain' by Gary Price. Placed here in honor of out friend *Hal Holbrook* Who has done more than anyone to keep Mark Twain's memory and philosophy alive, October 25, 2003.

Ex-brother-in-law of Ellen Rossen and Robert Rossen.

Has two grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren.

Spent 3 years with the U S Army Engineers in WW II.

Part-time Denison University instructor, and banker, Everett D. Reese reportedly bought Holbrook his first white Mark Twain suit.

First major acting success as Mark Twain in a one man show which won him a Tony Award.