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Philip Baker Hall (born September 10, 1931 in Toledo, Ohio) is an American screen actor. He did not have aspirations to be an actor until late in his life. He first served in the military, started a family and became a high school English teacher. In 1961, having become bored with his life, he decided to become an actor. He moved to New York, enjoying success both on and off Broadway.

In 1975, he moved to Los Angeles to make a career in television. Since then, he has had over 200 guest roles on television shows, including a memorable role as the library cop "Lt. Bookman" on Seinfeld in the episode "The Library".

He starred in many films, including Robert Altman's Secret Honor in which he played Richard Nixon, but had not gained much attention for his performances. It was not until Paul Thomas Anderson wrote a role in his film Hard Eight, specifically for Hall, that a cult following arose. (Anderson was a big fan of Hall's career, particularly Secret Honor.) Hall went on to have significant roles in Anderson's two subsequent films, Boogie Nights and Magnolia. He also had a minor role as Captain Diel in Rush Hour, in which he informs Detective James Carter (played by Chris Tucker) that the FBI wants the LAPD's help in the investigation of a Chinese consul's daughter's kidnapping, and subsequently assigns Carter to the task, but not for the reason Carter believes.

Recently he has had roles in Bruce Almighty, In Good Company, Dogville, The Amityville Horror and The Zodiac.

He is currently in a new sitcom on Fox called The Loop.

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