Introduction
Dennis Hoey (born Samuel David Hyams, 30 March 1893 – 25 July 1960) was a British film and stage actor, best known for playing Inspector Lestrade in six films of Universal's Sherlock Holmes series.
Personal life
Hoey was born Samuel David Hyams in London to Russian parents (another source says Irish and Russian parents.) who owned a bed and breakfast in Brighton. He was educated at Brighton College, and he 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, Hoey moved to acting on the stage in 1918 and later to films. In 1931, he moved to the United States and began appearing in Hollywood films.
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.
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 (1924), Katja (1926-1927), Green Waters (1936), Virginia (1937), Empress of Destiny (1938), The Circle (1938), Lorelei (1938), The Burning Deck (1940), Heart of a City (1942), The Haven (1946), and Getting Married (1951).
Radio
On radio, Hoey played Mr. Welby in Pretty Kitty Kelly on CBS.
Personal life
Issue No. 45 of "Films of the Golden Age" magazine features an interview with Hoey's son Michael A. Hoey (1934-2014), who extensively discusses Dennis Hoey's early life, career, marriages and death. In his book, "Elvis, Sherlock and Me: How I Survived Growing Up in Hollywood" (Bear Manor Media-2007) he discusses his father's career and their sometimes turbulent relationship.
Filmography
- Tip Toes (1927), Hotelier
- The Man from Chicago (1930)
- Never Trouble Trouble (1931)
- Tell England (1931), The Padre
- Love Lies (1931), Cyrus Watt
- The Maid of the Mountains (1932), Orsino
- Life Goes On (1932)
- Maid Happy (1933)
- Baroud (1933)
- The Wandering Jew (1933)
- Facing the Music (1933), Capradossi
- The Good Companions (1933), Joe Brundit
- Lily of Killarney (1934)
- My Old Duchess (1934)
- Chu Chin Chow (1934)
- I Spy (1934)
- Jew Süss (1934)
- Immortal Gentleman (1935)
- The Tunnel (1935)
- The Mystery of the Mary Celeste (1935), Tom Goodschard
- Brewster's Millions (1935), Mario
- Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn (1935), Gambler
- Honeymoon for Three (1935), Mons Daumery
- Uncivilised (1936), Mara the White Chief
- Black Roses (1936), Nikander
- A Yank in the R.A.F. (1941)
- Confirm or Deny (1941)
- Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942), Lord Tarrant
- Cairo (1942), Colonel Woodhue
- This Above All (1942)
- They Came to Blow Up America (1943)
- Forever and a Day (1943)
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943), Inspector Lestrade
- Bomber's Moon (1943), Colonel von Grunow
- Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), Inspector Owen
- Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943), Inspector Lestrade
- The Spider Woman (1944), Inspector Lestrade
- Uncertain Glory (1944), Father Le Clerc
- The Keys of the Kingdom (1944)
- The Pearl of Death (1944), Inspector Lestrade
- National Velvet (1944), Mr. Greenford
- Kitty (1945), Mr. Selby
- A Thousand and One Nights (1945)
- Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear (1945), Inspector Lestrade
- Tarzan and the Leopard Woman (1946), Commissioner
- Anna and the King of Siam (1946), Sir Edward
- Terror by Night (1946), Inspector Lestrade
- The Strange Woman (1946)
- Roll on Texas Moon (1946)
- She-Wolf of London (1946)
- The Foxes of Harrow (1947), Master of Harrow
- Golden Earrings (1947), Hoff
- Second Chance (1947)
- The Crimson Key (1947)
- If Winter Comes (1947)
- Where There's Life (1947)
- Christmas Eve (1947)
- Ruthless (1948)
- Joan of Arc (1948), Sir William Glasdale
- Wake of the Red Witch (1948), Captain Munsey
- Bad Men of Tombstone (1949)
- The Secret Garden (1949), Mr. Pitcher
- The Kid from Texas (1950)
- David and Bathsheba (1951), Joab
- Plymouth Adventure (1952)
- Caribbean Gold (1952), Burford
Stage
- Hassan (1924), Masrur
- Katja (1926), Ivo
- Green Waters (1936), Ian McRuvie
- Jane Eyre (1936), Mr. Rochester
- Virginia (1937), Sir Guy Carleton
- Empress of Destiny (1938), Potemkin
- The Circle (1938), Lord Porteous
- Lorelei (1938), Reprecht Eisenkranz
- The Burning Deck (1940), Captain Applegate
- Heart of a City (1942), Leo Saddle
- The Haven (1946), Edmund Durward
- Getting Married (1951), The General