Biography
One could argue that being born to a working class New York City family helped prepare Huntz Hall for a career playing tough young scrappers in the movies. His earliest feature credit was in "Dead End," the late-'30s classic starring Humphrey Bogart; there he reprised the role of Dippy, a youth growing up on the mean streets, whom Hall had previously played on stage. The young boys of the film--who became known as the Dead End Kids--were popular enough to spinoff into their own movie series, and they evolved into the Bowery Boys by the '40s. Around this time and through the late '50s, Hall also appeared in television series and films sans Bowery Boys, including the 1945 war classic "A Walk in the Sun"; however, before parting ways with the troupe, at that point composed of grownups rather than boys or teens, he received top billing. During the early '70s, he played Dutch on the sitcom "The Chicago Teddy Bears," which despite taking place during Prohibition was devoid of much more than implied violence. He had better luck in the movies of this time, appearing as part of the ensemble cast for the Walt Disney comedy "Herbie Rides Again." But despite its financial success, he may always be remembered more for the streetwise lads he played in "Angels with Dirty Faces" and other gritty classics.
