Dennis Hoey was an American actor best known for his roles in Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, Terror by Night, and The Spider Woman. Born on March 30, 1893, in London, England, he had a prominent career in film from the late 1930s until the early 1950s.
Personal and Family Life
Dennis Hoey was born Samuel David Hyams. He was married twice, first to Sarah Pearl Lyons, known as Cissie, and later to Josephine Marta Ricca, with whom he had one child, Michael A. Hoey. His grandchild, also named Dennis Hoey, is part of his family legacy. Despite his success, both personal and familial relationships had their complexities, as discussed in Michael’s book about growing up in the film industry.
Death and Legacy
Dennis Hoey passed away on July 25, 1960, in Palm Beach, Florida, USA. He is remembered for his memorable portrayal of Inspector Lestrade in several of Basil Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes films during the 1940s. His legacy continues through his works and the impact he made in the film industry, particularly with his unique character portrayals.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Spider Woman | 1943-12-24 | Insp. Lestrade |
| Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man | 1943-03-05 | Inspector Owen (uncredited) |
| Terror by Night | 1946-02-01 | Inspector Lestrade |
| The Strange Woman | 1946-10-25 | Tim Hager |
| The Pearl of Death | 1944-08-01 | Inspector Lestrade |
| The House of Fear | 1945-03-16 | Inspector Lestrade |
| Wake of the Red Witch | 1948-12-30 | Capt. Munsey |
| Ruthless | 1948-04-16 | Mr. Burnside |
| She-Wolf of London | 1946-05-17 | Inspector Pierce |
| Where There’s Life | 1947-11-21 | Minister of War Grubitch |
| Sherlock Holmes Faces Death | 1943-09-17 | Inspector Lestrade |
| Second Chance | 1947-07-18 | Roger Elwood |
| Roll on Texas Moon | 1946-09-12 | Cole Gregory |
| Tarzan and the Leopard Woman | 1946-02-18 | Commissioner |
| Christmas Eve | 1947-10-31 | Williams ‘Bill’, Matilda’s Butler |
| Golden Earrings | 1947-08-27 | Hoff |