Monte Hale was an American actor known for his roles in “Giant,” “Home on the Range,” and multiple Western films throughout the 1940s and 1950s. He gained fame as a singing cowboy and became a popular star in B-Westerns. Hale’s distinct height and charm contributed to his lasting legacy in the film industry.
Personal and Family Life
Monte Hale was born Samuel Buren Ely on June 8, 1919, in Ada, Oklahoma. He had a passion for music from an early age, learning to sing and play the guitar. Throughout his childhood, he faced family challenges, including his parents’ divorce, which led him to live with an uncle in rural Kansas. Hale was married three times, with his final marriage to Joanne Dorothy Levitov lasting from 1977 until his passing in 2009.
Career
Monte’s career took off after he was signed to Republic Pictures in the early 1940s, where he quickly transitioned from small roles to leading parts in films. After the decline of B-Westerns in the 1950s, he toured the country with a musical cowboy act. Additionally, he made guest appearances on television shows and helped teach James Dean rope tricks during filming of “Giant” in 1956. He eventually retired from acting but continued to participated in Western film conventions.
Death and Legacy
Monte Hale passed away on March 29, 2009, in Studio City, California, due to age-related causes. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004 for his contributions to the film industry. Hale remains celebrated for his impact on Western films, and his legacy continues through the numerous Western comic books featuring his character and through fans of his films.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Giant | 1956-11-08 | Bale Clinch |
| Bandits of the Badlands | 1945-09-14 | Steve Carson |
| Ranger of Cherokee Strip | 1949-11-04 | Steve Howard |
| Out California Way | 1946-12-15 | Monte Hale |
| The Purple Monster Strikes | 1945-10-06 | Dr. Harvey |
| Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch | 1976-05-01 | (archive footage) |
| Trail of Robin Hood | 1950-12-15 | Monte Hale |
| The Phantom Rider | 1946-01-26 | Cass |
| Prince of the Plains | 1949-04-08 | Bat Masterson |
| The Big Bonanza | 1944-12-30 | The Singer |
| Home on the Range | 1946-04-18 | Monte Hale |
| Man from Rainbow Valley | 1946-06-15 | Monte Hale |
| The Chase | 1966-02-18 | Dental Delegate (uncredited) |
| San Antone Ambush | 1949-10-06 | Lieutenant Ross Kincaid |
| South of Rio | 1949-07-29 | Jeff Lanning |
| Son of God’s Country | 1948-09-15 | Monte Hale |
| Pioneer Marshal | 1949-11-24 | Marshal Ed Sherwood |
| California Firebrand | 1948-04-01 | Monte Hale |
| California Gold Rush | 1946-02-04 | Pete – Driver That Quits |
| Colorado Pioneers | 1945-11-14 | Cowhand That Quits |
| Sun Valley Cyclone | 1946-05-10 | Jeff |
| The Missourians | 1950-11-25 | Marshal Bill Blades |
| The Old Frontier | 1950-07-20 | Barney Regan |
| Rough Riders of Cheyenne | 1945-10-31 | Ward Tuttle |
| Along the Oregon Trail | 1947-08-30 | Monte Hale |
| Last Frontier Uprising | 1947-02-01 | Monte Hale |
| Under Colorado Skies | 1947-12-15 | Monte Hale |
| The Timber Trail | 1948-06-14 | Monte Hale |
| Law of the Golden West | 1949-05-23 | Bill Cody |
| Outcasts of the Trail | 1949-06-08 | Pat Garrett |
| The Vanishing Westerner | 1950-03-31 | Chris Adams |
| Yukon Vengeance | 1954-01-17 | Jim Barclay |
| Return to ‘Giant’ | 1996-09-21 | Self |
| It’s Showtime | 1976-03-31 | Self (archive footage) |
| Gunsmoke | 1955-09-10 | Sgt. |
| The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok | 1951-04-15 | |
| Honey West | 1965-09-17 | Sheriff Johnson |
| The Texan | 1958-09-29 | |
| Gunsmoke | 1955-09-10 | Bank Teller |