Hale was born Rufus Edward Mackahan in Washington, D.C. He studied to be an opera singer. See more

His first film role was in the 1911 silent movie The Cowboy and the Lady. He became a leading man while working in 1913–1915 for the Biograph Company in their special feature film productions sponsored and controlled by … See more

Hale's wife of over 30 years was Gretchen Hartman (1897–1979), a former child actress, silent film player, and mother of the couple's three children.
He was the father of actor Alan Hale Jr., best know… See more

• The Cowboy and the Lady (1911, film debut)
• Jane Eyre (1914)
• Strongheart (1914) as Ralph Thorne
• The Woman in Black (1914)… See more

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• Alistair, Rupert (2018). "Alan Hale Sr.". The Name Below the Title : 65 Classic Movie Character Actors from Hollywood's Golden Age (softcover) (First ed.). Great Britain: Independently published. pp. 119–121. … See more