Poole, who was also a busy stage actor, was born on March 31st, 1924.
He passed away on July 1st, 1986 at age 62, robbing us of at least another decade of entertaining performances.
Poole wasn't a prolific actor on film, but his 10 or so screen roles were all quite memorable.
They include:
The role he is probably best remembered for: Cantankerous Declaration of Independence signer Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, in the movie version of the Tony-Award winning musical 1776--a part Poole played in the original Broadway cast.
Poole is flanked by David Cryer and Jonathan Moore
in the Broadway production of 1776
Poole in the film version
Brad, Glenn Ford's FBI partner in the hit Blake Edwards thriller
EXPERIMENT IN TERROR
Dean of Discipline Mr. McHabe in UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE with Sandy Dennis
Doc Redfield in MANDINGO
With Perry King and Ken Norton in the
over-baked box office hit
Sam Haywood, lawyer for the Ecumenical Liberation Army, in Sidney Lumet's NETWORK
Jonathan Stamper, of the logging Stamper's, in Paul Newman's forgotten 1971 gem SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION by Ken Kesey
Also Dunne in Norman Jewison's GAILY, GAILY, Dr. Gregory in Stuart Rosenberg's BRUBAKER and John Duncan in THE BETSY, based on the Harold Robbins bestseller.
With Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones in
THE BETSY
Poole had over 50 TV appearances and was a soap opera favorite.
Some of his notable boob tube roles include:
Seth Gale in ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS with Jason Robards, Dr. Jerry Stevens on AS THE WORLD TURNS, Mister Robert in THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN, FDR advisor Harry Hopkins in THE WINDS OF WAR, Paul Koslo on THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Mr. Killip in the Halloween Candy episode of TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE, Joe in OHMS, Tyler in THE ORDEAL OF PATTY HEARST, Chester Quick on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, Salmon P. Chase in the 1974 mini-series LINCOLN with Hal Holbrook, Neil MacCurtain on RYAN'S HOPE, Rex in A CRY IN THE WILDERNESS and a couple of regular roles on ANOTHER WORLD.
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With Collin Wilcox in A CRY IN THE WILDERNESS
THE INVADERS
Poole's other film and TV credits include:
A STRANGER ID WATCHING, THE U.S. STEEL HOUR, THE RUNAWAYS, KOJAK, IT TAKES A THIEF, HAVE GUN--WILL TRAVEL, THE ANDROS TARGET, SOLDIER IN LOVE, THE INVADERS, THE DUPONT SHOW OF THE MONTH, THE DEFENDERS, THE F.B.I., THE BOLD ONES, TOMA, BANACEK, THE FACE OF FEAR, THE BIONIC WOMAN, THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO, ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR ME CRY, THE END OF AUGUST and more.
A gifted stage actor, Poole appeared in 1776 and a dozen other Broadway shows.
They include:
A MEMORY OF TWO MONDAYS/27 WAGONS FULL OF COTTEN (Drama Desk Nominee), ONCE A CATHOLIC, BOY MEETS GIRL, MOBY DICK with Rod Steiger , POOR BITOS with Donald Pleasance, SECRET SERVICE with John Lithgow and FACE OF A HERO with Jack Lemmon.
Poole was George C. Scott's (Willy Loman) Standby on the
1975 revival of DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Off-Broadway, Poole played the Earl of Gloucester in KING LEAR opposite Frank VIVA ZAPATA! Silvera and also appeared in THE BALCONY, QUARTEMAINE'S TERMS (Obie Award Winner Best Ensemble) and PURPLE DUST.
With Grayson DARK SHADOWS Hall in
THE BALCONY
Did you know...?
Poole appeared in several short films used in schools, including ones about the Salem Witch Trials & Andrew Jackson (in which he played Daniel Webster).
He graduated from Stanford University.
Poole at work:
Poole in a 1973 BP commercial
1776 trailer
15 mins. of EXPERIMENT IN TERROR
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN
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