First of all, Hal was the most authentic person I have ever worked with. You could not catch him acting. He literally vibrated with humanity and felt everything so deeply — which is what made him such a sublime comedian.
My husband (director Harry Thomason) used to say, “Don’t ever tell Hal your dog died, or you’ll spend the rest of the day consoling him.” Hal had a kind of raw elegance, classing up every room he entered.
You could dress him in rags, and he would still appear to be an important person. His often harsh life and gratitude for all the in-between gifts were written on his face.
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