Philip Baker Hall
Hall in 2013, photo by PrPhotos
Place of Birth: Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 10, 1931
Ethnicity: English, some German and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, possibly some African-American
Philip Baker Hall is an American actor.
He is the son of Alice Birdene (McDonald) and William Alexander Hall, a factory worker, who was originally from Alabama. Philip is married to Holly Wolfle, and has four children.
Philip’s paternal grandfather was James Madison Hall (the son of William Baker Hall and Sarah Saniscah Johnson). James was born in Alabama. William was the son of Matthew Hall and Altha Barksdale, or Priscilla Jones. Sarah was the daughter of Elhanan Winchester Johnson and Frances Augusta Palmer.
Philip’s paternal grandmother was Hattie Lillis “Dimples” Dix (the daughter of Alexander/Albert Franklin Dix and Helen Lillis “Nellie” Beach). Hattie was born in Alabama, to New York-born parents. Alexander was a Baptist minister, and was the son of Daniel L. Dix and Dyanthia Butterfield. Helen was the daughter of William Beach and Susanna Roop.
Philip’s maternal grandfather was named Louis A. McDonald. Louis was born in Ashland, Mississippi, to a Tennessee-born father and a North Carolina-born mother. It appears that Louis was listed as “Black” on the 1880 U.S. Census, and possibly other records as well.
Philip’s maternal grandmother was named Martha A. “Mattie” Williamson. Martha was born in Indiana, to a father from Indiana and a mother from Kentucky.
Sources: Genealogy of Philip Baker Hall (focusing on his father’s side) – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Philip’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage records of Philip’s paternal great-grandparents, William Baker Hall and Sarah Saniscah Johnson – https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.familysearch.org
Philp’s paternal grandmother, Hattie Lillis “Dimples” Dix, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Philip’s mother on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Philip’s maternal grandfather, Louis A. McDonald – https://familysearch.org
his patrilineal line traces back to Northern Ireland: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/L5LS-7J1
Likely his maternal grandmother:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M99H-ZZ6
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP4M-Z2V
I didn’t include it in his entry because I just wasn’t sure enough, but I believe Philip Baker Hall’s maternal grandfather, Louis A. McDonald, who was listed as “White” on the 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses, was the same man who was listed as “Black” in 1880.
Considering his facial features, it could be even be possible. About Tom Sizemore…what makes you think that?
Seems likely. The birthplace of Philip’s maternal grandfather an his parents are the same as those of the Louis on the 1880 census. Philip’s grandfather left his family in the 1910’s and went to Detroit, where he lived as a lodger on the 1920 and 1930 censuses. Assuming this is his death record, he died in december 1930 and was born in Ashland, Mississippi, which isn’t far from Hudsonville, Mississippi, where the black Louis McDonald lived.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KF4C-PC4
The divorce of Philip’s maternal grandparents might explain why little information is available about them.
Didn’t he look a bit like Douglas Wilder?