Actor. Dignified character player of Hollywood films. Born in Orange, New Jersey, he dropped out of college to join a traveling theatrical company. After World War I service he returned to the stage and appeared in 25 Broadway plays, including the original production of Eugene O'Neill's "The Hairy Ape" (as Paddy, 1922), and "The Last Mile" (1930). He made his screen debut in 1933. O'Neill's patrician poise and prematurely gray hair typed him early on to play kindly doctors, lawyers, priests, and other authority figures, though he relished the occasional villainous role. Most of his movie career was spent at Warner Bros. and MGM. His 200 movie credits include "Anthony Adverse" (1936), "The Life of Emile Zola" (1937), "Wells Fargo" (1937), "Jezebel" (1938), "Dodge City" (1939), "The Human Comedy" (1943), "A Guy Named Joe" (1943), "Anchors Aweigh" (1945), and "No Man of Her Own" (1950). Declining health restricted O'Neill's activities in the 1950s and he bowed out from acting with "The Wings of Eagles" (1957).
Actor. Dignified character player of Hollywood films. Born in Orange, New Jersey, he dropped out of college to join a traveling theatrical company. After World War I service he returned to the stage and appeared in 25 Broadway plays, including the original production of Eugene O'Neill's "The Hairy Ape" (as Paddy, 1922), and "The Last Mile" (1930). He made his screen debut in 1933. O'Neill's patrician poise and prematurely gray hair typed him early on to play kindly doctors, lawyers, priests, and other authority figures, though he relished the occasional villainous role. Most of his movie career was spent at Warner Bros. and MGM. His 200 movie credits include "Anthony Adverse" (1936), "The Life of Emile Zola" (1937), "Wells Fargo" (1937), "Jezebel" (1938), "Dodge City" (1939), "The Human Comedy" (1943), "A Guy Named Joe" (1943), "Anchors Aweigh" (1945), and "No Man of Her Own" (1950). Declining health restricted O'Neill's activities in the 1950s and he bowed out from acting with "The Wings of Eagles" (1957).
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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