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Tony Hale
Tony Hale by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Hale in 2019
Born
Anthony Russell Hale

(1970-09-30) September 30, 1970 (age 53)
Education
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active 1997–present
Spouse(s)
Martel Thompson
(m. 2003)
Children 1
Awards Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2013, 2015)

Anthony Russell Hale (born September 30, 1970) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his role in the Fox comedy series Arrested Development as Buster Bluth. Hale played Gary Walsh on the HBO comedy Veep from 2012 until its conclusion in 2019, for which he won the 2013 and 2015 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Hale has appeared in feature films including The Informant! (2009), In My Sleep (2010), The Heat (2013), Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015), Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021), and Hocus Pocus 2 (2022). He has provided voice-work for The Tale of Despereaux (2008), The Angry Birds Movie (2016), The Angry Birds Movie 2 and Toy Story 4 (both 2019) as Forky, a role he reprised in Forky Asks a Question. Hale also created the Netflix and Peacock original series Archibald's Next Big Thing, and voiced the titular character. Hale also voiced Vaneé from Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales (2021). He plays twin brothers in the Disney+ original The Mysterious Benedict Society (2021).

Early life

Hale was born in West Point, New York. His mother, Rita (née Garnett), worked as a staff assistant to State Representative Kathy Ashe, and his father, Mike Hale, taught nuclear and atomic physics and served in the military. Hale grew up in Tallahassee, Florida where he attended the Young Actors Theatre and participated in numerous theatrical and musical productions. He graduated from Leon High School in 1988. He graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama with a journalism degree in 1992. He became a member of Sigma Chi while at the university. He completed graduate studies in 1995 from the School of Communication and the Arts of Regent University in Virginia. After graduating he lived in New York City for eight years. While in New York, Hale helped found The Haven, an artistically minded community of Christians that meets weekly. He also studied acting at The Barrow Group, as well as at the William Esper Studio in the Professional Actor Training Program.

Career

Streamy Awards Photo 1339 (4513939952) (cropped)
Hale at the 2nd Streamy Awards in 2010

Hale first obtained his Screen Actors Guild card when he appeared in a commercial for MCI Inc., though it never aired. He made minor guest appearances in TV shows such as Dawson's Creek, The Sopranos, and Sex and the City. From 2003 to 2006, and also in 2013, 2018, and 2019, Hale found success in television cast as Buster Bluth, the hapless, neurotic son with "mother issues" on Arrested Development. Hale also appeared in a season ten episode of MADtv in a parody of COPS, where two British robbers try to stop a domestic dispute among the royal family.

In March 2006, Hale was cast in a co-starring role as the video store owner Simon in the NBC sitcom Andy Barker, P.I., starring Andy Richter and co-created by Conan O'Brien. He appeared in minor roles in Stranger Than Fiction and Because I Said So. He was the voice of Furlough in The Tale of Despereaux, an animated children's film released in 2008. Hale had a recurring role as Emmett on Chuck, beginning in October 2008 and ending in January 2010. His departure made room for his starring role on the NBC web series Ctrl, which premiered on July 13, 2009. He appeared in a cameo in the second episode of the first season of Showtime's dramedy United States of Tara, as English teacher Oral Gershenoff. He joined the cast of Numbers in 2009, in the recurring role of Professor Russell Lazlo.

Master Class with Tony Hale (48950200273) (cropped)
Hale speaking at Pepperdine University in 2019

In 2012, Hale starred in the drama comedy Not That Funny. He also guest-starred on NBC's long-running show Law & Order: SVU as Rick Simms, a teacher who is fired from his job after being accused of inappropriate behavior with a student.

In 2012, Hale was cast in the HBO comedy Veep as Gary Walsh, the personal assistant to Vice President-turned-President Selina Meyer (portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus). On September 22, 2013, Hale won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work in the show's second season. This was his first major award. He earned his second nomination in 2014, but lost the award to Ty Burrell. However Hale won his second Primetime Emmy Award with his third nomination in 2015, in the same ceremony where Veep won its first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.

In 2017, Hale hosted the 9th Annual Shorty Awards at the PlayStation Theater in New York City. In 2018, Hale played the role of Jerome Squalor on the second season of the Netflix comedy drama series A Series of Unfortunate Events, appearing in episodes adapting The Ersatz Elevator and The Penultimate Peril. He appeared in two more episodes of the series.

Personal life

Hale married Emmy Award-winning makeup artist Martel Thompson on May 24, 2003. They have a daughter. Hale and his wife are practicing Christians.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Raging Hormones Wiseguy Driver
2003 My Blind Brother Bill
2004 Stateside Donny
2005 Fortunes Phil Yount
2006 Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector Jack Dabbs
RV Frank
Stranger Than Fiction Dave
The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell Remington Biographer
Unaccompanied Minors Alan Davies
The Proper Care & Feeding of an American Messiah Homeowner with demons
2007 Because I Said So Stuart
Dante's Inferno Pope Nicholas III Voice
Flatland: The Movie King of Pointland Voice
Cruel Logic Dr. Pomerenke
2008 My ... Social worker
The Tale of Despereaux Furlough Voice
The Year of Getting to Know Us Nickie
2009 The Answer Man Mailman
The Informant! James Epstein
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard Wade
The Ballad of G.I. Joe Dr. Mindbender Short film
Weathered Stanway Steini Short film
2010 Happythankyoumoreplease Sam #2
In My Sleep Ben
2011 Sironia Chad
Wuss Mr. Crowder
Perfect Gene Short film
2012 First in Flight Wilbur Wright Short film
Not That Funny Stefan Lane
2013 The Heat The John
The Kings of Summer Bus Passenger
The Nobodies Postal Boss Short film
2015 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip Air Marshal James Suggs
American Ultra Agent Petey Douglas
April and the Extraordinary World Darwin Voice
2016 Brave New Jersey Clark Hill
Dominion Brinnan
Yoga Hosers Bob Collette
The Angry Birds Movie Ross, Mime, Cyrus Voice
2017 And Then I Go Mr. Mosley
Transformers: The Last Knight Arrogant JPL Engineer
2018 The 15:17 to Paris Coach Murray
Love, Simon Vice Principal Worth
Sadie Bradley
Batman Ninja The Joker Voice; English dub
2019 To the Stars Gerald Richmond
Toy Story 4 Forky Voice
The Angry Birds Movie 2 Mime Voice
2020 Eat Wheaties! Sid Straw
Poupelle of Chimney Town Poupelle Voice, English dub
Nine Days Alexander
2021 Arlo the Alligator Boy Teeny Tiny Tony Voice
Clifford the Big Red Dog Zac Tieran
Being the Ricardos Jess Oppenheimer
2022 Hocus Pocus 2 Jefry Traske / Reverend Traske
2023 Woman of the Hour
Quiz Lady Ben Franklin
2024 Inside Out 2 Fear Voice; replacing Bill Hader

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Ghost Stories Billy Thorpe Episode: "Personal Demons"
1998 Legacy Hyram Episode: "The Gift"
2000 The $treet Trainee Episode: "Closet Cases"
2001 Sex and the City Tiger Episode: "The Real Me"
2001 The Sopranos RN / OCN Collins Episode: "Second Opinion"
2001 Dawson's Creek Doctor Bronin Episode: "A Winter's Tale"
2003–2006,
2013, 2018–2019
Arrested Development Byron "Buster" Bluth Main role, 74 episodes
2005 Stacked Brent Lamble Episode: "Beat the Candidate"
2007 Big Day David Episode: "Last Chance to Marry Jane"
2007 Andy Barker, P.I. Simon 6 episodes
2008–2010 Chuck Emmett Milbarge 14 episodes
2008–2009 ER Norman 2 episodes
2008 Samantha Who? Dr. Andy Adams Episode: "The Pill"
2009 United States of Tara Oral Gershenoff Episode: "Aftermath"
2009 Rules of Engagement Steve Episode: "May Divorce Be With You"
2009 Ctrl Z Stuart Web series
2009–2010 Numbers Russell Lazlo 2 episodes
2010 The Life & Times of Tim Vince Voice, episode: "Tim's Beard"
2010 Community Professor Marion Holly Episode: "Beginner Pottery"
2010 Law & Order Phillip Shoemaker Episode: "Brazil"
2010 Justified David Mortimer Episode: "The Collection"
2010 Medium Gil Bureli Episode: "The Match Game"
2011 Human Target Harry 2 episodes
2011 Royal Pains Andy Episode: "Ta Da For"
2011 NTSF:SD:SUV:: Dr. Karl Episode: "Dolphinnegan's Wake"
2011 Good Vibes Wadska Voice, 12 episodes
2011 Psych Jerry Kincaid Episode: "Neil Simon's Lover's Retreat"
2012 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Rick Simms Episode: "Learning Curve"
2012 Up All Night Dr. Welborn Episode: "Ma'am'd"
2012–2019 Veep Gary Walsh Main role
2013 The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange Rutabaga / Caesar Voice, 2 episodes
2013 Doc McStuffins Tobias The Elf Voice, episode: "A Very McStuffins Christmas"
2013–2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Himself / King of Cards 2 episodes
2013–2016 Sanjay and Craig Mr. Noodman, various voices Voice
2013–2018 ... History Various 6 episodes
2014 About a Boy Hugh Womple Episode: "About a Boy's Dad"
2014 The Birthday Boys Reginaldo Alphonsy Episode: "Cerf's Folly"
2015 Jake and the Never Land Pirates Doctor Undergear Voice, 4 episodes
2015 Childrens Hospital Brad Lendricks Episode: "Me, Owen"
2016 VeggieTales in the House Yambot Voice, episode: "Yambot"
2017 Animals. Matthew Voice, episode: "Worms Birds Possums"
2017 Rick and Morty Death Stalker Eli Voice, episode: "Rickmancing the Stone"
2017 Difficult People Himself Episode: "The Silkwood"
2017 Pickle and Peanut Funwagon Episode: "Funwagon"
2018–2019 A Series of Unfortunate Events Jerome Squalor 4 episodes
2018 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dr. Alex Noe Voice, episode: "Todd Scouts"
2018 Mickey and the Roadster Racers Dr. Victor Von Goose Voice, episode: "Super-Charged"
2019 Star vs. the Forces of Evil The Pie King Voice, episode: "Escape from the Pie Folk"
2019 Spirit Riding Free Bellhop, Waiter Voice, episode: "Lucky and the New Frontier"
2019–2022 Amphibia Apothecary Gary Voice, 3 episodes
2019 Ask the StoryBots The Recycling Plant Owner Episode: "Why Do We Have To Recycle?"
2019–present Archibald's Next Big Thing Archibald Voice; also creator and executive producer
2019–2020 Forky Asks a Question Forky Voice, main role
2019–present Harley Quinn Doctor Psycho, Felix Faust, various voices Voice, main role
2019 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself (Snatch Game contestant, guest judge) Episode: "Snatch Game at Sea"
2020 When the Streetlights Go On Mr. Boque 4 episodes
2020–2021 Crossing Swords Blarney Voice, 17 episodes
2020 The Twilight Zone Tom Episode: "Downtime"
2020 Game On! Himself (contestant) Episode: "Celebrity Guests: Tony Hale and Bobby Moynihan"
2020 Woke Butter Voice, 3 episodes
2020 The George Lucas Talk Show Himself Episode: "Streamers of the Lost Art (of Conversation)"
2021–present Birdgirl Paul "The Feels" Voice, main role
2021–present Rugrats Chas Finster Voice, main role
2021–present HouseBroken Diablo / Max Voice, main role
2021–2022 The Mysterious Benedict Society Nicholas Benedict / L.D. Curtain Main role
2021 I Heart Arlo Teeny Tiny Tony Voice, main role
2021 LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales Vaneé Voice, television film
2021 Centaurworld Durpletoot, Tony Durpleton 4 episodes
2021–2022 The Chicken Squad Frazz / Bob Voice, 10 episodes
2022 The Legend of Vox Machina Sir Fince Voice, 2 episodes
2022 Solar Opposites Little Buddy Voice, episode: "The Fog of Pupa"
2022 Password Himself Episode: "Tony Hale & Jimmy Fallon"
2022 Wolfboy and the Everything Factory Water Ancient Voice, episode: "We Search for Balance"
2023 Family Guy Allen Voice, episode: "Old West"
2023 The Ghost and Molly McGee Calvin Redtop Voice, episode: "Kenny's Falling Star"

Music videos

Year Artist Song
2007 Switchfoot "Awakening"
2008 Fall Out Boy "Beat It"
2014 Lady A "Bartender"
2020 David Cross featuring "Weird Al" Yankovic "Eat It"

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2013 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Veep Won
2014 Nominated
2015 Won
2016 Nominated
2017 Nominated
2019 Nominated

Children's and Family Emmy Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2023 Outstanding Lead Performance The Mysterious Benedict Society Pending

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2004 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Arrested Development Nominated
2005 Nominated
2013 Nominated
Veep Nominated
2014 Nominated
2015 Nominated
2016 Nominated
2017 Won

Critics' Choice Television Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2014 Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Veep Nominated
2015 Nominated
2016 Nominated

Annie Awards

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2020 Outstanding Voice Acting in a Feature Production Toy Story 4 Nominated

San Diego International Film Festival

Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2022 Fairbanks Award Career Achievement Awarded

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tony Hale para niños

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