Cause of death Heart attack Name Alan Dinehart Years active 1931 – 1944 | Occupation Film, stage actor Other names Allan Dinehart Role Actor | |
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Born October 3, 1889 ( 1889-10-03 ) St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California Died July 17, 1944, Hollywood, California, United States Children Mason Alan Dinehart, Alan Dinehart, Jr. Grandchildren Veronica Dinehart, Scott Dinehart, Craig Dinehart Movies and TV shows Similar People Harry Lachman, Mozelle Britton, Victor Hugo Halperin, Roy Del Ruth, Allan Dwan | ||
Alan Mason Dinehart, Sr. (October 3, 1889 in St. Paul, Minnesota – July 18, 1944, in Hollywood, California) was an American actor, director, writer, and stage manager.
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Biography
Dinehart initially studied to be a priest, but he turned to the theater instead. His first acting experience came at Missoula University in Montana. He was active in Vaudeville before moving into other areas of entertainment.
He left school to appear on stage with a repertory company and had no screen experience when he signed a contract with Fox in May 1931. He became a character actor and supporting player in at least eighty-eight films between 1931 and 1944. Earlier, he appeared in more than twenty Broadway plays.
Dinehart's likeness was drawn in caricature by Alex Gard for Sardi's, the New York City theater district restaurant. The picture is now part of the collection of the New York Public Library.
Dinehart's second son, Mason Alan Dinehart, was cast in several 1950s television series, including the role of a young Bat Masterson in the ABC/Desilu Studios western, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, starring Hugh O'Brian in the title role.
Personal life
In 1936, Dinehart had his name legally changed to Mason Alan Dinehart. He had been baptized Harold Alan Dinehart, but his wife explained that the change would permit their son to be legally named Alan Dinehart III.
Death
Dinehart suffered heart failure and died on 17 July 1944. Some reports stated the cause as a heart attack and the day of death as July 18 at age 48.