Quick Facts
Biography
Samuel Southey Hinds (April 4, 1875 – October 13, 1948) was an American actor and former lawyer. He was often cast as kindly authoritarian figures and appeared in over 200 films until his death.
Life and career
Samuel S. Hinds is perhaps best remembered for playing Peter Bailey, the father of James Stewart and founder of the Bailey Building and Loan, in It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and for his part as Paul Sycamore in You Can't Take It With You (1938), both films directed by Frank Capra. Hinds was also known for his roles in the Abbott & Costello films such as Buck Privates (1941), Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942) and Pardon My Sarong (1942). He also portrayed Lew Ayres' father in the Dr. Kildare film series during the early 1940s. Hinds mostly played supporting roles, often kind and dignified authority figures; often lawyers, doctors, mayors, judges or the father of the main figure.
Hinds was born in Brooklyn, New York as the great-grandson of poet Robert Southey. He was a Harvard Law School graduate and worked for over 32 years as a lawyer before becoming a professional actor. After he lost most of his money in the financial crisis of 1929, Hinds retired as a lawyer and started acting in Broadway shows at age 54. In 1932, Hinds acted a bit part in his first film If I Had a Million (1932), his second film was The Road Is Open Again (1933) where he portrayed President Woodrow Wilson. His earlier career was reflected in the role of Judge Thatcher, tortured by the mad Dr. Richard Vollin (Bela Lugosi) in The Raven (1935).
Hinds acted in a total of 214 films. His last film was The Bribe, released in 1949, after his death. He died of pneumonia in Pasadena, California on October 13, 1948 at age 73. He was married to Dorothy Cruickshack, they had two children.
Partial filmography
- If I Had a Million (1932) (uncredited)
- Gabriel Over the White House (1933)
- The Nuisance (1933)
- Bed of Roses (1933)
- This Day and Age (1933)
- Lady for a Day (1933) (uncredited)
- Berkeley Square (1933)
- Day of Reckoning (1933)
- Little Women (1933)
- Fog (1933)
- The Women in His Life (1933)
- The Ninth Guest (1934)
- Men in White (1934)
- A Lost Lady (1934)
- Rumba (1935)
- Private Worlds (1935)
- Living on Velvet (1935)
- Millions in the Air (1935)
- The Raven (1935)
- The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935)
- Dr. Socrates (1935)
- Rendezvous (1935)
- His Brother's Wife (1936)
- The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936)
- Rhythm on the Range (1936)
- Black Legion (1937) as Judge
- Night Key (1937)
- Double or Nothing (1937)
- Stage Door (1937)
- Wings Over Honolulu (1937)
- Navy Blue and Gold (1937)
- The Jury's Secret (1938)
- Test Pilot (1938) as General Ross
- The Devil's Party (1938)
- Wives Under Suspicion (1938)
- The Rage of Paris (1938)
- You Can't Take It With You (1938)
- Young Dr. Kildare (1938)
- First Love (1939)
- Destry Rides Again (1939)
- It's a Date (1940)
- Ski Patrol (1940)
- Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940)
- Dr. Kildare Goes Home (1940)
- The Boys from Syracuse (1940)
- Seven Sinners (1940) as Governor
- Tight Shoes (1941)
- Buck Privates (1941)
- Back Street (1941)
- Man Made Monster (1941)
- Blossoms in the Dust (1941)
- The Shepherd of the Hills (1941) as Andy Beeler
- Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942)
- Kid Glove Killer (1942)
- The Spoilers (1942) as Judge Horace Stillman
- Grand Central Murder (1942)
- Pardon My Sarong (1942)
- Lady in a Jam (1942)
- Pittsburgh (1942) as Morgan Prentiss
- The Strange Case of Doctor Rx (1942) as Dudley Crispin
- Mister Big (1943)
- We've Never Been Licked (1943)
- Good Morning, Judge (1943)
- The Great Alaskan Mystery (1944 serial)
- Jungle Woman (1944)
- Chip Off the Old Block (1944)
- Swing Out, Sister (1945)
- Secret Agent X-9 (1945 serial)
- Lady on a Train (1945)
- The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (1945)
- Scarlet Street (1945)
- Inside Job (1946)
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946) as Peter "Pa" Bailey
- The Egg and I (1947)
- Time Out of Mind (1947)
- The Boy with Green Hair (1948)
- The Bribe (1949) as Dr. Warren