

A master of stage intensity, he won a Tony Award for his searing performance as George in the original Broadway production of 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'
Arthur Hill brought a commanding, understated power to every role, whether on Broadway, in film, or on television. The Saskatchewan-born actor honed his craft in England after World War II service, developing a precise, resonant voice and a capacity for simmering tension. His career-defining moment came in 1962 when Edward Albee cast him as George, the embattled history professor, opposite Uta Hagen's Martha. Hill's performance, a brilliant study in intellectual venom and wounded pride, earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor. Hollywood called, and he delivered solid character work in films like 'The Andromeda Strain' and 'The Killer Elite,' but television became his most frequent home. For three seasons, he anchored the courtroom drama 'Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law,' playing the thoughtful attorney with a calm authority that made him a familiar and trusted presence in American living rooms. Hill's legacy is that of a consummate professional, an actor who could hold the stage with the giants of his era and translate that skill seamlessly to the screen.
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Arthur was born in 1922, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
The biggest hits of 1922
#1 Movie
Robin Hood
The world at every milestone
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
Social Security Act signed into law
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Euro currency enters circulation
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
He was originally studying law at the University of British Columbia before switching to acting.
Hill served as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.
He replaced actor Frank Langella in the Broadway production of 'Dracula' in 1978.
Despite his Tony win, he was not cast in the film version of 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'; the role went to Richard Burton.
“The truth is rarely pure, and never simple; that is what makes it worth playing.”