Samuel S. Hinds

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia 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 Hinds was born in Brooklyn New York the son of Joseph E Hinds and Mary A Beetham Hinds He was a graduate of Phillips Andover Academy and Harvard Law School 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 joined the Pasadena Community Playhouse He started acting in Broadway shows at age 54 Hinds is perhaps best remembered for playing Peter Bailey the father of James Stewart and founder of the Bailey Building and Loan in Its a Wonderful Life 1946 and for his part as Paul Sycamore in You Cant 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 first film was 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 Hinds died of pneumonia in Pasadena California on October 13 1948 at age 73 He was married to Dorothy Cruickshack they had two children