Trivia

Was a close friend of fellow actors Nigel Bruce and Rex Harrison.

In his book, "Elvis, Sherlock and Me: How I Survived Growing Up in Hollywood" (BearManor Media 2007), his son, Michael A. Hoey, discusses his father's career and their somewhat fractious relationship in great detail.

Best remembered as the pompous, but wonderfully dim-witted, "Inspector Lestrade" of Scotland Yard in several of Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes offerings of the 1940's.

Graduate of Brighton College, initially trained as a stockbroker. Performed as a singer for British troops during World War I and began acting on stage in 1919. Wanting to be a 'legitimate actor', he he studied Shakespeare and for several seasons was a member of Sydney W. Carroll's Shakespearean troupe in the Open-Air Theatre in Regents Park. He also toured with Godfrey Tearle's Shakespearean repertory company.

Father of director Michael A. Hoey.

He was the son of a hotel keeper who ran a small bed and breakfast in Brighton.

His son, Michael A. Hoey, talks extensively about his father in an interview in the book, "A Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde" (McFarland & Co., 2010), by Tom Weaver.

Character actor in early-30's UK films who then enjoyed a career in Hollywood from the late 30's through earlier 50's.

Grandfather of Dennis Hoey.

Popular as Inspector Lestrade in his 3 appearances of the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies, his gruff and over confident portrayal transferred well as Inspector Owen in Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943). That movie was made between two appearances as Lestrade in The Secret Weapon (1942) and Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943) helping cement his legacy as an beloved character actor.