Hal Holbrook, Actor Who Channeled Mark Twain, Is Dead at 95
Source: New York Times
He carved out a substantial career in television and film but achieved the widest acclaim with his one-man stage show, playing Twain for more than six decades.
Hal Holbrook, who carved out a substantial acting career in television and film but who achieved his widest acclaim onstage, embodying Mark Twain in all his craggy splendor and vinegary wit in a one-man show seen around the world, died on Jan. 23 at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 95.
His death was confirmed by his assistant, Joyce Cohen, on Monday night.
Mr. Holbrook had a long and fruitful run as an actor. He was the shadowy patriot Deep Throat in “All the President’s Men” (1976); an achingly grandfatherly character in “Into the Wild” (2007), for which he received an Oscar nomination; and the influential Republican Preston Blair in Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” (2012).
He played the 16th president himself, on television, in Carl Sandburg’s “Lincoln,” a 1974 mini-series. The performance earned him an Emmy Award, one of five he won for his acting in television movies and mini-series; the others included “The Bold Ones: The Senator” (1970),his protagonist resembling John F. Kennedy, and “Pueblo” (1973) in which he played the commander of a Navy intelligence boat seized by North Korea in 1968.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/theater/hal-holbrook-dead.html
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RIP Hal! 
Albie Duncan
Weird. RIP.
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from the article at link
"Mr. Holbrook was 29 when he started playing Twain at 70; as he grew older, he found he needed less and less makeup to look elderly. He continued the act well past his own 70th birthday, returning to Broadway in 2005, when he was 80.
After playing Twain for more than six decades, he abruptly retired the role in 2017. “I know it must end, this long effort to do a good job,” he wrote in a letter to the Oklahoma theater where he had been scheduled to perform. “I have served my trade, gave it my all, heart and soul, as a dedicated actor can.”
Hal never disappointed, although I was a wee bit sad when he turned out to be the "bad guy" when he hid his murdering son's gun (which was his - in the movie).
Well done, sir!
W
I thought Holbrook had died several years ago!
Solid actor, though.
We saw him portray Mark Twain in a small community theater in the 1990's. Maybe 150 in the audience. It was an awesome experience.
We could not believe he was performing in such a small out of the way venue...tickets only cost around $25 - he was an amazing human being.
Break a leg, Mr. Holbrook - I know you are still walking the boards wherever you are now.
