Other roles include Modern Family, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Bojack Horseman

American character actor Philip Baker Hall, whose roles include Seinfeld, Modern Family and Curb Your Enthusiasm has died at the age of 90.

He passed away on Sunday surrounded by loved ones in California, with his wife Holly saying: ‘His voice at the end was still just as powerful.’

Hall’s breakthrough came in a 1991 episode of Seinfeld when he played library investigator Joe Bookman,  who tracks down the comedian  for a long-overdue copy of Tropic of Cancer.

In the show he accuses  Seinfeld of denying other youngsters the book's adult content, concluding: ‘Well, I got a flash for ya, Joy-boy: Party time is over.’

The character - whose no-nonsense approach mimicked the seriousness of Dragnet detective Joe Friday – was reprised for the comedy’s finale as Seinfeld’s misdeeds caught with him.

In a 2004 interview, Hall told Rolling Stone: ‘Bookman was one of the last roles I ever auditioned for, simply because so many doors opened up after I did the show.’

Seinfeld co-creator Larry David also cast him in two episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, playing Dr Morrison

Hall also played Walt Kleezak in Modern Family,  and voiced Hank Hippopopalous in Bojack Horseman, as well as starring in films including Magnolia and Boogie Nights and The Truman Show.

His last role was int he 2020 Netflix thriller Messiah.

Published: 14 Jun 2022