Walter Abel (June 6, 1898 – March 26, 1987) was a distinguished American character actor of stage and screen, celebrated for his sophisticated and intelligent on-screen persona. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he first established himself as a major star on Broadway, appearing in landmark productions of plays by Eugene O’Neill, including Desire Under the Elms and Mourning Be ‘Wells’.
He brought this theatrical polish to Hollywood, where he enjoyed a long career as a prolific and dependable actor. He was a master of portraying smart, articulate professionals, such as the determined agent Danny Reed in the musical classic Holiday Inn (1942) and the firm newspaper editor in Alfred Hitchcock’s wartime thriller Arise, My Love (1940). With a career spanning over five decades, Walter Abel remains a recognizable face of Hollywood’s Golden Age, known for bringing wit and authority to every role.