Rondo Hatton

RondoHatton

Rondo Hatton (April 22, 1894 – February 2, 1946) was an American actor who became a cult icon for his unique facial features, which were the result of acromegaly, a condition caused by a benign tumor on the pituitary gland affecting the body's growth hormones. Hatton's distinctive appearance made him a natural for roles in horror films during the 1940s.

Early Life

Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Hatton moved to Tampa, Florida, with his family when he was a child. He excelled in athletics at Hillsborough High School. During World War I, Hatton served in the United States Army, where he was exposed to mustard gas. The exposure did not immediately affect his health, but it is speculated that it may have contributed to the development of his acromegaly in later years.

Career

Hatton's film career began in the 1930s with small, uncredited roles. His condition began to visibly progress during this time, gradually altering his features. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Hatton found himself in demand for various character roles, often without the need for makeup due to his natural appearance.

His most notable roles came in the mid-1940s, when he was cast in horror films such as The Pearl of Death (1944), a part of the Sherlock Holmes series starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, where he played The Creeper, a menacing figure. This role would become one of his most memorable, leading to similar parts that capitalized on his unique look.

In 1946, Hatton starred in The Brute Man, playing a disfigured man who turns to murder after his face is scarred in an accident. This film, released posthumously, has been both criticized for exploiting Hatton's appearance and praised for its sympathetic portrayal of a man driven to violence by society's rejection.

Death

Rondo Hatton died on February 2, 1946, from a heart attack related to his acromegaly. He was 51 years old. Despite his relatively short career and typecasting in horror roles, Hatton's legacy has endured, particularly within the horror film community.

Legacy

Hatton's influence extends beyond his filmography. The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards were established in 2002, named in his honor. These awards recognize the best in classic horror research, creativity, and film preservation. Hatton's life and career have also been the subject of various documentaries and retrospectives, highlighting his unique contribution to the horror genre.

Filmography

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
• The Pearl of Death (1944)
• House of Horrors (1946)
• The Brute Man (1946)

See Also

• Acromegaly
• Horror film
• Cult film