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| Hal Berg |
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born:
31 January 1894 Springfield, Ohio, United States of America |
died:
14 September 1980 San Diego County, California, United States of America (age 86) |
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American actor, acrobat, and stuntman who worked in Hal Roach films from 1919 to 1921, including as a stunt double for Harold Lloyd, before spending nearly a decade in vaudeville. His parents were Elizabeth "Nancy" (née Clark) (1870/1-1960) and Victor E. Berg (1870-1925), who married in 1892. He had two brothers, Arthur Victor Berg (1892-1936) and Omer Harris Berg (1900-1942). At some point between 1910 and 1917, the Berg family moved from Springfield, Ohio to San Diego, California. Per his 1917 World War I draft registration card, Hal previously performed as a contortionist with the Sells-Floto Circus. During World War I, Hal served as a private in the U.S. Army, enlisting on 3 September 1918, service no. 4,381,511; he was discharged on 3 February 1919. Two days later, he married Matilda Mary Mahan (1889-1969), an actress, in Los Angeles; Hal gives his occupation as showman. Matilda/Mary (she is listed on records as either) was professionally known as Miriam Marr, and accompanied her husband's vaudeville act in the 1920s. Strangely, a second marriage record exists for them, on 21 November 1936, in Santa Ana, California; by then, Matilda/Mary was a nurse. Whatever happened, they remained together until Matilda/Mary's passing in 1969. In a 1962 article wherein Hal recalled his entertainment career, he remembered doubling for Harold Lloyd in "Captain Kidd's Kids" (mistitled in the article as "Captain Pirate") and getting a cramp while swimming in the water (he was rescued by cameraman Walter Lundin), as well as performing the climactic stunt in "Now or Never" where Harold runs atop the moving train. Hal also describes the illusion of the famous clockwork stunt from "Safety Last!" as if he participated in the scene's production, although it remains uncertain whether he actually partook in the production of that film, as it might have in reality conflicted with his vaudeville dates (Bill Strother and Robert "Red" Golden are known to have doubled for Harold in the sequence, plus an unknown circus acrobat for the rope-swinging ending). A 1922 newspaper mention also claims Hal doubled for Larry Semon. Between 1921 and 1929, he performed in vaudeville as part of the acrobatic duo of Berg & English, the "Two Dark Horses of the Screen." Hal and his partner, fellow Ohioan and one-time circus performer Jack English (b. John Earl English, 1896-1969), were touted in some notices as having been "for three years the authentic screen doubles of Harold Lloyd and Snub Pollard." (A January 1921 Billboard report on circus folk in the movies confirms that English was indeed working for Rolin at the time.) This association provided the basis of their act, with Berg and English respectively made up as Harold and Snub as they showcased their considerable tumbling skills. The team split after a tour of Australia in 1922, with Hal and Miriam/Matilda/Mary returning to the U.S. while English remained and teamed with ingenue Edie West (English's wife). At some point in 1922, the act was referred to as Berg & Bartelli (or Bartella), presumably with a new partner. It appears Berg & English reunited by early 1923, and Jack English remained half of the act as late as 1925; by 1929, the "English" half of the act was referred to in ads as Arthur English, suggesting another change in partnership. By April 1930 (Census), Hal and Mary are living in San Diego, California, with Hal working as a groceryman. On the 1936 re-marriage certificate, Hal is living in Hollywood and gives his occupation as showman, as he did on the 1919 certificate. In April 1940 (Census), Hal is back in San Diego and working as a watchman at a U.S. Navy pier. On his 1942 World War II draft registration card, Hal is living in Lemon Grove, California, and gives his employer as the Yellow Cab Co. in San Diego. In the aforementioned 1962 article, he mentioned performing in USO shows during WWII. Hal fully retired around 1946, per that same 1962 article. As a veteran, Berg is interred at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. |
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Real name: Harold Clark Berg Height: 5'6" |
Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography. |
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