Phil Hoover

Phil Hoover was a big, beefy and brawny actor who often portrayed mean and intimidating bad guys in a handful of enjoyably trashy 70s drive-in flicks. Hoover played football for the University of Southern California. He began acting in films in the early 70's. Phil appeared in several lowdown sleazy pictures for exploitation movie director Lee Frost; he's especially memorable as vicious convict Gentry in "Chain Gang Women," fierce criminal Doc in "Policewomen," and slimy rapist mobster Vito in "The Black Gestapo." Other notable roles include no-count hoodlum Tommy Hooks in the entertainingly silly "Superchick," a henchman for crazed gangster Timothy Carey in "Chesty Anderson, USN," an unhelpful mechanic in Jack Starrett's terrific Satan worship car chase horror/action treat "Race with the Devil," and drug kingpin John Harkins' brutish flunky George in the fun dope deal opus "Acapulco Gold." Among the TV shows Phil did guest spots on are "Hunter," "T.J. Hooker," "Dallas," "Simon & Simon," "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," "Eight Is Enough," "The Incredible Hulk," "The Bionic Woman," "The Rockford Files," and "Cannon." Phil Hoover's last film appearance was yet another nasty heavy part in the excellent thriller "Best Seller."