Multi-award-winning character actor Hal Holbrook

Hal Holbrook, the award-winning character actor who toured the world for more than 50 years as Mark Twain in a one-man show and uttered the immortal advice “follow the money” in All The President’s Men, has died aged 95.

Holbrook died on January 23 in Beverly Hills, his representative, Steve Rohr, said.

Actors mourned his passing, including Bradley Whitford, who called him an “incredible actor” and Viola Davis, who wrote “RIP to the always wonderful Hal Holbrook”.

Holbrook pursued a busy career in theatre, TV and film, winning five Emmys and a Tony. More than two dozen film credits ranged from Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln to Oliver Stone’s Wall Street.

He was a steady presence on TV as well, appearing in The West Wing, Grey’s Anatomy and Bones.

But his most famous movie role was as a key source for Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward (played by Robert Redford) in the 1976 adaptation of All The President’s Men, the bestselling account by Woodward and fellow Post reporter Carl Bernstein about their investigation of Richard Nixon’s administration and the Watergate scandal that led to his resignation.

Holbrook played the mysterious informant “Deep Throat” (later revealed to be FBI official Mark Felt) who provided key information to Woodward. The most famous tip, uttered from the shadows of a parking garage – “Follow the money” – became an instant catchphrase but was never said in real life. The line was invented by screenwriter William Goldman.

Holbrook had two children, Victoria and David, with his first wife, and a daughter, Evie, from his second marriage to actress Carol Rossen. He was stepfather to Mary Dixie Carter and Ginna Carter.

Hal Holbrook.