Alan Hale, Sr. (February 10, 1892 – January 22, 1950) was an American movie actor and director, most widely remembered for his many supporting character roles, in particular as frequent sidekick of Errol Flynn. His wife of over thirty years was Gretchen Hartman (1897–1979), a child actress and silent film player and mother of their three children. He was the father of actor Alan Hale, Jr., best known as "the Skipper" on television's Gilligan's Island.

Hale was born Rufus Edward Mackahan in Washington, D.C.. His first film role was in the 1899 silent movie The Cowboy and the Lady. He played "Little John" in the 1922 film Robin Hood, with Douglas Fairbanks and Wallace Beery, reprised the role sixteen years later in The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, then played him yet again in Rogues of Sherwood Forest in 1950 withJohn Derek as Robin Hood's son.

His other films include the 1928 Skyscraper, as well as Fog Over Frisco, The Little Minister, and It Happened One Night, all released in 1934; the 1937 film Stella Dallas; High, Wide, and Handsome; The Fighting 69th; They Drive By Night; Manpower; and as the cantankerous Sgt. McGee in the 1943 movie This Is the Army.

Hale directed eight movies during the 1920s and 1930s and acted in 235 theatrical films.

Alan Hale, Sr. died in Hollywood, California on January 22, 1950 following a liver ailment and viral infection. He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.