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Richard Hallorann, mainly known as Dick Hallorann, is the tritagonist of the 1980 psychological thriller film The Shining and its novel and the miniseries of the same name, a minor character in the 1986 novel, IT and a posthumous character of Doctor Sleep. He also has a minor role in the IT novel. He is a former US Soldier who worked at the Overlook Hotel as head chef and had a "shining" ability like main protagonist Danny Torrance.
He was played by the late Scatman Crothers in the film, the late Melvin Van Peebles in the miniseries, and Carl Lumbly in Doctor Sleep.
Biography[]
Hallorann was born 1918 in New Hampshire. He joined the US Army at age 12 and was assigned to be a cook for the Easy Company, a New Hampshire-based unit. During then, he was a member of an African-American nightclub called "The Black Spot." After it was burned down by the Legion of White Decency in 1930, Hallorann saved the lives of the clubgoers present with his shining ability. While on duty in West Germany, he had a premonition on his brother Carl Hallorann being killed by a train. Someone asked if he was okay but he wasn't. He called his mother to check on Carl knowing what had happened. Eventually in 1974, he became the head chef of the Overlook Hotel.
The Shining[]
His first appearance. When the Torrance's arrive to the hotel after Jack was assigned to watch it until May the 1st, Dick welcomes them and tours them around the kitchen. He used his shining ability to communicate with Danny asking if he wanted ice cream. Afterwards, he tells Danny that like him, he can "shine" and that when he was a kid, he'd have conversations with his grandmother using it without talking. He explained to Danny about the events that happened in the hotel and warned him to stay out of room 237.
While in his Florida home watching a news broadcast, Dick communicated with Danny or had a premonition on Jack entering Room 237. Arriving to the hotel in a snowcat and getting inside, Hallorann calls for the Torrance family. Before he got past the last two pillars, Jack Torrance comes out and strikes him in his chest with an axe, killing him. However in the novel, Dick survived Jack's chaos and moved on to work at a resort in Maine. He remained close to Wendy and Danny until Danny went into his teenage years.
Doctor Sleep[]
Dick's ghost communicates with adult Danny. He instructs him to use "lockboxes" to lock away apparitions. The second time he communicates with Danny he instructs him to keep Abra safe.
Trivia[]
- He dies in the movie but survived in the novel.