( CNN ) -- Longtime character actor Pat Hingle , a veteran of early television dramas , Westerns and four `` Batman '' films , has died at age 84 , his family announced Sunday . Pat Hingle was a familiar face to moviegoers and TV watchers for his many roles . Hingle died Saturday evening at his home in Carolina Beach , North Carolina , after a two-year battle with the blood disorder myelodysplasia , his cousin , Lynn Heritage , told CNN . `` He was awake one moment , and in the next breath , he was gone , '' Heritage said . Hingle began his acting career in the 1950s , appearing in numerous television theater shows . His first movie role was an uncredited appearance in 1954 's `` On the Waterfront , '' which won eight Academy Awards ; he played the by-the-book judge opposite Clint Eastwood 's vengeful marshal in 1968 's `` Hang 'Em High , '' and appeared as Sally Field 's father in 1979 's `` Norma Rae . '' In 1989 , he appeared as Gotham City 's Commissioner Gordon in Tim Burton 's `` Batman , '' carrying on the role through three sequels . His last film role was in `` Talladega Nights : The Ballad of Ricky Bobby , '' released in 2006 . He also guest-starred in countless TV series , including a memorable turn as a character named Col. Daniel Webster Tucker in a 1980 `` M*A*S*H '' episode . In the episode , called `` April Fools , '' Hingle 's Tucker antagonized the unit 's surgeons -- with surprising consequences . Hingle 's other TV series included `` Hawaii Five-O , '' `` The Streets of San Francisco , '' `` Hart to Hart , '' `` St . Elsewhere , '' `` Magnum , P.I . '' and `` Cheers . '' Hingle is survived by his wife of nearly 30 years , Julia , and their five children .
Gordon appeared in many TV series , movies . Pat Hingle played Commissioner Pat Hingle in two-year `` St '' films . Hingle also had roles in `` M*A*S*H , '' `` St . Elsewhere , '' `` Cheers ''