He guest-starred on the sitcom Night Court as a huge but gentle mental patient who humorously towered over bailiff Bull Shannon, played by Richard Moll, who was 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m), and a fellow mental patient, played by James Cromwell, who is 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m).

In 1986, Hall was cast as the main antagonist and titular monster in Predator, opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura.

The producers decided to recast the role with Hall so that the Predator could more convincingly dominate the film's human characters with its greater size.

Hall would go on to reprise the role in the 1990 sequel, this time opposite Danny Glover and Gary Busey.

Hall met actress Alaina Reed while taping a guest role on the television show 227.

[5] While working on the TV series Harry and the Hendersons, Hall announced that he had contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during surgery for injuries he sustained in a car accident.