in 1960, he had been offered the title role in "elmer gantry", but burt lancaster filled the part because hingle had been in a near fatal accident. he was caught in his west end avenue apartment building in an elevator that had stalled between the second and third floors. he crawled out and sought to reach the second floor corridor but lost his balance and fell fifty-four feet down the shaft. he fractured his skull, wrist, hip, and most of the ribs on his left side. he broke his left leg in three places and lost the little finger on his left hand. he lay near death for two weeks, and his recovery required more than a year.