Tom Atkins (actor)

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Tom Atkins
Tom Atkins by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Atkins in 2023
Born (1935-11-13) November 13, 1935 (age 89)
Alma mater Duquesne University
OccupationActor
Years active1963–present
Spouse
    Garn Stephens
    (m. 1976;div. 1985)
    Janis Lee Rodgers
    (m. 1986)
Children1
Military career
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branchFlag of the United States Navy (official).svg  United States Navy

Thomas Atkins (born November 13, 1935) is an American actor. He is known for his work in the horror and thriller film genres, having worked with writers and directors such as Shane Black, William Peter Blatty, John Carpenter, Fred Dekker, Richard Donner, Stephen King, and George A. Romero. He is also a familiar face to mainstream viewers, often playing police officers and tough authority figures and is perhaps best known for his role as Lt. Alex Diel in The Rockford Files (1974–1977).

Contents

Atkins has appeared in numerous films including The Fog (1980), The Ninth Configuration (1980), Escape from New York (1981), Creepshow (1982), Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), Night of the Creeps (1986), Lethal Weapon (1987), Maniac Cop (1988), Two Evil Eyes (1990), Bob Roberts (1992), Striking Distance (1993), My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009), Drive Angry (2011), Encounter (2018), and Trick (2019).

Atkins has also appeared in numerous television series and films such as Hawaii Five-O (1975), Kojak: Flowers for Matty (1990), Walker, Texas Ranger (1993), Fortune Hunter (1994), Xena: Warrior Princess (1996), Homicide: Life on the Street (1998), Oz (2003), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2003), The Jury (2004), The Last-Drive In with Joe Bob Briggs (2019), City on a Hill (2022), and Creepshow (2023).

Early life

Atkins initially had no desire to be an actor. His father worked in a steel mill in Pennsylvania and Atkins assumed that he would follow in his father's footsteps. He enlisted in the United States Navy and "noticed that the officers lived great, but that was only because they had gone to college," [2] and so, after leaving the navy, Atkins enrolled in college where he met a girl who was involved in a theatre group. Atkins studied at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and was a member of the Gamma Phi fraternity. He says: "I was in my 20s already when I got interested in acting and I liked it a lot." [2]

Career

Atkins began his career in stage plays both on-and-off Broadway, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television. [2] His first movie role was in The Detective , which starred Frank Sinatra. Talking of his experience working on his first feature film – and with Sinatra – Atkins says: "It was great! It was intimidating and frightening and scary but Frank was great. He was very easy to work with. He didn't like to do a lot of takes. But then it's not like we were doing Shakespeare." [2]

After appearing in TV series and movies, including portraying Lt. Alex Diel in seasons 1 and 2 of The Rockford Files , Atkins began working within the horror and science fiction genres. He appeared in two films directed by John Carpenter: the 1980 ghost story The Fog and the 1981 science fiction thriller Escape from New York . His next role (this time a leading role) was the third installment of the Halloween franchise, the Carpenter-produced Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982). [3]

He completed further work with George A. Romero, appearing in three of the director's projects: the anthology Creepshow (1982), written by Stephen King; the anthology Two Evil Eyes (1990), based on tales by Edgar Allan Poe; and Bruiser (2000).[ citation needed ]

He portrayed Detective Ray Cameron in the 1986 cult horror film Night of the Creeps , a role Atkins calls his very favorite. He tells Classic-Horror magazine "It was the most fun film I've ever worked on. It was a pure giggle from beginning to end. The director Fred Dekker was very young and very talented and he went on to do The Monster Squad afterwards. I think he wrote a terrific film that was kind of a big put-on of '50s horror. And I had great lines in that movie!" [2]

Atkins has continued to act in both the thriller and police procedural genre. He is well known to movie goers for his role as Michael Hunsaker in the Richard Donner film Lethal Weapon (1987), which stars Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Gary Busey. In 1993 he took a role in Striking Distance (1993) alongside Bruce Willis, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Tom Sizemore. In television, Atkins reprised his role of Commander Diehl for a series of Rockford Files movies during the 1990s.[ citation needed ]

Atkins is a frequent player in shows in the Pittsburgh theatre scene, most famously in the one-man show The Chief at Pittsburgh Public Theater, in which he depicted the late founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Art Rooney. Also at the Public, he played the title role in Macbeth , opposite Jean Smart as Lady Macbeth and Keith Fowler as Macduff. He was the star of A Musical Christmas Carol at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, portraying the character of Ebenezer Scrooge. He appeared on Broadway in David Storey's The Changing Room , for which he received the 1973 Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Performer.

In 2009, he had a supporting role as a retired sheriff in the remake My Bloody Valentine 3D [4] and co-starred with Nicolas Cage in Todd Farmer's Drive Angry , in 2011; both films are directed by Patrick Lussier. [5]

In the 2018 sci-fi movie Encounter , he was Professor Westlake, who studied the biology of the alien lifeform.

Selected filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotesReference(s)
1968 The Detective Harmon Gordon Douglas [6] [7]
1970 Where's Poppa? Policeman in Apartment Carl Reiner [6] [7]
1970 The Owl and the Pussycat Kid in Car Herbert Ross Uncredited [6] [7]
1976 Special Delivery Cop On Beat Paul Wendkos [6] [7]
1977 Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo BuddyStuart HagmannMade-for-TV Movie [6] [7]
1980 The Fog Nick Castle John Carpenter [6] [7]
1980 The Ninth Configuration Sergeant Krebs William Peter Blatty [7]
1981 Escape from New York Captain Rehme John Carpenter [6] [7]
1982 Creepshow Stan George A. Romero (segments "Prologue" / "Epilogue"), Uncredited [6] [7]
1982 Halloween III: Season of the Witch Dr. Dan Challis Tommy Lee Wallace [6] [7]
1985 The New Kids "Mac" MacWilliams Sean S. Cunningham [7]
1986 Night of the Creeps Ray Cameron Fred Dekker [6] [7]
1987 Lethal Weapon Michael Hunsaker Richard Donner [6] [7]
1988 Lemon Sky DouglasJan Egleson [6] [7]
1988 Maniac Cop Detective Frank McCrae William Lustig [6] [7]
1990 Two Evil Eyes Detective Grogan George A. Romero, Dario Argento (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar") [6] [7]
1992 Bob Roberts Dr. Caleb Menck Tim Robbins [6] [7]
1993 Striking Distance Sergeant Fred Hardy Rowdy Herrington [6] [7]
2000 Bruiser Detective McCleary George A. Romero [6] [7]
2001Out of the BlackEugene CarterKarl Kozak [7]
2002 Turn of Faith Charlie Ryan Charles Jarrott
2009 My Bloody Valentine 3D Sheriff Jim Burke Patrick Lussier [6] [7]
2009 Shannon's Rainbow Captain Martin Frank E. Johnson [7]
2009TrappedDetective AbbottRon Hankison, Gavin Rapp [7]
2010 The Chief Art Rooney Sr.Steve Parys [7]
2011 Drive Angry Captain Patrick Lussier [6] [7]
2011Arriving at NightPhil RedmanAndrew FordShort Film
2013FantasmHimselfKyle KuchtaDocumentary [7]
2014Apocalypse KissCaptain John VogleChristian Grillo [7]
2014Judy's DeadRoyDave Rodkey
2015Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom SaviniHimself Jason Baker Documentary [7] [8]
2018 Encounter Professor WestlakePaul Salamoff [7]
2019 Trick Talbott Patrick Lussier [7] [9]
2020PolybiusSheriff AtkinsJimmy KellyShort film [10]
2022Final SummerGeorge KlugJohn IsbergPre-production
TBAThe CollectedClu Marcus Dunstan Announced [11]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesReference(s)
1963 The Doctors Dylan LeveinEpisode: "December 9, 1963"
1964Look Up and LiveDoctorEpisode: "A Lifetime of Service"
1974 Get Christie Love! PetersonEpisode: "Market for Murder"
1974 Rhoda Vic RhodesEpisode: "Pop Goes the Question"
1974 Harry O Sergeant Frank Cole5 episodes
1975Miles to Go Before I SleepO'DellTelevision film [7]
1975Shell GameStoker FryeTelevision film [6] [7]
1975 The Rookies Brad GiffordEpisode: "Lamb to the Slaughter"
1975 Hawaii Five-O Koko ApalekaEpisode: "Sing a Song of Suspense"
1976VisionsRobert DaykaEpisode: "Pennsylvania Lynch"
1976–1977 Serpico Lieutenant Tom Sullivan16 episodes [6] [7]
1974–1977 The Rockford Files Lieutenant Alex Diel8 episodes [7]
1977 Baretta VicEpisode: "It Goes with the Job"
1977 Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo BuddyTelevision film
1978 A Death in Canaan Lieutenant BragdonTelevision film [6] [7]
1980 Skag Dr. MosconeEpisode: "Pilot" [6] [7]
1980PowerBuck BuchananTelevision film [7]
1981Sherlock HolmesCraiginTelevision film [7]
1979–1981 Lou Grant Dr. Sorenson / Jim Bronsky / Frank Durning3 episodes
1982 M*A*S*H Major Lawrence WeemsEpisode: "The Tooth Shall Set You Free" [7]
1982 Desperate Lives John CameronTelevision film [7]
1982 Quincy, M.E. Commander Gene Butler / John Todd2 episodes [7]
1982SkeezerDr. ChanlessTelevision film [7]
1983 St. Elsewhere Bob LonnickerEpisode: "Dog Day Hospital" [7]
1983 Murder Me, Murder You Jack VanceTelevision film
1984 T.J. Hooker Phil Parker / Tommy D'AmicoEpisode: "Hooker's Run" [7]
1985 The Fall Guy George SpirosEpisode: "The Skip Family Robinson" [7]
1986 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Police LieutenantEpisode: "Beast in View"
1986 Blind Justice KramerTelevision film [7]
1986 Stingray Donald DixonEpisode: "Sometimes You Gotta Sing the Blues" [7]
1986 Spenser: For Hire HatchEpisode: "White Knight" [7]
1987A Stranger WaitsSheriff CollierTelevision film [6] [7]
1986–1987 The Equalizer Detective Frank Standish3 episodes [7]
1989 Dead Man Out BurgerTelevision film [7]
1989 The Heist Detective LelandTelevision film [6] [7]
1990 Against the Law Walter LittlefieldEpisode: "Pilot"
1991 Cry in the Wild: The Taking of Peggy Ann JamiesonTelevision film [6] [7]
1992What She Doesn't KnowRoyTelevision film [6] [7]
1993Sworn to VengeanceEd BarryTelevision film [6] [7]
1993 Walker, Texas Ranger Wade CantrellEpisode: "Night of the Gladiator"
1994 Fortune Hunter Richard BennettEpisode: "Target: Millennium"
1996The Rockford Files: If the Frame FitsCommander Alex DiehlTelevision film [6] [7]
1996 Xena: Warrior Princess AtriusEpisode: "Ties That Bind" [7]
1996Dying to be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena StoryHenry HartTelevision film [6] [7]
1998 Homicide: Life on the Street Grenville RawlinsEpisode: "The Twenty Percent Solution" [7]
1999The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds ... It LeadsCommander Alex DiehlTelevision film [6] [7]
2003 Oz Mayor Wilson Lowen2 episodes [7]
2003 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Mr. MonahanEpisode: "Cold Comfort"
2004 The Jury Boyd KingmanEpisode: "Mail Order Mystery" [7]
2022 City on a Hill Joe Congemi2 episodes
2023 Creepshow FrankEpisode: "Something Borrowed, Something Blue" [12]

Self

YearTitleNotesReference(s)
2006 Halloween: 25 years of TerrorVideo Documentary
2007Just Desserts: The Making of Creepshow Video Documentary [13]
2009My Bloody Valentine: Sex, Blood and Screams – The Make-Up EffectsVideo Documentary Short
2009Thrill Me!: The Making of Night of the Creeps Video Documentary
2009Night of the Creeps: Tom Atkins, Man of ActionVideo Documentary Short
2011Doomed Detective: Tom Atkins on Maniac Cop Video Documentary
2012Stand Alone: The Making of Halloween III: Season of the WitchVideo Short
2016Creepshow Days with Michael GornickVideo Short
2016Horror's Hallowed GroundsEpisode: "Creepshow"
2019 The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs Episode: "Halloween Hootenanny: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Meyers"
2019 In Search of Darkness Documentary [7]
2020 In Search of Darkness: Part II Documentary [7]

Archive footage

YearTitleRoleNotesReference(s)
2011–2014 Cinemassacre's Monster Madness Ray Cameron / Dr. Dan Challis2 episodes
2014–2019Welcome to the BasementRay Cameron / Sergeant Krebs2 episodes

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References

  1. Matoney, Nick (November 22, 2022). "Two takes with Tom Atkins: Pittsburgh icon discusses Scrooge, scary movies and 'The Chief'". WTAE-TV . Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Fallows, Tom, Tom Atkins Interview (Night of the Creeps), Classic-Horror Web Zine October 14, 2009.
  3. "'Drive Angry' Casting That Will Surely "Thrill" You". February 25, 2010.
  4. "Monster-Mania 14 Guest List Grows". DreadCentral. February 7, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  5. "Exclusive: Tom Atkins is BACK and Ready to Drive Angry". DreadCentral. February 25, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Turner Classic Movies. "Tom Atkins - Turner Classic Movies". Turner Classic Movies . Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 TV Guide. "Tom Atkins List of Movies and TV Shows - TV Guide". TV Guide . Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  8. Squires, John (November 21, 2019). "Documentary 'Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini' Streaming Exclusively on Shudder in December!". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  9. Miska, Brad (September 5, 2019). "Tom Atkins, Omar Epps and Jamie Kennedy Starring in Todd Farmer and Patrick Lussier's 'Trick'". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  10. Squires, John (January 14, 2019). "[Trailer] Tom Atkins is Back (and Yes, He's Playing a Sheriff) in Short Film 'Polybius'". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  11. Squires, John (September 5, 2019). "[Exclusive] Tom Atkins in Talks for a Starring Role in Third Franchise Installment 'The Collected'". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  12. Bolton, Cameron (August 21, 2023). "Shudder Unearths Creepshow Season 4 Trailer, Featuring the Return of Original Star Tom Atkins". MovieWeb . Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  13. Miska, Brad (October 13, 2023). "'Just Desserts: The Making of Creepshow' Is Now Streaming Exclusively on SCREAMBOX!". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.