Tom Towles | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Born | March 20, 1950 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | April 2, 2015 (aged 65) Pinellas, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–2008 |
| Known for | Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Night of the Living Dead House of 1000 Corpses Miami Vice NYPD Blue Blood in Blood out |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/ | |
Tom Towles (March 20, 1950 – April 2, 2015) was an American character actor of film, theatre, and television, known for his portraying villains and intimidating supporting characters. His breakthrough role as Otis in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male. He appeared in numerous films and television series including Night of the Living Dead , Blood In Blood Out , The Rock , NYPD Blue , Dr. Dolittle, The Devil's Rejects , Miami Vice, and Malcolm in the Middle.
Towles was born on March 20, 1950 [1] in Chicago, Illinois. [2] He had a sister by the name of Kai. [3] Prior to acting, Towles briefly served in the United States Marine Corps. [4] [5]
In 1971, Towles began his acting career in Chicago where he performed as a member of the Organic Theater Company. [6] He made his film debut portraying a minor role as a cop in Dog Day Afternoon (1975). [7] Afterwards, Towles returned to Chicago to continue performing with the Organic Theater Company, as well as performing at the Goodman Theatre. [8] After a decade-long hiatus, Towles returned to the screen in the film Pink Nights (1985). [9]
Towles made his breakthrough role as Otis in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. His character was based on real-life serial killer Ottis Toole. [10] [11]
Towles also appeared on television in such shows as Seinfeld , NYPD Blue , L.A. Law , ER , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Star Trek: Voyager and Firefly . [12] [13] [14] [15]
Towles frequently collaborated with filmmaker Rob Zombie, appearing in House of 1000 Corpses (2003), The Devil's Rejects (2005), Halloween (2007) and Grindhouse (2007). [16]
Towles died on April 2, 2015, at the age of 65, [17] [18] in a hospital in Pinellas, Florida of complications following a stroke. [19]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Dog Day Afternoon | Cop | Uncredited |
| 1985 | Pink Nights | Ralph | |
| 1986 | Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer | Otis | Nominated- Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male |
| 1989 | The Borrower | Bob Laney | Nominated- Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1990 | Men Don't Leave | Evan Taylor | |
| Night of the Living Dead | Harry Cooper | ||
| 1991 | The Pit and the Pendulum | Don Carlos Molina | |
| 1992 | Fortress | Stiggs | |
| 1993 | Blood In Blood Out | "Red" Ryder | |
| Mad Dog and Glory | Andrew, The Beater | ||
| 1996 | God's Lonely Man | Steven | |
| Normal Life | Frank Anderson | ||
| 1996 | The Rock | Alcatraz Park Ranger | |
| 1997 | Gridlock'd | Max | |
| Warriors of Virtue | General Grillo | ||
| Night of the Lawyers | Moriarty | ||
| 1998 | The Prophecy II | Detective Waltrip | |
| Dr. Dolittle | German Shepherd | Voice | |
| 2000 | More Dogs Than Bones | Detective Waltrip | |
| 2002 | Groom Lake | Dietz | |
| 2003 | House of 1000 Corpses | Deputy George Wydell | |
| 2005 | The Devil's Rejects | ||
| 2006 | Miami Vice | Coleman | |
| 2007 | Grindhouse | Lieutenant Boorman | Segment "Werewolf Women of the SS" |
| Home Sick | Uncle Johnny | ||
| Halloween | Larry Redgrave | ||
| 2008 | Blood on the Highway | Louis Debois | Final film role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Jack and Mike | Maxie | Episode: "Charity Ball" |
| High Mountain Rangers | T.J. Cousins | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 1988 | Sable | Eddie | Episode: "Mob" |
| 1992 | Mann & Machine | Lomax | Episode: "Mann's Fate" |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Hon'Tihl | Episode: "Dramatis Personae" |
| Seinfeld | Tough Guy | Episode: "The Glasses" | |
| 1993-1994 | NYPD Blue | Inspector Anthony Lastarza | Recurring role; Season 1 |
| Bakersfield P.D. | Riley | 2 episodes | |
| 1994 | L.A. Law | Warden Geoff Ropella | Episode: "Three on a Patch" |
| Girls in Prison | Norman Stoneface | Television film | |
| 1995 | VR.5 | Shepard | Episode: "Dr. Strangechild" |
| 1996 | Pacific Blue | Mr. Baron | Episode: "Rapscallions" |
| ER | Matthew | Episode: "No Brain, No Gain" | |
| 3rd Rock from the Sun | Dale | Episode: "Gobble, Gobble, Dick, Dick" | |
| Night Stand with Dick Dietrick | Mad Cow | Episode: "Uniting Love Ones" | |
| 1997 | Profiler | Steve Calagian | Episode: "Learning From the Masters" |
| Star Trek: Voyager | Dr. Vatm | Episode: "Rise" | |
| 1998 | Mercenary II: Thick & Thin | Colonel Chamaro | Television film |
| Maximum Bob | Ike Worth | Episode: "Once Bitten..." | |
| The Pretender | Jack Brevins | Episode: "Parole" | |
| 1999 | Lansky | Nick | Television film |
| The Drew Carey Show | Detective Streible | Episode: "Drew Tries to Kill Mimi" | |
| 2001 | 18 Wheels of Justice | Ray Palmeri | Episode: "The Interrogation" |
| 2002 | Firefly | Lund | Episode: "The Train Job" |
| Push, Nevada | BRB | Recurring role; Season 1 | |
| Robbery Homicide Division | Kevin Molas | Episode: "Wild Ride" | |
| 2003 | Crossing Jordan | Bill Williamson | Episode: "Wild Card" |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Zeke | Episode: "Homebodies" | |
| Malcolm in the Middle | Ethan | Episode: "Christmas Trees" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | New Legends | Bradley | Voice |
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The Chicago-born Towles...
...his sister Kai Towles...
...after a stint in the U.S. Marines...
...after a stint in the U.S. Marines...
...he began his acting career on local stages and in 1971 was part of the original cast of the Organic Theatre's acclaimed series of sci-fi plays "Warp."
His first film role was a bit part as a cop in Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
he returned to Chicago and became a member of the Organic Theatre Company appearing in numerous productions and often collaborating on the writing as well. Towles also acted with the prestigious Goodman Theatre there.
Towles returned to the bigscreen after a long absence with an appearance in 1985's "Pink Nights."
He is best known, however, for his role as Otis opposite Michael Rooker's Henry in 1986's Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Towles' murderous character was based on real-life serial killer Otis Toole, who admitted to killing the 6-year-old son of John Walsh.
He was 65 years old.
He was 65.
...died Thursday in Pinellas, Fla., of complications from a stroke...