Tom Towles

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Tom Towles
Tomtowlesprofile.jpeg
Born(1950-03-20)March 20, 1950
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedApril 2, 2015(2015-04-02) (aged 65)
OccupationActor
Years active1971–2008
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
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States
Service/branchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg  United States Marine Corps

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.

Contents

Early life

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]

Career

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]

Death

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]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975 Dog Day Afternoon CopUncredited
1985Pink NightsRalph
1986 Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Otis Nominated- Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
1989 The Borrower Bob LaneyNominated- 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
1996God's Lonely ManSteven
Normal Life Frank Anderson
1996 The Rock Alcatraz Park Ranger
1997 Gridlock'd Max
Warriors of Virtue General Grillo
Night of the LawyersMoriarty
1998 The Prophecy II Detective Waltrip
Dr. Dolittle German ShepherdVoice
2000More Dogs Than BonesDetective 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 BoormanSegment "Werewolf Women of the SS"
Home Sick Uncle Johnny
Halloween Larry Redgrave
2008 Blood on the Highway Louis DeboisFinal film role

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987 Jack and Mike MaxieEpisode: "Charity Ball"
High Mountain Rangers T.J. CousinsEpisode: "Pilot"
1988 Sable EddieEpisode: "Mob"
1992 Mann & Machine LomaxEpisode: "Mann's Fate"
1993 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Hon'TihlEpisode: "Dramatis Personae"
Seinfeld Tough GuyEpisode: "The Glasses"
1993-1994 NYPD Blue Inspector Anthony LastarzaRecurring role; Season 1
Bakersfield P.D. Riley2 episodes
1994 L.A. Law Warden Geoff RopellaEpisode: "Three on a Patch"
Girls in Prison Norman Stoneface Television film
1995 VR.5 ShepardEpisode: "Dr. Strangechild"
1996 Pacific Blue Mr. BaronEpisode: "Rapscallions"
ER MatthewEpisode: "No Brain, No Gain"
3rd Rock from the Sun DaleEpisode: "Gobble, Gobble, Dick, Dick"
Night Stand with Dick Dietrick Mad CowEpisode: "Uniting Love Ones"
1997 Profiler Steve CalagianEpisode: "Learning From the Masters"
Star Trek: Voyager Dr. VatmEpisode: "Rise"
1998Mercenary II: Thick & ThinColonel Chamaro Television film
Maximum Bob Ike WorthEpisode: "Once Bitten..."
The Pretender Jack BrevinsEpisode: "Parole"
1999 Lansky Nick Television film
The Drew Carey Show Detective StreibleEpisode: "Drew Tries to Kill Mimi"
2001 18 Wheels of Justice Ray PalmeriEpisode: "The Interrogation"
2002 Firefly LundEpisode: "The Train Job"
Push, Nevada BRBRecurring role; Season 1
Robbery Homicide Division Kevin MolasEpisode: "Wild Ride"
2003 Crossing Jordan Bill WilliamsonEpisode: "Wild Card"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ZekeEpisode: "Homebodies"
Malcolm in the Middle EthanEpisode: "Christmas Trees"

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002 New Legends BradleyVoice

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References

  1. "Tom Towles biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . 2015. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015.
  2. Oldenburg, Ann (April 6, 2015). "Character actor Tom Towles dies at 65". USA Today . Retrieved November 10, 2015. The Chicago-born Towles...
  3. Macatee, Rebecca (April 6, 2015). "Character Actor Tom Towles Dead at 71; Rob Zombie Remembers Indie-Horror Regular as "Such a Great Guy"". E! News . Retrieved November 10, 2015. ...his sister Kai Towles...
  4. "Rob Zombie remembers character actor Tom Towles". Philadelphia Media Network. April 6, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015. ...after a stint in the U.S. Marines...
  5. "Rob Zombie Remembers Character Actor Tom Towles". Contactmusic.com. April 6, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015. ...after a stint in the U.S. Marines...
  6. Jevens, Darel. "TOM TOWLES, 'HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER' ACTOR, DIES AT 65". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved November 10, 2015. ...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."
  7. Rife, Katie (April 6, 2015). "R.I.P. Tom Towles, horror veteran". The A.V. Club . Retrieved November 10, 2015. His first film role was a bit part as a cop in Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
  8. "Overview for Tom Towles". 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.
  9. Dagan, Carmel (April 6, 2015). "Tom Towles, Actor in Horror Movies, Dies at 65". Variety . Retrieved November 10, 2015. Towles returned to the bigscreen after a long absence with an appearance in 1985's "Pink Nights."
  10. Ryan, Danielle (April 6, 2015). "Tom Towles, Horror Movie Actor, Dead at 65". Paste . Retrieved November 10, 2015. 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.
  11. Barnes, Mike (April 7, 2015). "Horror actor Tom Towles dies at 65". CNN . Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  12. "'House of 1000 Corpses' actor Tom Towles dies at 71". Fox News Channel. April 7, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  13. Roberts, Katie (April 6, 2015). "Character Actor Tom Towles, Star of Horror Films, Dies at 65". Moviefone . Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  14. Lang, Derrik J. (April 7, 2015). "Actor Tom Towles, veteran of Rob Zombie horror films, dies at age 71". The Globe and Mail . Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  15. Oldenburg, Ann (April 6, 2015). "Character actor Tom Towles dies at 65". Florida Today . Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  16. Gingold, Michael (April 5, 2015). "RIP Tom Towles". Fangoria . Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  17. Robinson, Will (April 6, 2015). "Tom Towles, horror actor, dies at 65". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved November 10, 2015. He was 65 years old.
  18. "Character Actor Tom Towles Dead at 65". People . April 6, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015. He was 65.
  19. "Tom Towles dies at 71; actor appeared in several Rob Zombie films". Los Angeles Times . April 6, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2020. ...died Thursday in Pinellas, Fla., of complications from a stroke...