Tom Towles
| Tom Towles | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 20, 1950 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died |
April 2, 2015 (aged 65) Pinellas, Florida, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Stroke |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–2008 |
Tom Towles (March 20, 1950 – April 2, 2015) was an American actor best known for his roles as Otis in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) and Harry Cooper in the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead.
Early life
Towles was born on March 20, 1950[1] in Chicago, Illinois.[2][3][4][5] He had a sister by the name of Kai.[6] Prior to acting, Towles briefly served in the United States Marine Corps.[7][8][9]
Career
In 1971, Towles began his acting career in Chicago where he performed as a member of the Organic Theater Company.[10] He made his film debut portraying a minor role as a cop in Dog Day Afternoon (1975).[11] Afterwards, Towles returned to Chicago to continue performing with the Organic Theater Company, as well as performing at the Goodman Theatre.[12] After a decade-long hiatus, Towles returned to the screen in the film, Pink Nights (1985).[13]
Towles made his breakthrough role with Otis in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. His character was based on real life serial killer Ottis Toole, who confessed responsibility for the murder of Adam Walsh.[14][15]
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.[16][17][18][19]
Towles frequently collaborated with filmmaker Rob Zombie in several of films such as House of 1000 Corpses (2003), The Devil's Rejects (2005), Halloween (2007) and Grindhouse (2007).[20]
Death
Towles died on April 2, 2015 in a hospital in Pinellas, Florida of complications following a stroke.[21][22][23][24] He was 65 years old.[25][26][27][28]
Select filmography
- Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
- Men Don't Leave (1990)
- Night of the Living Dead (1990)
- The Pit and the Pendulum (1991)
- The Borrower (1991)
- Fortress (1992)
- Blood In Blood Out (1993)
- Mad Dog and Glory (1993)
- Normal Life (1996)
- The Rock (1996)
- Gridlock'd (1997)
- Warriors of Virtue (1997)
- The Prophecy II (1998)
- Dr. Dolittle (1998)
- Groom Lake (2002)
- House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
- The Devil's Rejects (2005)
- Miami Vice (2006)
- Grindhouse (2007)
- Halloween (2007)
- Blood on the Highway (2008)
See also
References
- ↑ "Tom Towles biography". The New York Times.
- ↑ Oldenburg, Ann (6 April 2015). "Character actor Tom Towles dies at 65". USA Today. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
The Chicago-born Towles...
- ↑ Vanmetre, Elizabeth (7 April 2015). "Tom Towles, horror film actor, dead at 71". Daily News. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
The Chicago-born actor's...
- ↑ Benson, Germaine (6 April 2015). "Horror actor Tom Towles dead at 65". United Press International. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
The Chicago-born actor...
- ↑ Oldenburg, Ann (6 April 2015). "Character actor Tom Towles dies at 65". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
The Chicago-born Towles...
- ↑ Macatee, Rebecca (6 April 2015). "Character Actor Tom Towles Dead at 71; Rob Zombie Remembers Indie-Horror Regular as "Such a Great Guy"". E! News. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
...his sister Kai Towles...
- ↑ "Rob Zombie remembers character actor Tom Towles". Philadelphia Media Network. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
...after a stint in the U.S. Marines...
- ↑ "Rob Zombie Remembers Character Actor Tom Towles". Contactmusic.com. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
...after a stint in the U.S. Marines...
- ↑ Zhao, Helen (5 April 2015). "'He will be missed': Rob Zombie announces that indie horror actor Tom Towles has passed away at the age 65". Daily Mail. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
He started acting after serving in the Marine Corps.
- ↑ Jevens, Darel. "TOM TOWLES, 'HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER' ACTOR, DIES AT 65". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 10 November 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.”
- ↑ Rife, Katie (6 April 2015). "R.I.P. Tom Towles, horror veteran". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
His first film role was a bit part as a cop in Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Dagan, Carmel (6 April 2015). "Tom Towles, Actor in Horror Movies, Dies at 65". Variety. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
Towles returned to the bigscreen after a long absence with an appearance in 1985’s “Pink Nights.”
- ↑ Ryan, Danielle (6 April 2015). "Tom Towles, Horror Movie Actor, Dead at 65". Paste. Retrieved 10 November 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.
- ↑ Barnes, Mike (7 April 2015). "Horror actor Tom Towles dies at 65". CNN. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ↑ "'House of 1000 Corpses' actor Tom Towles dies at 71". Fox News Channel. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ↑ Roberts, Katie (6 April 2015). "Character Actor Tom Towles, Star of Horror Films, Dies at 65". Moviefone. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ↑ Lang, Derrik J. (7 April 2015). "Actor Tom Towles, veteran of Rob Zombie horror films, dies at age 71". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ↑ Oldenburg, Ann (6 April 2015). "Character actor Tom Towles dies at 65". Florida Today. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ↑ Gingold, Michael (5 April 2015). "RIP Tom Towles". Fangoria. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ↑ Lang, Derrik J. (7 April 2015). "'House of 1000 Corpses' actor Tom Towles dies at 71". Associated Press. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
...died April 2 in Pinellas, Florida, from complications following a stroke.
- ↑ Lang, Derrik J. (6 April 2015). "Tom Towles, Horror Movie Actor, Dies". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
...died April 2 in Pinellas, Florida, from complications following a stroke.
- ↑ Lang, Derrick J. (7 April 2015). "'House of 1000 Corpses' actor Tom Towles dies at 71". The Daily Star. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
...died April 2 in Pinellas, Florida, from complications following a stroke.
- ↑ "Tom Towles dies at 71; actor appeared in several Rob Zombie films". Los Angeles Times. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
...died Thursday in Pinellas, Fla., of complications from a stroke...
- ↑ Robinson, Will (6 April 2015). "Tom Towles, horror actor, dies at 65". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
He was 65 years old.
- ↑ "Character Actor Tom Towles Dead at 65". People. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
He was 65.
- ↑ Oldenburg, Ann (6 April 2015). "Character actor Tom Towles dies at 65". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
He was 65.
- ↑ Barnes, Mike (5 April 2015). "Tom Towles, Actor in Rob Zombie Films, Dies at 65". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 November 2015.