Tom Atkins (actor)

Tom Atkins
Atkins in 2023
Born (1935-11-13) November 13, 1935 (age 89)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1]
Alma materDuquesne University
OccupationActor
Years active1963–present
Spouse
    Garn Stephens
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1976; div. 1985)​
    Janis Lee Rodgers
    ​
    (m. 1986)​
Children1
Military career
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branch 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).

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

Year Title Role Director Notes Reference(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 Buddy Stuart Hagmann Made-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 Douglas Jan 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]
2001 Out of the Black Eugene Carter Karl 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]
2009 Trapped Detective Abbott Ron Hankison, Gavin Rapp [7]
2010 The Chief Art Rooney Sr. Steve Parys [7]
2011 Drive Angry Captain Patrick Lussier [6][7]
2011 Arriving at Night Phil Redman Andrew Ford Short Film
2013 Fantasm Himself Kyle Kuchta Documentary [7]
2014 Apocalypse Kiss Captain John Vogle Christian Grillo [7]
2014 Judy's Dead Roy Dave Rodkey
2015 Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini Himself Jason Baker Documentary [7][8]
2018 Encounter Professor Westlake Paul Salamoff [7]
2019 Trick Talbott Patrick Lussier [7][9]
2020 Polybius Sheriff Atkins Jimmy Kelly Short film [10]
2022 Final Summer George Klug John Isberg Pre-production
TBA The Collected Clu Marcus Dunstan Announced [11]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Reference(s)
1963 The Doctors Dylan Levein Episode: "December 9, 1963"
1964 Look Up and Live Doctor Episode: "A Lifetime of Service"
1974 Get Christie Love! Peterson Episode: "Market for Murder"
1974 Rhoda Vic Rhodes Episode: "Pop Goes the Question"
1974 Harry O Sergeant Frank Cole 5 episodes
1975 Miles to Go Before I Sleep O'Dell Television film [7]
1975 Shell Game Stoker Frye Television film [6][7]
1975 The Rookies Brad Gifford Episode: "Lamb to the Slaughter"
1975 Hawaii Five-O Koko Apaleka Episode: "Sing a Song of Suspense"
1976 Visions Robert Dayka Episode: "Pennsylvania Lynch"
1976–1977 Serpico Lieutenant Tom Sullivan 16 episodes [6][7]
1974–1977 The Rockford Files Lieutenant Alex Diel 8 episodes [7]
1977 Baretta Vic Episode: "It Goes with the Job"
1977 Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo Buddy Television film
1978 A Death in Canaan Lieutenant Bragdon Television film [6][7]
1980 Skag Dr. Moscone Episode: "Pilot" [6][7]
1980 Power Buck Buchanan Television film [7]
1981 Sherlock Holmes Craigin Television film [7]
1979–1981 Lou Grant Dr. Sorenson / Jim Bronsky / Frank Durning 3 episodes
1982 M*A*S*H Major Lawrence Weems Episode: "The Tooth Shall Set You Free" [7]
1982 Desperate Lives John Cameron Television film [7]
1982 Quincy, M.E. Commander Gene Butler / John Todd 2 episodes [7]
1982 Skeezer Dr. Chanless Television film [7]
1983 St. Elsewhere Bob Lonnicker Episode: "Dog Day Hospital" [7]
1983 Murder Me, Murder You Jack Vance Television film
1984 T.J. Hooker Phil Parker / Tommy D'Amico Episode: "Hooker's Run" [7]
1985 The Fall Guy George Spiros Episode: "The Skip Family Robinson" [7]
1986 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Police Lieutenant Episode: "Beast in View"
1986 Blind Justice Kramer Television film [7]
1986 Stingray Donald Dixon Episode: "Sometimes You Gotta Sing the Blues" [7]
1986 Spenser: For Hire Hatch Episode: "White Knight" [7]
1987 A Stranger Waits Sheriff Collier Television film [6][7]
1986–1987 The Equalizer Detective Frank Standish 3 episodes [7]
1989 Dead Man Out Burger Television film [7]
1989 The Heist Detective Leland Television film [6][7]
1990 Against the Law Walter Littlefield Episode: "Pilot"
1991 Cry in the Wild: The Taking of Peggy Ann Jamieson Television film [6][7]
1992 What She Doesn't Know Roy Television film [6][7]
1993 Sworn to Vengeance Ed Barry Television film [6][7]
1993 Walker, Texas Ranger Wade Cantrell Episode: "Night of the Gladiator"
1994 Fortune Hunter Richard Bennett Episode: "Target: Millennium"
1996 The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits Commander Alex Diehl Television film [6][7]
1996 Xena: Warrior Princess Atrius Episode: "Ties That Bind" [7]
1996 Dying to be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story Henry Hart Television film [6][7]
1998 Homicide: Life on the Street Grenville Rawlins Episode: "The Twenty Percent Solution" [7]
1999 The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds ... It Leads Commander Alex Diehl Television film [6][7]
2003 Oz Mayor Wilson Lowen 2 episodes [7]
2003 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Mr. Monahan Episode: "Cold Comfort"
2004 The Jury Boyd Kingman Episode: "Mail Order Mystery" [7]
2022 City on a Hill Joe Congemi 2 episodes
2023 Creepshow Frank Episode: "Something Borrowed, Something Blue" [12]

Self

Year Title Notes Reference(s)
2006 Halloween: 25 years of Terror Video Documentary
2007 Just Desserts: The Making of Creepshow Video Documentary [13]
2009 My Bloody Valentine: Sex, Blood and Screams – The Make-Up Effects Video Documentary Short
2009 Thrill Me!: The Making of Night of the Creeps Video Documentary
2009 Night of the Creeps: Tom Atkins, Man of Action Video Documentary Short
2011 Doomed Detective: Tom Atkins on Maniac Cop Video Documentary
2012 Stand Alone: The Making of Halloween III: Season of the Witch Video Short
2016 Creepshow Days with Michael Gornick Video Short
2016 Horror's Hallowed Grounds Episode: "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

Year Title Role Notes Reference(s)
2011–2014 Cinemassacre's Monster Madness Ray Cameron / Dr. Dan Challis 2 episodes
2014–2019 Welcome to the Basement Ray Cameron / Sergeant Krebs 2 episodes

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. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Turner Classic Movies. "Tom Atkins - Turner Classic Movies". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl 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.
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