Tom Reese (actor)

Tom Reese (August 8, 1928[1] – December 12, 2017) was an American actor who appeared in many westerns on both the big- and small-screens.[2]

Tom Reese
Born
Tom Allen[1]

(1928-08-08)August 8, 1928
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedDecember 12, 2017(2017-12-12) (aged 89)
Studio City, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1958–2009
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)

Early life

Reese's father and uncle were country-western singers known as "The Allen Brothers,"[1] who traveled and performed bluegrass music with the family. Reese served two tours in the United States Marine Corps, and was a military policeman.[3] His G.I. Bill enabled him to study dramatics at the American Theater Wing.[1] Reese spent fifteen years on the road working nightclubs, studied with Lee Strasberg, and performed off-Broadway and in local TV shows.

Career

His film debut was in John Cassavetes' New York-made Shadows (1958). His next film credit was in the Elvis Presley western Flaming Star (1960).[1][3] His early film credits also include, Marines, Let's Go (1961), 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962), and Murderers' Row (1966), among others.[3] In 2009 Reese played the part of Inspector Riley in Dark and Stormy Night, an independent film that spoofs both the haunted house and murder mystery genres.[4][5]

For his television debut in 1959, Cassavetes also cast Reese in an episode of his detective series Johnny Staccato.[1] He would go on to make guest appearances in shows such as Bonanza, Branded, Charlie's Angels, Eight Is Enough, Emergency!, The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, The Guns of Will Sonnett, Have Gun – Will Travel, The High Chaparral, Knight Rider, Kung Fu, Laredo, Lawman, Mannix, Police Woman, Rawhide, Simon & Simon, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, The Virginian, The Wild Wild West, and Wonder Woman, among others.[1][3]

His television career also includes miniseries and movies, such as Dick Tracy[6] (1967), The Hollywood Detective[7] (1989), Once an Eagle[8] (1976), Six Against the Rock[9] (1987), Stranger on the Run[10]: 337  (1967), and The Virginia Hill Story[11] (1974) about the real-life girlfriend of mobster Bugsy Siegel.

From 1975 to 1976, Reese had a recurring role as Sergeant Thomas Velie in the television series Ellery Queen.[12] He also appeared in three episodes of The Red Hand Gang (1977) as Dolan's Partner.

At 6'3" and around 230 pounds, Reese has been in a number of notable fight scenes, going up against characters portrayed by other large actors, including James Arness, Chuck Connors, Mike Connors, Tony Curtis, Glen Ford, Roy Jenson, Dean Martin, Doug McClure, and Elvis Presley, among others.[3] In a comedic fight opposite Woody Allen in Sleeper (1973), Reese was out of action for twelve weeks after being injured.[3]

Death

Reese died in December 2017 in Studio City, California, at the age of 89.[1]

Filmography

Film

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1959Johnny StaccatoEddie Dasko"The Return "
1960BonanzaBurton"Blood on the Land"
1960GunsmokeTulsa"Gentleman's Disagreement"
1960GunsmokeLeeds"Friend's Pay-Off"
1960Have Gun – Will Travel[1]Yates"The Tender Gun"
1960My Sister Eileen[12]: 1205  Alan Dahorsameche, "The Wreck"[13] "You Should Meet My Sister"[14]
1961GunsmokeBen"Tall Trapper"
1961GunsmokeScorp"Harriet"
1961Lawman[1]Bob Mengis"The Son"
1961The Twilight Zone[1]Intruder"The Midnight Sun"
1962GunsmokeWellman"Reprisal"
1962The VirginianWid"Woman from White Wing"
1963The UntouchablesSonny Dale "Search for a Dead Man"[15]
1964BonanzaLee Burton"The Underdog"
1965The Fugitive[16]Norman"Scapegoat"
1964GunsmokeJudd"Friend"
1964RawhideBert Carrico"Piney"
1965GunsmokeWayne Hooker"The Pariah"
1965GunsmokeWade Keys"The Hostage"
1965LaredoTom Baker "The Golden Trail"[17]
1965RawhideJennings"Escort to Doom"
1965The VirginianHans Wollsack"Dangerous Road"
1965The Wild Wild West[18]Wagon Driver"The Night of the Inferno"
1966BonanzaSgt. Devlin"The Last Mission"
1966BrandedJess Muhler"McCord's Way"
1966GunsmokeOkie"The Brothers"
1966GunsmokeDave Westerfeldt"Quaker Girl"
1966LaredoJake McBryde "That's Noway, Thataway"[19]
1967Dick Tracy[6]BenTV movie
1967The Guns of Will Sonnett[1]Lando"Meeting at Devil's Fork"
1967GunsmokeBen Stearman"Nitro!" Parts 1 & 2
1967Stranger on the Run[10]: 337 Leo WeedTV movie
1968GunsmokeSlick Ragan"Waco"
1968The High Chaparral[20]Judson"Ebenezer"
1969The Bold Ones: The ProtectorsTony Stovall"Draw a Straight Man"
1969Land of the Giants[18]: 1981 Sgt. Gedo"Rescue"
1972Mannix[3]Sweeny"Lost Sunday"
1973Mannix[3]Springer"Cry Danger"
1974Emergency![21]Dando"Details"
1974Kung Fu[22]Sheriff"Blood of the Dragon (Part 1)"
1974The Six Million Dollar Man[23]Joe Alabam"The Last of the Fourth of Julys"
1974The Virginia Hill Story[11]Mac HillTV movie
1975GunsmokeCharlie Dent"The Squaw"
1975Ellery Queen[12]Sgt. Thomas Velie22 episodes (1975–1976)
1976Once an Eagle[8]Sergeant StonerTV mini series, parts 4 & 5
1976Police Woman[24]Piers"The Melting Point of Ice"
1976Wonder WomanCarl"Wonder Woman vs Gargantua"
1977Charlie's AngelsReed"Circus of Terror"
1977The Red Hand GangDolan's Partner3 episodes
1978Eight Is Enough[25]Jack O'Hara"A Hair of the Dog"
1982Simon & Simon[26]Frost"Double Entry"
1984Knight Rider[18]Brother Carey"The Ice Bandits"
1987Six Against the Rock[9]Captain WeinholdTV movie
1989The Hollywood Detective[7]Lt. Victor GrabouskiTV movie

References
  1. Barnes, Mike (March 26, 2018). "Tom Reese, Burly Actor Famous for His Movie Fistfights, Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  2. Lentz, Harris (June 3, 2019). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland. p. 423. ISBN 9781476670331 – via Google Books.
  3. Freese, Gene (11 September 2017). Classic Movie Fight Scenes: 75 Years of Bare Knuckle Brawls, 1914-1989. McFarland. p. 141. ISBN 9781476629353. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  4. Erickson, Glenn (27 June 2020). "Dark and Stormy Night". Trailers from Hell. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  5. "Dark and Stormy Night". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  6. Roberts, Garyn G. (2003). Dick Tracy and American Culture: Morality and Mythology, Text and Context. McFarland. p. 276. ISBN 9780786416981. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  7. Ferguson, Michael (17 February 2015). Joe Dallesandro: Warhol Superstar, Underground Film Icon, Actor. Open Road Media. ISBN 9781504006545. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  8. Marill, Alvin H. (2005). Movies Made for Television, 1964-2004: 1964-1979. Scarecrow Press. p. 164. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  9. Parish, James Robert (1991). Prison Pictures from Hollywood: Plots, Critiques, Casts, and Credits for 293 Theatrical and Made-for-television Releases. McFarland. p. 382. ISBN 9780899505633. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  10. Pitts, Michael R. (21 December 2012). Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films, 2d Ed (2 ed.). McFarland. p. 35. ISBN 9780786463725. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  11. Emery, Robert J. (1999). The Directors: In Their Own Words · Volume 2. TV Books. p. 39. ISBN 9781575001296. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  12. Terrace, Vincent (January 10, 2014). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 Through 2010, 2d Ed. McFarland. p. 305. ISBN 9780786486410 – via Google Books.
  13. Terrace, Vincent (1993). Television Character and Story Facts: Over 110,000 Details from 1,008 Shows, 1945-1992. McFarland & Company. p. 328. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  14. "TV Highlights for Tonight". The Reading Eagle. 1960-05-16. p. 19. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  15. Wilson, Victoria (24 November 2015). A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True 1907-1940. Simon & Schuster. p. 902. ISBN 9781439194065. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  16. Deane, Bill (August 2015). Following The Fugitive: An Episode Guide and Handbook to the 1960s Television Series. McFarland. p. 87. ISBN 9781476607566. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  17. Lentz, Harris M. (1997). Television Westerns Episode Guide: All United States Series, 1949-1996. McFarland & Company. p. 249. ISBN 9780786403776. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  18. Lentz III, Harris M. (2001). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Television shows. McFarland. p. 1906. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  19. Gianakos, Larry James (1987). Television Drama Series Programming: A Comprehensive Chronicle, 1982-1984 · Volume 5. Scarecrow Press. p. 737. ISBN 9780810818767. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  20. TV Guide: Volume 20. Triangle Publications. 1972. p. 80. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  21. Yokley, Richard; Sutherland, Rozane (May 2007). Emergency!: Behind the Scene. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. p. 204. ISBN 9780763748968. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  22. Shearer, Stephen Michael (19 May 2006). Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life. University Press of Kentucky. p. 376. ISBN 9780813171364. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  23. TV Guide: Volume 26. Triangle Publications. 1978. p. 6. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  24. TV Guide: Volume 24. Triangle Publications. 1975. p. 16. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  25. "Friday TV: HSV-7, 7:30 PM". The Age, Melbourne. 22 September 1978. p. 13. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  26. TV Guide: Volume 30. Triangle Publications. July 1982. p. 107. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
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