Tom Troupe obit

Tom Troupe Dies: Prolific Broadway & TV Actor Was 97

 

He was not on the list.

Tom Troupe, a veteran actor who appeared on stage and screens silver and small, has died at the age of 97 of natural causes in his Beverly Hills home, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll, and multiple media reports.

A prolific performer who appeared on Broadway and over 75 TV series, his career began in the mid-50s and ended in the late 2010s. Among his most well-known roles were parts in the original TV run of Star Trek and My Own Private Idaho with River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.

Born on July 15, 1928, in Kansas City, Mo., Troupe began performing in local theater productions before moving to New York City in the late ’40s. At Herbert Berghof Studio, he studied under and received a scholarship from preeminently influential actress and teacher Uta Hagen.

After serving in the Korean War, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star, Troupe made his Broadway debut in 1957 as Peter van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank.

The following year, he moved to Los Angeles, which jumpstarted his Hollywood career; he would go on to appear in episodes of Lawman, Dr. Kildare, The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, The Wild Wild West, The F.B.I., The Streets of San Francisco, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, CHiPs, Cagney & Lacey, Cheers, Murder, She Wrote, Knots Landing, Frasier and ER, among many others.

On the film side, he also appeared in the Mark Harmon-starring 1987 comedy Summer School, 1970’s Clint Eastwood vehicle Kelly’s Heroes and the 1968 war drama The Devil’s Brigade with William Holden.

For the stage, he appeared in productions of The Lion in Winter, Fathers Day and The Gin Game — all of which co-starred his wife of nearly 60 years Carole Cook, a fellow Broadway performer and protégé of Lucille Ball’s who died in 2023. The couple received the 2002 Theatre Ovation Award for Career Achievement, the first husband and wife so honored.

Troupe also starred in a national tour of Same Time, Next Year opposite Barbara Rush in the late 1970s, as well as his co-written single-character play The Diary of a Madman.

He is survived by his son Christopher Troupe, daughter-in-law Becky Coulter, granddaughter Ashley Troupe and several nieces and nephews.

Writer

Sofi (1968)

Sofi

8.6

play "Diary of a Madman"screenplay

1968

 

Actor

John D'Aquino, Tom Troupe, Samantha Fox, Dominick Hamilton, Kimberly Blake, Aidan Caudle, Enzo Speach, Adelina Santana, Kris McQuaid, Phillip Brown, Bradley Keefer, Romy Park, Ryan Darst, Emily Reas, Sam Wilkerson, Adam Simpson, Matt Goldwyn, Aleia Theriza, Taylor Burton, Dylan Cantu, Meredith Grace Dabney, and Mia Ferreira in Time Out (2019)

Time Out

7.2

Short

Mr. Andrews

2019

 

Break a Hip (2015)

Break a Hip

7.2

TV Series

Earl

2015–2018

3 episodes

 

Gladys Florence in Caravaggio and My Mother the Pope (2017)

Caravaggio and My Mother the Pope

8.5

Cardinal del Monte

2017

 

What I Did Last Summer

7.3

Short

Mr. Klein (segment "Christmas in June")

2012

 

Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)

ER

7.9

TV Series

Tancred Baumgartner

1998

1 episode

 

Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin, and Jane Leeves in Frasier (1993)

Frasier

8.2

TV Series

Minister

1995

1 episode

 

Scott Baio and Mary Page Keller in Baby Talk (1991)

Baby Talk

3.9

TV Series

Mike

1992

2 episodes

 

Alyssa Milano, Tony Danza, Katherine Helmond, Danny Pintauro, and Judith Light in Who's the Boss? (1984)

Who's the Boss?

6.6

TV Series

Father Marconi

1990–1991

3 episodes

 

Donna Mills, Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, Constance McCashin, John Pleshette, and Ted Shackelford in Knots Landing (1979)

Knots Landing

7.0

TV Series

Dr. Callichio

1991

1 episode

 

River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves in My Own Private Idaho (1991)

My Own Private Idaho

6.9

Jack Favor

1991

 

Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote (1984)

Murder, She Wrote

7.2

TV Series

Director

1990

1 episode

 

Michael Landon in Highway to Heaven (1984)

Highway to Heaven

6.9

TV Series

Ed

1989

1 episode

 

Sherman Hemsley in Amen (1986)

Amen

6.8

TV Series

Judge McIntyre

1988

1 episode

 

Mark Harmon in Summer School (1987)

Summer School

6.6

Judge

1987

 

Ted Danson, Shelley Long, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, Nicholas Colasanto, and Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982)

Cheers

8.0

TV Series

Judge William E. Grey

1987

1 episode

 

Cagney & Lacey (1981)

Cagney & Lacey

6.9

TV Series

Dr. Shapiro

1985

2 episodes

 

Carroll O'Connor in Archie Bunker's Place (1979)

Archie Bunker's Place

6.4

TV Series

Robert

1983

1 episode

 

Voyagers! (1982)

Voyagers!

8.0

TV Series

Slavetrader

1983

1 episode

 

Angie Dickinson in Cassie & Co. (1982)

Cassie & Co.

6.2

TV Series

1982

1 episode

 

PSI Factor (1980)

PSI Factor

4.1

1980

 

Off the Minnesota Strip (1980)

Off the Minnesota Strip

7.0

TV Movie

Johnson

1980

 

Quincy, M.E. (1976)

Quincy, M.E.

7.3

TV Series

Max Carson

1980

1 episode

 

Olivia Hussey and Tony Musante in The Thirteenth Day: The Story of Esther (1979)

The Thirteenth Day: The Story of Esther

6.5

TV Movie

Teresh

1979

 

Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox in CHiPs (1977)

CHiPs

6.5

TV Series

Darrell Justin

1979

1 episode

 

Michael Biehn and Patti Cohoon-Friedman in The Runaways (1978)

The Runaways

6.3

TV Series

Wilson

1978

1 episode

 

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976)

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

7.9

TV Series

Bob Gilroy

1976

7 episodes

 

This Is the Life (1952)

This Is the Life

6.2

TV Series

Gordon

1970–1976

3 episodes

 

Bert D'Angelo/Superstar (1976)

Bert D'Angelo/Superstar

5.9

TV Series

Mackett

1976

1 episode

 

Barbary Coast (1975)

Barbary Coast

6.7

TV Series

John Carter

1975

1 episode

 

The Streets of San Francisco (1972)

The Streets of San Francisco

7.3

TV Series

Tom HannaRoy Richardson

1973–1975

2 episodes

 

Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)

Marcus Welby, M.D.

7.0

TV Series

Dr. Evan TurnerDr. Jones

1974–1975

2 episodes

 

Planet of the Apes (1974)

Planet of the Apes

7.0

TV Series

Augustus (uncredited)

1974

1 episode

 

David Hartman in Lucas Tanner (1974)

Lucas Tanner

6.8

TV Series

Mike Sweet

1974

1 episode

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

Philip Conrad

1974

1 episode

 

Polly Bergen, Donna Mills, Paul Burke, Judy Carne, and Barbara Feldon in The Wide World of Mystery (1973)

The Wide World of Mystery

6.7

TV Series

Jace Gilbert

1974

1 episode

 

Arthur Hill in Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1971)

Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law

6.9

TV Series

WeathersColby Phillips

1971–1974

2 episodes

 

Lorne Greene and Ben Murphy in Griff (1973)

Griff

6.1

TV Series

Warren Brewster

1973

1 episode

 

McMillan & Wife (1971)

McMillan & Wife

7.2

TV Series

Jason GreeneJoe Layton

1972–1973

2 episodes

 

William Conrad in Cannon (1971)

Cannon

6.8

TV Series

Alex Whitehead

1973

1 episode

 

The Alpha Caper (1973)

The Alpha Caper

6.6

TV Movie

Harlan Moss

1973

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

Murzie

1972

1 episode

 

The Rookies (1972)

The Rookies

6.8

TV Series

Parks

1972

1 episode

 

"The Smith Family" Janet Blair, Henry Fonda, Darleen Carr, Ron Howard, Michael-James Wixted

The Smith Family

6.6

TV Series

Reporter

1972

1 episode

 

Making It (1971)

Making It

5.9

Dr. Shurtleff

1971

 

Burt Reynolds and Norman Fell in Dan August (1970)

Dan August

7.1

TV Series

Horace Fallon

1971

1 episode

 

Rod Serling in Night Gallery (1969)

Night Gallery

7.9

TV Series

Jeffrey Pierce (segment "Clean Kills and Other Trophies")

1971

1 episode

 

Louis Gossett Jr., Richard Ely, Alex Henteloff, and Hilarie Thompson in The Young Rebels (1970)

The Young Rebels

7.4

TV Series

Capt. Philip Steele

1970

1 episode

 

Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, Telly Savalas, and Don Rickles in Kelly's Heroes (1970)

Kelly's Heroes

7.6

Job

1970

 

Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

Ben Holland

1969

1 episode

 

Che! (1969)

Che!

4.8

Felipe Muñoz

1969

 

Robert Conrad and Ross Martin in The Wild Wild West (1965)

The Wild Wild West

8.1

TV Series

Jason Starr

1968

1 episode

 

The Devil's Brigade (1968)

The Devil's Brigade

6.7

Pvt. Al Manella

1968

 

Sofi (1968)

Sofi

8.6

The Clerk

1968

 

Carl Betz and Stephen Young in Judd for the Defense (1967)

Judd for the Defense

7.6

TV Series

Dan Arnold

1967

1 episode

 

Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Peter Lupus, and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible (1966)

Mission: Impossible

7.9

TV Series

David Day

1967

1 episode

 

Star Trek (1966)

Star Trek

8.4

TV Series

Lt. Harold

1967

1 episode

 

Iron Horse (1966)

Iron Horse

7.1

TV Series

Reed

1966

1 episode

 

Peyton Place (1964)

Peyton Place

7.3

TV Series

Harry FletcherFletcher (uncredited)

1965

2 episodes

 

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

7.4

TV Series

Lieutenant Perry Brewer

1965

1 episode

 

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964)

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

7.7

TV Series

Interne

1965

1 episode

 

David Janssen in The Fugitive (1963)

The Fugitive

8.1

TV Series

Dr. Bloch

1964

1 episode

 

Ben Casey (1961)

Ben Casey

7.1

TV Series

Dr. Janiss

1962–1964

2 episodes

 

Combat! (1962)

Combat!

8.4

TV Series

Medic (as Tom Troup)

1963

1 episode

 

Dr. Kildare (1961)

Dr. Kildare

7.0

TV Series

Dr. K. Lacy

1961

1 episode

 

Georgine Darcy and Roger Perry in Harrigan and Son (1960)

Harrigan and Son

8.0

TV Series

Lawyer

1961

1 episode

 

Lawman (1958)

Lawman

8.1

TV Series

Jim Barker

1960

1 episode

 

Rawhide (1959)

Rawhide

7.9

TV Series

Second Trooper

1960

1 episode

 

Lock Up (1959)

Lock Up

7.5

TV Series

Arnie Baselicce

1960

1 episode

 

Howard Keel, Susan Kohner, and John Saxon in The Big Fisherman (1959)

The Big Fisherman

5.4

James (as Thomas Troupe)

1959

 

The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (1956)

The Kaiser Aluminum Hour

7.7

TV Series

Detective Pacciardi

1957

1 episode

 

Marsha Hunt and John Rodney in Studio One (1948)

Studio One

7.5

TV Series

Young Man

1955

1 episode

 

Thanks

Private Screenings (1996)

Private Screenings

8.7

TV Series

special thanks

2014

1 episode

 

The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors (2010)

The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors

7.4

Video

special thanks

2010

 

Self

Merv Griffin in The Merv Griffin Show (1962)

The Merv Griffin Show

6.6

TV Series

Self

1973

1 episode