Tom Drake
Tom Drake (born Alfred Sinclair Alderdice;[1] August 5, 1918 – August 11, 1982) was an American actor. Drake made films starting in 1940 and continuing until the mid-1970s, and also made TV acting appearances.[2]
For the American baseball player, see Tom Drake (baseball). For the American wrestler and politician, see Tom Drake (wrestler). For others, see Thomas Drake.
Tom Drake
August 11, 1982 (aged 64)
Richard Alden
Actor
1938–1978
Early life and career[edit]
Drake was born in Brooklyn, New York,[3] and attended Iona Preparatory School and graduated from Mercersburg Academy.[4]
He was excused from serving in World War II due to heart problems.[2] Despite this limitation, he did act in British training films.
Billed as Alfred Alderdice, Drake appeared on Broadway in Run Sheep Run (1938) and Clean Beds (1939).[5]
After appearing in the film The Howards of Virginia (billed as Richard Alden),[3] he got his break after starring in the 1942 Broadway smash Janie,[6] after which he was signed to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[7]
Later career[edit]
Drake began appearing on episodes of TV shows such as The Ford Theatre Hour, Suspense, Lights Out, Tales of Tomorrow, The Unexpected.
He went to Columbia for Never Trust a Gambler (1951) and to Allied Artists for Disc Jockey (1951). He appeared in F.B.I. Girl (1951), and Sangaree (1953).
After television jobs for actors transitioned from live telecasts from New York to shows that were filmed in California, Drake had roles in the CBS series Lassie, NBC's Cimarron City, ABC's 77 Sunset Strip, ABC's The Rebel, CBS’ Perry Mason, ABC's Combat!, ABC's Land of the Giants, NBC's Adam-12, ABC's The Streets of San Francisco and NBC's Banacek.
He continued to appear in features, starring in The Cyclops, Date with Disaster (1957) (a rare lead), and Raintree County (1957). He played the leader of a gang of criminals in Warlock (1959) and was in Money, Women and Guns (1958). He also had a minor role in the film The Singing Nun (1966), playing Ed Sullivan's producer Mr. Fitzpatrick.
His last acting credit was in 1975.[4]
Personal life[edit]
Tom Drake was married to Isabelle Dunn during the 1940s.
Drake was a Roman Catholic[10] and supported Adlai Stevenson during the 1952 presidential election.[11]
Death[edit]
Drake died of lung cancer at age 64 at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, California on August 11, 1982.[4] His body is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.[1]