Handsome, rugged, versatile and charismatic character actor Tom Atkins
was born on November 13, 1938 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Atkins
initially became an avid horror film fan in his childhood days;
Howard Hawks' immortal classic
Das Ding aus einer anderen Welt (1951)
made an especially strong impression on him as a kid. Tom attended
Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and was a member of the Gamma Phi
Fraternity. Atkins made his film debut as a rookie police officer in
the Frank Sinatra private eye-outing
Der Detektiv (1968); it was the
first of many police officer roles he has played throughout the years.
Tom appeared in two films for director
John Carpenter: he is very
likable as Nick Castle in the spooky ghost film
The Fog: Nebel des Grauens (1980) and solid as Rehme in the
fantastic futuristic sci-fi/action cult film
Die Klapperschlange (1981).
Atkins had a nice small role as a disapproving and overbearing father
in the wrap-around segments of the immensely enjoyable fright feature
anthology Die unheimlich verrückte Geisterstunde (1982). He made for
a touchingly flawed hero as Dr. Daniel Challis in the unjustly maligned
Halloween 3 - Die Nacht der Entscheidung (1982).
Tom gave a smack dead-on-the-money terrific performance as weary,
cynical and suicidal Detective Ray Cameron in the delightful
Die Nacht der Creeps (1986)
(this movie is Tom's personal favorite among all the horror films he
has acted in). He was once again excellent as the similarly burnt-out
Lt. Frank McCrae in the fine
Maniac Cop (1988) and impressive as
the guilt-ridden heroin smuggler Michael Hunsaker in the exciting
blockbuster Zwei stahlharte Profis (1987).
Atkins had a recurring part as Lt. Alex Diehl on the television series
Detektiv Rockford - Anruf genügt (1974);
he reprised this character in several spin-off made-for-TV movies.
Among the television series Tom has done guest spots on are
Oz - Hölle hinter Gittern (1997),
Xena: Die Kriegerprinzessin (1995),
Walker, Texas Ranger (1993),
Der Equalizer (1985),
Spenser (1985),
Ein Colt für alle Fälle (1981),
Lou Grant (1977),
Baretta (1975) and
M*A*S*H (1972). Outside of his film
and television work, Atkins has had a long and distinguished stage
career. He has acted on Broadway in the plays "The Changing Room" (Tom
won a 1973 Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Performer), "Keep It in
the Family" and "The Unknown Soldier and His Wife". His off-Broadway
credits include "Vikings", "Long Days Journey Into Night", "Whistle in
the Dark" and "Nobody Hears a Broken Drum". Tom frequently acts in
plays held at the Pittsburgh Public Theater; he has garnered plenty of
accolades for his outstanding portrayal of Pittsburgh Steelers founder
Art Rooney in the acclaimed one-man
show "The Chief". Tom Atkins resides in Peters Township, Washington
County, Pennsylvania.
