Tom Drake
Encyclopedia
Tom Drake born Alfred Sinclair Alderdice in Brooklyn
, New York
, was an American
actor. Drake made films starting in 1940 and continuing until the mid-1970s, and also made TV acting appearances.
He was excused from serving in World War II
due to heart problems. Despite this limitation, he did act in British naval training films. He got his break after starring in the 1942 Broadway smash Janie, after which he was signed to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
.
After a number of films, Drake co-starred with Judy Garland
in Meet Me in St. Louis
(1944) as John Truett, the boy next door. He appeared in more than forty films in all, including Mrs. Parkington
(1944), The Green Years
(1946), Words and Music
(1948), and, in a role at the opposite end of the character spectrum from John Truett, as the leader of a gang of criminals in Warlock
(1959). He also had a minor role in the movie The Singing Nun
(1966), playing Ed Sullivan
's producer Mr. Fitzpatrick. Drake had roles in numerous different TV drama series in almost every year from 1950 onwards, and sometimes in conjunction with making films. He died of pneumonia in 1982.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor. Drake made films starting in 1940 and continuing until the mid-1970s, and also made TV acting appearances.
He was excused from serving in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
due to heart problems. Despite this limitation, he did act in British naval training films. He got his break after starring in the 1942 Broadway smash Janie, after which he was signed to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
.
After a number of films, Drake co-starred with Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
in Meet Me in St. Louis
Meet Me in St. Louis
Meet Me in St. Louis is a 1944 musical film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer which tells the story of an American family living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair in 1904...
(1944) as John Truett, the boy next door. He appeared in more than forty films in all, including Mrs. Parkington
Mrs. Parkington
Mrs. Parkington is a 1944 drama film. It tells the story of a woman's life, told in flashbacks, from hotel maid to society matron. The movie was adapted by Polly James and Robert Thoeren from the novel by Louis Bromfield...
(1944), The Green Years
The Green Years (film)
The Green Years is a 1946 American comedy-drama film featuring Charles Coburn, Tom Drake, Hume Cronyn, Gladys Cooper, Dean Stockwell, and Jessica Tandy, based on A. J. Cronin's novel of the same title...
(1946), Words and Music
Words and Music (1948 film)
Words and Music is a 1948 movie loosely based on the creative partnership of the composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. The film starred Mickey Rooney, Tom Drake, Janet Leigh, Betty Garrett, and Ann Sothern, It is best remembered for the final screen pairing between Rooney and Judy...
(1948), and, in a role at the opposite end of the character spectrum from John Truett, as the leader of a gang of criminals in Warlock
Warlock (1959 film)
Warlock is a 1959 film, released by Twentieth Century Fox and shot in DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope. It is a Western adapted from the novel by Oakley Hall...
(1959). He also had a minor role in the movie The Singing Nun
The Singing Nun (film)
The Singing Nun is a 1966 American semi-biographical film about the life of Jeanine Deckers, a nun who recorded the chart-topping hit song "Dominique". It starred Debbie Reynolds in the title role. It was Henry Koster's final directing job....
(1966), playing Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
's producer Mr. Fitzpatrick. Drake had roles in numerous different TV drama series in almost every year from 1950 onwards, and sometimes in conjunction with making films. He died of pneumonia in 1982.
External links
- Tom Drake's credits at Internet Broadway DatabaseInternet Broadway DatabaseThe Internet Broadway Database is an online database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel. It is operated by the Research Department of The Broadway League, a trade association for the North American commercial theatre community....
, credited as Alfred Alderdice