Tom Mason
Encyclopedia
Thomas Robert "Tom" Mason (April 29, 1920 – December 1, 1980) was a chiropractor
who lived in Los Angeles
in the 1950s.
for the then recently deceased Bela Lugosi
in Edward D. Wood, Jr.'s infamous movie Plan 9 From Outer Space
. Dr. Mason (Edward D. Wood, Jr.'s wife's chiropractor), who was taller than and bore a questionable physical resemblance to Lugosi, hunched over with a cape held over his face in all of his scenes.
Dr. Mason appeared in and helped to produce
several of Wood's other movies, Night of the Ghouls
(in which he was allowed to show his face) and Final Curtain
, after which his career in showbiz ended. He died in 1980.
in the 1994
film Ed Wood
.
Chiropractor
A Chiropractor, according to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges , "focuses on the relationship between the body's main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient's health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to...
who lived in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the 1950s.
Biography
He is best known as the stand-inStand-in
A stand-in for film and television is a person who substitutes for the actor before filming, for technical purposes such as lighting.Stand-ins are helpful in the initial processes of production. Lighting setup can be a slow and tedious process; during this time the actor will often be somewhere else...
for the then recently deceased Bela Lugosi
Béla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
in Edward D. Wood, Jr.'s infamous movie Plan 9 From Outer Space
Plan 9 from Outer Space
Plan 9 from Outer Space is a 1959 science fiction film written and directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr. The film features Gregory Walcott, Mona McKinnon, Tor Johnson and Maila "Vampira" Nurmi...
. Dr. Mason (Edward D. Wood, Jr.'s wife's chiropractor), who was taller than and bore a questionable physical resemblance to Lugosi, hunched over with a cape held over his face in all of his scenes.
Dr. Mason appeared in and helped to produce
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
several of Wood's other movies, Night of the Ghouls
Night of the Ghouls
Night of the Ghouls is a 1959 horror film written and directed by Ed Wood. It is a sequel of sorts to the 1955 film Bride of the Monster...
(in which he was allowed to show his face) and Final Curtain
Final Curtain
Final Curtain is a 1947 novel by Ngaio Marsh, which was adapted for television in 1993 as part of the Inspector Alleyn Mysteries.-Plot:Agatha Troy Alleyn is waiting for the return of her husband Roderick Alleyn after a long separation during World War II...
, after which his career in showbiz ended. He died in 1980.
In popular culture
Dr. Mason was portrayed by actor Ned BellamyNed Bellamy
Ned Bellamy is an American actor.Bellamy was born in Dayton, Ohio. After graduating UCLA, he founded the Los Angeles based theater company The Actors' Gang with fellow actor Tim Robbins....
in the 1994
1994 in film
1994 was a significant year in film.The top grosser worldwide was The Lion King, which to date stands as the highest-grossing traditionally-animated film of all time...
film Ed Wood
Ed Wood (film)
Ed Wood is a 1994 American comedy-drama biopic directed and produced by Tim Burton, and starring Johnny Depp as cult filmmaker Edward D. Wood, Jr. The film concerns the period in Wood's life when he made his best-known films as well as his relationship with actor Bela Lugosi, played by Martin Landau...
.