Tom Neal
Encyclopedia
Thomas Neal was an American actor best known for appearing in the critically lauded film Detour
, a tryst
with Barbara Payton
and later committing manslaughter
.
, Neal debuted on Broadway
in 1935. In 1938 he first appeared in film in Out West with the Hardys, part of the Mickey Rooney
"Hardy family" movie series. That same year, he received a law degree from Harvard University
. While in college at Northwestern
and Harvard Universities, Neal was a stand-out on the schools' boxing teams. He compiled a 44-3 (41 knockouts) ring record.
Neal appeared in many low budget B-movies in the 1940s/1950s. In 1941 he starred with Frances Gifford
in the Republic Pictures
15 episode serial
, Jungle Girl
. Perhaps his most memorable role was that of Al Roberts in the classic film noir
Detour
alongside Ann Savage. They went on to make five movies together.
over their mutual girlfriend, actress Barbara Payton
. Neal inflicted upon Tone a smashed cheekbone, a broken nose and a brain concussion. After the incident, Tone and Payton married, and Neal had a difficult time finding work. He ended up supporting himself landscaping and gardening. Payton left Tone after only seven weeks and returned to the troubled Neal. Their relationship lasted four years.
Neal remarried almost immediately and in 1957 fathered a son, Tom Neal, Jr. His wife died the following year from cancer. In 1961, Neal married for the third time, to Gale Bennett. Four years later, he shot her in the back of the head with a .45-caliber gun, killing her instantly. He was arrested and, although prosecutors sought the death penalty, he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to ten years in prison, of which he served six years. On December 6, 1971, he was released on parole
.
Less than a year later, Neal died of heart failure in North Hollywood, California at the age of 58 on August 7, 1972. He was cremated, and his ashes stored in the vault at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory
in Los Angeles
. His aforementioned son appeared in one film: playing the role of Al Roberts in a 1992 independent remake of Detour.
Detour (1945 film)
Detour is a film noir thriller that stars Tom Neal, Ann Savage, Claudia Drake and Edmund MacDonald. The movie was adapted by Martin Goldsmith and Martin Mooney from Goldsmith's novel of the same name and was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer...
, a tryst
Tryst
Tryst may refer to:*A meeting of two lovers, as in courtship*Tryst , a book by Elswyth Thane*Tryst , a play by Karoline Leach*A nightclub at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel...
with Barbara Payton
Barbara Payton
Barbara Payton was an American film actress best known for her stormy social life and eventual battles with alcohol and drug addiction. Her life has been the subject of several books including Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye: The Barbara Payton Story , by John O'Dowd, and L.A...
and later committing manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
.
Career
Born in Evanston, IllinoisEvanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
, Neal debuted on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 1935. In 1938 he first appeared in film in Out West with the Hardys, part of the Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
"Hardy family" movie series. That same year, he received a law degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. While in college at Northwestern
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and Harvard Universities, Neal was a stand-out on the schools' boxing teams. He compiled a 44-3 (41 knockouts) ring record.
Neal appeared in many low budget B-movies in the 1940s/1950s. In 1941 he starred with Frances Gifford
Frances Gifford
Mary Frances Gifford was an American actress who played leads and supporting roles in many 1930s and 1940s movies.-Career:...
in the Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
15 episode serial
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
, Jungle Girl
Jungle Girl (serial)
Jungle Girl is a 15-Chapter Republic Pictures Serial starring Frances Gifford. It was directed by William Witney and John English based on the novel Jungle Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs...
. Perhaps his most memorable role was that of Al Roberts in the classic film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
Detour
Detour (1945 film)
Detour is a film noir thriller that stars Tom Neal, Ann Savage, Claudia Drake and Edmund MacDonald. The movie was adapted by Martin Goldsmith and Martin Mooney from Goldsmith's novel of the same name and was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer...
alongside Ann Savage. They went on to make five movies together.
Personal life and death
In 1951, he fought fellow actor Franchot ToneFranchot Tone
Franchot Tone was an American stage, film, and television actor, star of Mutiny on the Bounty and many other films through the 1960s...
over their mutual girlfriend, actress Barbara Payton
Barbara Payton
Barbara Payton was an American film actress best known for her stormy social life and eventual battles with alcohol and drug addiction. Her life has been the subject of several books including Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye: The Barbara Payton Story , by John O'Dowd, and L.A...
. Neal inflicted upon Tone a smashed cheekbone, a broken nose and a brain concussion. After the incident, Tone and Payton married, and Neal had a difficult time finding work. He ended up supporting himself landscaping and gardening. Payton left Tone after only seven weeks and returned to the troubled Neal. Their relationship lasted four years.
Neal remarried almost immediately and in 1957 fathered a son, Tom Neal, Jr. His wife died the following year from cancer. In 1961, Neal married for the third time, to Gale Bennett. Four years later, he shot her in the back of the head with a .45-caliber gun, killing her instantly. He was arrested and, although prosecutors sought the death penalty, he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to ten years in prison, of which he served six years. On December 6, 1971, he was released on parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
.
Less than a year later, Neal died of heart failure in North Hollywood, California at the age of 58 on August 7, 1972. He was cremated, and his ashes stored in the vault at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory
Chapel of the Pines Crematory
Chapel of the Pines Crematory is a crematory and columbarium located at 1605 South Catalina Street Los Angeles, California, in the historic West Adams District a short distance southwest of Downtown...
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...
. His aforementioned son appeared in one film: playing the role of Al Roberts in a 1992 independent remake of Detour.
Selected filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1938 | Out West with the Hardys | Aldrich Brown | |
| 1939 | Another Thin Man Another Thin Man Another Thin Man is a 1939 American film that is the third film in the six-volume series, The Thin Man. It again stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, and is based on the writings of Dashiell Hammett. Their son, Nicky Jr., is also introduced in the film. The cast includes... |
Freddie Coleman | |
| 1939 | Within the Law | Richard Gilder | |
| 1939 | Prophet Without Honor Prophet Without Honor Prophet Without Honor is a 1939 short documentary film that was nominated for an Academy Award in 1940 for Best Live Action Short Film, One-Reel. It was directed by Felix E. Feist... |
Uncredited | Short |
| 1940 | The Courageous Dr. Christian | Dave Williams | |
| 1941 | Under Age Under Age (1941 film) -Cast:* Nan Grey as Jane Baird* Alan Baxter as Tap Manson* Mary Anderson as Edie Baird* Tom Neal as Rocky Stone* Leona Maricle as Mrs. Burke aka The Widow* Don Beddoe as Albert Ward* Yolande Donlan as Lily Fletcher... |
||
| 1941 | Jungle Girl Jungle Girl (serial) Jungle Girl is a 15-Chapter Republic Pictures Serial starring Frances Gifford. It was directed by William Witney and John English based on the novel Jungle Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs... |
Jack Stanton | Alternative title: Edgar Rice Burrough's Jungle Girl |
| 1942 | Bowery at Midnight Bowery at Midnight Bowery at Midnight is a horror film starring Bela Lugosi. Lugosi plays a psychology professor by day who, secretly and under an assumed name, runs a Bowery soup kitchen by night called the Bowery Friendly Mission... |
Frankie Mills | |
| 1943 | She Has What It Takes | Roger Rutledge | |
| 1943 | Behind the Rising Sun Behind the Rising Sun (film) Behind the Rising Sun is a 1943 American war film based on the 1941 book by the same name written by James R Young. Later-blacklisted Edward Dmytryk directed the film, and it stars Margo, Tom Neal, J... |
Taro Seki | |
| 1944 | Two-Man Submarine | Jerry Evans | |
| 1945 | Detour Detour (1945 film) Detour is a film noir thriller that stars Tom Neal, Ann Savage, Claudia Drake and Edmund MacDonald. The movie was adapted by Martin Goldsmith and Martin Mooney from Goldsmith's novel of the same name and was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer... |
Al Roberts (Male lead) | Acclaimed film noir |
| 1945 | Crime, Inc. Crime, Inc. (1945 film) Crime, Inc. is a 1945 black-and-white American crime thriller film directed by Lew Landers.-Plot summary:The film, based on a story by former crime reporter Martin Mooney, is about a newspaper journalist who faces prison time because he refuses to name his sources... |
Jim Riley | Alternative title: Crime Incorporated |
| 1945 | First Yank Into Tokyo | Major Steve Ross | |
| 1946 | The Brute Man The Brute Man The Brute Man is a 1946 American horror thriller film starring Rondo Hatton as the Creeper, a murderer seeking revenge against the people he holds responsible for the disfigurement of his face. Directed by Jean Yarbrough, the film features Tom Neal and Jan Wiley as a married pair of friends the... |
Clifford Scott | Alternative title: The Brute |
| 1947 | The Case of the Baby Sitter | Russ Ashton | |
| 1948 | Beyond Glory | Captain Henry Jason Daniels | |
| 1949 | Bruce Gentry Bruce Gentry Bruce Gentry is a Columbia movie serial based on the Bruce Gentry comic strip created by Ray Bailey. It may contain the first cinematic appearance of a Flying Saucer, here the secret weapon of the villainous Recorder.-Plot:... |
Bruce Gentry | Alternative titles: Daredevil of the Skies Bruce Gentry, Daredevil of the Skies |
| 1950 | I Shot Billy the Kid | Charley Bowdry | |
| 1951 | Navy Bound | Joe Morelli | |
| 1953 | The Great Jesse James Raid | Arch Clements | |
| 1958 | The Last Hurrah The Last Hurrah (1958 film) The Last Hurrah is a 1958 film adaptation of the novel The Last Hurrah by Edwin O'Connor. It was directed by John Ford and starred Spencer Tracy as a veteran mayor preparing for yet another election campaign... |
Tom - Mourner at Wake | Uncredited |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1950 | The Gene Autry Show The Gene Autry Show The Gene Autry Show is an American western/cowboy television series which aired for 91 episodes on CBS from July 23, 1950 until August 7, 1956, originally sponsored by Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum.-Overview:... |
Breezy Buck |
2 episodes |
| 1951 | Racket Squad Racket Squad Racket Squad is an American TV crime drama series starring Reed Hadley as Captain John Braddock, a fictional detective working for the San Francisco, California Police Department.... |
1 episode | |
| Boston Blackie | 2 episodes | ||
| 1952 | The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok is an American Western television series which ran for eight seasons from 1951 through 1958. The Screen Gems series began in syndication, but ran on CBS from 1955 through 1958, and, at the same time, on ABC from 1957 through 1958.-Synopsis:The Adventures of Wild... |
Corby | 1 episode |
| 1958 | Tales of Wells Fargo Tales of Wells Fargo Tales of Wells Fargo is an American Western television series that ran from March 18, 1957 to June 2, 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until its final season when it expanded to an hour.-Synopsis:... |
Johnny Reno | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer is the title used for two syndicated television series that followed the adventures of fictional private detective Mike Hammer... |
Luke Lund | 1 episode |