Atkins has appeared in numerous films including The Fog (1980), The Ninth Configuration (1980), Escape from New York (1981), Creepshow (1982), Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), Night of the Creeps (1986), Lethal Weapon (1987), Maniac Cop (1988), Two Evil Eyes (1990), Bob Roberts (1992), Striking Distance (1993), and Drive Angry (2011). Thomas E. (“Tom”) Atkins III passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at the age of 86. Tom Atkins was an actor who had a successful Hollywood career. [2004]. Thomas Rhett's wife, Lauren Akins, has had his attention since they were both just kids in school together. His off-Broadway credits include "Vikings", "Long Days Journey Into Night", "Whistle in the Dark" and "Nobody Hears a Broken Drum". Talking of his experience working on his first feature film – and with Sinatra – Atkins says: "It was great! Country star Trace Adkins is now officially off the market. Atkins initially became an avid horror film fan in his childhood days; Howard Hawks' immortal classic The Thing from Another World (1951) made an especially strong impression on him as a kid. Atkins died on June 27, 2008 from complications from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. His next role (this time a leading role) was the third instalment of the Halloween franchise, the Carpenter-produced Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982). You know, they just don't make big movie stars the way they used to, maybe because the system has changed, the studio system, but it's sad to see people like Jimmy Stewart go, all the giants of the past. |  Rhett mentions his wife and daughters in his song "Life Changes" and they appear in the music video with him. He then hosts Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989), reads more fan theories about Michael Meyers, and receives an irate phone call from Tom Atkins. Handsome, rugged, versatile and charismatic character actor Tom Atkins was born on November 13, 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sergeant - Replacement; PlayOriginal. No one has ever hired me to play a brain surgeon, though I have played a couple of docs. Atkins made his film debut as a rookie police officer in the Frank Sinatra private eye-outing The Detective (1968); it was the first of many police officer roles he has played throughout the years. Atkins. He was on the edge of both scenes that I had with Danny Glover. Atkins initially became an avid horror film fan in his childhood days; Howard Hawks' immortal classic The Thing from Another World (1951) made an especially strong impression on him as a kid. Personal life. Director: Austin Jennings | Stars: John Bloom, Diana Prince, Tom Atkins, Yuki Nakamura The couple has been happily in a marital relationship for over three decades. Born Dec. 24, 1933 to Thomas Edward Atkins, Jr. (“Country Atkins”) and Ruby Schuermann Atkins, Tom … James Thomas Atkins, MD, (Tom), 94, of Inverness, Florida, passed away on Monday, February 24, 2020, 11:30 AM, at home with his wife at his side.A Memorial and Celebration of Life service will be held Mel Gibson was lovely. [2] He initially had no desire to be an actor. The Unknown Soldier and His Wife (Jul 06, 1967 - Nov 12, 1967) Performer: Tom Atkins. He is well known to movie goers for his role as Michael Hunsaker in the Richard Donner film Lethal Weapon (1987), which stars Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Gary Busey. Tom attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and was a member of the Gamma Phi Fraternity. Atkins was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Dorothy E. (née Williams) and George C. Atkins. The director Fred Dekker was very young and very talented and he went on to do The Monster Squad afterwards. In 1993, the firm won the Louisville Bar Association pro bono award for exemplary work on death penalty cases. He appeared in two films directed by John Carpenter: the 1980 ghost story The Fog and the 1981 science fiction thriller Escape from New York. Akins is also parent to two children, country music singer Thomas Rhett, 29, and Kasey Lee Akins, 27, with his ex-wife, Paige Braswell. He was very easy to work with. He says: "I was in my 20s already when I got interested in acting and I liked it a lot. "[3], Atkins has continued to act in both the thriller and police procedural genre. Also at the Public, he played the title role in Macbeth, opposite Jean Smart as Lady Macbeth and Keith Fowler as Macduff. Tom is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Shonda; parents, Thomas and Virginia Atkins; children, Emily, T.J., and Lacy; sister, Kate Dyson and many treasured family members and friends. Joan Bumstead (4.29.20) - parishioner and wife of John Bumstead He appeared on Broadway in David Storey's The Changing Room, for which he received the 1973 Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Performer. Tom Atkins, in his suit and ready for work, enjoys some time with his daughter, Mindy Atkins Wickersham, in the early 1970s at their home. Tom Atkins, Internet Movie Database, [accessed] April 14, 2011. and so, after leaving the Navy, Atkins signed up for college where he met a girl who was involved in a theatre group. Read all about Tom Atkins with TVGuide.com's exclusive biography including their list of awards, celeb facts and more at TVGuide.com Publicity Listings During his childhood, he was a huge fan of science fiction and horror films. It was intimidating and frightening and scary but Frank was great. [5], He portrayed Detective Ray Cameron in the 1986 cult horror film Night of the Creeps, a role Atkins calls his very favorite. He was born July 8, 195 Outside of his film and television work, Atkins has had a long and distinguished stage career. [4], He completed further work with George A. Romero, appearing in three of the director's projects: the anthology Creepshow (1982), written by Stephen King; the anthology Two Evil Eyes (1990), based on tales by Edgar Allan Poe; and Bruiser (2000). Drama Desk Award. Tom Atkins: Yeah. Atkins had a nice small role as a disapproving and overbearing father in the wrap-around segments of the immensely enjoyable fright feature anthology Creepshow (1982). My father worked for J&L Steel. When we open the door to trick-or-treats we usually try to wear those clear, translucent masks. Atkins's career in acting began with his roles in various films like "The Detective" (1968), "Where's Poppa?" They would divorce four years later. 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". I've played a lot of cops and a few bad guys. I think he wrote a terrific film that was kind of a big put-on of 50s horror. Country music star Thomas Rhett’s wife, Lauren Gregory Akins, first crossed his path in the the first grade. His favorite of all the movies he has worked on is. Is a frequent player in shows at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, most famously in the one-man show "The Chief", in which he depicts the late founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Currently lives in Peters Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania. But then it's not like we were doing Shakespeare. But I think, View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Keep It In the Family (Sep 27, 1967 - Sep 30, 1967) Performer: Tom Atkins [Arthur] PlayComedyOriginal. Tom Atkins has been married twice. He also included them in his video for "Look What God Gave Her". And that's the kind of actor I am. March 28, 1932 - June 2, 2016. Graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In television, Atkins reprised his role of Commander Diehl for a series of Rockford Files movies during the 1990s.[5]. Thomas “Tom” Melvin Atkins Sr. was born August 3, 1946, and entered into his eternal home with his Savior on January 13, 2020, at Good Samaritan Society-Hastings Village in Hastings, And I had great lines in that movie! There are no details about Atkins' first marriage and divorce. [3] His first movie role was in The Detective, which starred Frank Sinatra. Tom Atkins: My wife and I have baskets of candy to hand out to the kids and the house is all lit up and I have big silhouettes in the windows of a witch, Wolfman, and Frankenstein. After his first divorce, he started dating Janis Lee Rodgers, and after a few years of relationship, they got married on March 15, 1986. Fallows, Tom, Tom Atkins Interview (Night of the Creeps), Classic-Horror Web Zine 14 October 2009. He tells Classic-Horror magazine "It was the most fun film I've ever worked on. Aikens married business partner Laura Vänninen in 1997, but the marriage broke down in 2004, a year after they opened their first Chelsea restaurant Tom Aikens.In June 2007, he married publicist and former chef Amber Nuttall, third daughter of … Well, I grew up in Pittsburgh. Joe Bob singles out directors who should be forced to apologize for making terrible big-budgeted films. "[3], After many appearances in TV series and movies, including notably as Lt. Alex Diel, a disagreeable police officer who in seasons 1 and 2 of The Rockford Files dislikes the titular character portrayed by James Garner, Atkins began working within the horror and science fiction genres. Atkins and his wife separated in 1984. Tom attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and was a member of the Gamma Phi Fraternity. 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