Forrest Silva "Woody" Tucker (June 23, 1920 – May 29, 2004) was an American career criminal first imprisoned at age 15 who spent the rest of his life in and out of jail.[3] He is best known as an escape artist, having escaped from prison "18 times successfully and 12 times unsuccessfully", by his own reckoning.[3] The 2018 film The Old Man & the Gun, starring Robert Redford as Tucker, is based on his life.
Forrest Silva Tucker was born June 23, 1920, in Miami, Florida, to Leroy Morgan Tucker (1890–1938) and Carmen Tucker (née Silva; 1898–1964).[1] Leroy Tucker, a heavy-equipment operator, left the family when Forrest was six years old. Forrest was raised in Stuart, Florida by his grandmother Ellen Silva (née Morgan).[1] His first escape from detention happened in the spring of 1936, after he was incarcerated for car theft.[3][4]
Personal lifeedit
Tucker married three times and had two children, a boy and a girl; none of his wives knew of his criminal career until they were informed by police.[3][5]
Prison escapesedit
A former inmate of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, Tucker was able to escape from the authorities when he was temporarily moved to a hospital in San Francisco for an operation. He was captured a few hours later still in handcuffs and a hospital gown.[3] His most famous escape was in the summer of 1979 from San Quentin State Prison in California, when he and two confederates built a kayak and paddled away in full view of the guards. He was not apprehended for four years, during which time he and a gang went on a crime spree.[3]
Tucker's crimes of choice were bank robberies. Law enforcement estimates Tucker stole over $4 million from banks during his career.[3] Tucker wrote a number of books about his life, including Alcatraz: The True Story, and The Can Opener,[3] although it is unclear if they were ever published.[6]
While living in a retirement community in Pompano Beach, Florida, at the age of 79 and married for the third time, Tucker by himself robbed an estimated four banks in the local community. In 2000, law enforcement apprehended Tucker; the Court sentenced him to 13 years in prison at the Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth (now known as Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Worth).[5] Tucker did not live out his sentence, he died in prison less than 4 years later, on May 29, 2004, at the age of 83. He is buried in Mansfield, TX.[5]
In 2003, David Grann in The New Yorker profiled Tucker in a piece titled "The Old Man and the Gun", which described Tucker's most recent bank robbery.[3]
In 2010, a film version of Tucker's life, The Old Man & the Gun was optioned by Anthony Mastromauro of Identity Films. It had previously been in development at Warner Bros. Pictures.[7]Robert Redford starred in and produced the film, while David Lowery wrote and directed it.[8] The film was released on September 28, 2018.[9] Redford announced his intent to retire from acting after the film.[10]
Referencesedit
^ abcLuckhardt, Greg & Alice (20 November 2018). "Forrest Silva Tucker: Life of a criminal, Part 1 (Historical Vignettes)". TC Palm. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
^Wallace, Bill (28 April 1999). "Last of 'Rub-a-Dub-Dub' Fugitives: Florida cops arrest robber who escaped from San Quentin 20 years ago in a kayak". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, California. from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
^Luckhardt, Greg & Alice (3 December 2018). "Forrest Silva Tucker: Life of a criminal, Part 2 (Historical Vignettes)". TC Palm. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
^ abcLuckhardt, Greg & Alice (10 December 2018). "Forrest Silva Tucker: Life of a criminal, Part 3 (Historical Vignettes)". TC Palm. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
^"Zimmer frame bank robber jailed". BBC News. 23 October 2000. Retrieved March 25, 2014. In his unpublished memoir The Can Opener, Tucker recalls his jailbreaks
^McNary, Dave (February 15, 2010). . Variety. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
^Kit, Borys (April 11, 2013). "Robert Redford Teams With 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints' Filmmaker for Crime Drama (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
^Perez, Rodrigo (June 5, 2018). "'The Old Man And The Gun' Trailer: Robert Redford Will Act One Last Time For Director David Lowery". The Playlist. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
^Murthi, Vikram (11 November 2016). "Robert Redford Announces Retirement From Acting". IndieWire. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
External linksedit
David Grann. "The Old Man and the Gun" (abstract), The New Yorker, January 27, 2003
Mike Geary. "79 Years Old and His Life of Crime Appears to Be Going Strong", LA Times, July 27, 1999
January 01, 1970
forrest, tucker, criminal, forrest, silva, woody, tucker, june, 1920, 2004, american, career, criminal, first, imprisoned, spent, rest, life, jail, best, known, escape, artist, having, escaped, from, prison, times, successfully, times, unsuccessfully, reckonin. Forrest Silva Woody Tucker June 23 1920 May 29 2004 was an American career criminal first imprisoned at age 15 who spent the rest of his life in and out of jail 3 He is best known as an escape artist having escaped from prison 18 times successfully and 12 times unsuccessfully by his own reckoning 3 The 2018 film The Old Man amp the Gun starring Robert Redford as Tucker is based on his life Forrest TuckerBornForrest Silva Tucker 1920 06 23 June 23 1920 1 Miami Florida U S 2 DiedMay 29 2004 2004 05 29 aged 83 FMC Fort Worth Fort Worth Texas U S Resting placeSkyvue Memorial Gardens Mansfield TexasOther namesWoody TuckerKnown forMultiple escapes from prison detentionAllegianceThe Over the Hill GangConviction s Armed bank robbery Resisting arrest Escape from federal detentionCriminal charge18 U S C 2113 a amp 2113 d Armed bank robbery 18 U S C 111 Resisting arrest 18 U S C 751 Escape from federal detention Car theft as a juvenile OthersPenaltyReform school as a juvenile Multiple federal and state prison sentencesPartner s Richard Bellew Theodore Green William McGirk John WallerEscaped18 incidents Contents 1 Early life 2 Personal life 3 Prison escapes 4 Film 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editForrest Silva Tucker was born June 23 1920 in Miami Florida to Leroy Morgan Tucker 1890 1938 and Carmen Tucker nee Silva 1898 1964 1 Leroy Tucker a heavy equipment operator left the family when Forrest was six years old Forrest was raised in Stuart Florida by his grandmother Ellen Silva nee Morgan 1 His first escape from detention happened in the spring of 1936 after he was incarcerated for car theft 3 4 Personal life editTucker married three times and had two children a boy and a girl none of his wives knew of his criminal career until they were informed by police 3 5 Prison escapes editA former inmate of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary Tucker was able to escape from the authorities when he was temporarily moved to a hospital in San Francisco for an operation He was captured a few hours later still in handcuffs and a hospital gown 3 His most famous escape was in the summer of 1979 from San Quentin State Prison in California when he and two confederates built a kayak and paddled away in full view of the guards He was not apprehended for four years during which time he and a gang went on a crime spree 3 Tucker s crimes of choice were bank robberies Law enforcement estimates Tucker stole over 4 million from banks during his career 3 Tucker wrote a number of books about his life including Alcatraz The True Story and The Can Opener 3 although it is unclear if they were ever published 6 While living in a retirement community in Pompano Beach Florida at the age of 79 and married for the third time Tucker by himself robbed an estimated four banks in the local community In 2000 law enforcement apprehended Tucker the Court sentenced him to 13 years in prison at the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth now known as Federal Correctional Institution Fort Worth 5 Tucker did not live out his sentence he died in prison less than 4 years later on May 29 2004 at the age of 83 He is buried in Mansfield TX 5 In 2003 David Grann in The New Yorker profiled Tucker in a piece titled The Old Man and the Gun which described Tucker s most recent bank robbery 3 Film editMain article The Old Man amp the Gun In 2010 a film version of Tucker s life The Old Man amp the Gun was optioned by Anthony Mastromauro of Identity Films It had previously been in development at Warner Bros Pictures 7 Robert Redford starred in and produced the film while David Lowery wrote and directed it 8 The film was released on September 28 2018 9 Redford announced his intent to retire from acting after the film 10 References edit a b c Luckhardt Greg amp Alice 20 November 2018 Forrest Silva Tucker Life of a criminal Part 1 Historical Vignettes TC Palm Retrieved 10 September 2022 Wallace Bill 28 April 1999 Last of Rub a Dub Dub Fugitives Florida cops arrest robber who escaped from San Quentin 20 years ago in a kayak San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco California Archived from the original on 25 March 2014 Retrieved 25 March 2014 a b c d e f g h i Grann David January 27 2003 The Old Man and the Gun abstract The New Yorker Retrieved 2023 12 30 Collected in The Devil and Sherlock Holmes 2010 Luckhardt Greg amp Alice 3 December 2018 Forrest Silva Tucker Life of a criminal Part 2 Historical Vignettes TC Palm Retrieved 10 September 2022 a b c Luckhardt Greg amp Alice 10 December 2018 Forrest Silva Tucker Life of a criminal Part 3 Historical Vignettes TC Palm Retrieved 10 September 2022 Zimmer frame bank robber jailed BBC News 23 October 2000 Retrieved March 25 2014 In his unpublished memoir The Can Opener Tucker recalls his jailbreaks McNary Dave February 15 2010 Mastromauro finds Identity Variety Archived from the original on 2011 06 05 Retrieved 2023 12 30 Kit Borys April 11 2013 Robert Redford Teams With Ain t Them Bodies Saints Filmmaker for Crime Drama Exclusive The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved August 18 2015 Perez Rodrigo June 5 2018 The Old Man And The Gun Trailer Robert Redford Will Act One Last Time For Director David Lowery The Playlist Retrieved June 5 2018 Murthi Vikram 11 November 2016 Robert Redford Announces Retirement From Acting IndieWire Retrieved July 29 2018 External links editDavid Grann The Old Man and the Gun abstract The New Yorker January 27 2003 Mike Geary 79 Years Old and His Life of Crime Appears to Be Going Strong LA Times July 27 1999 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Forrest Tucker criminal amp oldid 1198127547, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
