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Wikipedia

Tom Drake

February 23, 2023

For the American baseball player, see Tom Drake (baseball). For the American wrestler and politician, see Tom Drake (wrestler). For others, see Thomas Drake.

Tom Drake (born Alfred Sinclair Alderdice,[1] August 5, 1918 – August 11, 1982) was an American actor. Drake made films starting in 1940 and continuing until the mid-1970s, and also made TV acting appearances.[2]

Tom Drake
Drake in The Sandpiper (1965)
Born
Alfred Sinclair Alderdice

(1918-08-05)August 5, 1918
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 11, 1982(1982-08-11) (aged 64)
Torrance, California, U.S.
Resting placeHoly Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California
Other namesRichard Alden
OccupationActor
Years active1938–1978
Spouse
Isabelle Dunn
​
​
(m. 1945; div. 1946)​

Early life and career

Drake was born in Brooklyn, New York,[3] and attended Iona Preparatory School and graduated from Mercersburg Academy.[4]

He was excused from serving in World War II due to heart problems.[2] Despite this limitation, he did act in British training films.

Billed as Alfred Alderdice, Drake appeared on Broadway in Run Sheep Run (1938) and Clean Beds (1939).[5]

After appearing in the film The Howards of Virginia (billed as Richard Alden),[3] he got his break after starring in the 1942 Broadway smash Janie,[6] after which he was signed to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[7]

MGM

 
Drake in Meet Me in St. Louis

MGM started Drake in a supporting role in Two Girls and a Sailor (1944). He was third billed in a "B", Maisie Goes to Reno (1944) then had small roles in some "A" pictures, Marriage Is a Private Affair (1944) and Mrs. Parkington (1944).

He was more prominently featured in his role as Judy Garland's leading man in 1944's Meet Me in St. Louis.[3] He played John Truitt, the "boy next door".

MGM promoted him to leading roles with This Man's Navy (1944) co starring Wallace Beery.

MGM gave Drake the star role in The Green Years (1946), which was a huge hit.[8] It was followed by Courage of Lassie (1946), another big hit, and Faithful in My Fashion (1946), which lost money.

Universal borrowed him to play Deanna Durbin's leading man in I'll Be Yours (1947).[9]

Back at MGM Drake was a support in The Beginning or the End (1947) and Cass Timberlane (1947), and teamed with Beery again in Alias a Gentleman (1948). He did another Lassie film, Hills of Home (1948) and played composer Richard Rodgers in the loosely-based biography Words and Music (1948). Cass Timberlane was popular but the other films all lost money.[8]

Drake was borrowed by Fox to play the romantic lead in Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (1949) then at MGM was in Scene of the Crime (1949) with Van Johnson. He made The Great Rupert (1950) for George Pal.

Later career

Drake began appearing on episodes of TV shows such as The Ford Theatre Hour, Suspense, Lights Out, Tales of Tomorrow, The Unexpected.

He went to Columbia for Never Trust a Gambler (1951) and to Allied Artists for Disc Jockey (1951). He appeared in F.B.I. Girl (1951), and Sangaree (1953).

After television jobs for actors transitioned from live telecasts from New York to shows that were filmed in California, Drake had roles in the CBS series Lassie, NBC's Cimarron City, ABC's 77 Sunset Strip, ABC's The Rebel, CBS’ Perry Mason, ABC's Combat!, ABC's Land of the Giants, Land of the Giants, NBC's ADAM-12, ABC's The Streets of San Francisco and NBC's Banacek.

He continued to appear in features, starring in The Cyclops, Date with Disaster (1957) (a rare lead), and Raintree County (1957). He played the leader of a gang of criminals in Warlock (1959) and was in Money, Women and Guns (1958). He also had a minor role in the film The Singing Nun (1966), playing Ed Sullivan's producer Mr. Fitzpatrick.

His last acting credit was in 1975, according to his obituary in the Chicago Tribune.[4]

Personal life

Tom Drake was married to Isabelle Dunn during the 1940s.

Drake was a Roman Catholic[10] and supported Adlai Stevenson during the 1952 presidential election.[11]

Death

Drake died of lung cancer at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, California (Los Angeles County) on August 11, 1982.[4] His body is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.[1]

Filmography

Features:

References

  1. ^ a b Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 162. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Classic Images bio. 2009-07-26 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 11th December 2008
  3. ^ a b c Monush, Barry (2003). Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors: From the silent era to 1965. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 203. ISBN 9781557835512. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Movie actor Tom Drake, known as 'boy-next-door,' dies at 64". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. Associated Press. August 12, 1982. p. Section 4–14. Retrieved June 12, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ . Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  6. ^ Replacement Cast information for Janie 2012-10-21 at the Wayback Machine at Internet Broadway Database
  7. ^ Room, Adrian (2010). Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed. McFarland. p. 153. ISBN 9780786457632. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  8. ^ a b The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  9. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (August 21, 1946). "Powell, Loy Recalled for 'Song of Thin Man'". Los Angeles Times. p. A2.
  10. ^ Morning News, January 10, 1948, Who Was Who in America (Vol. 2)
  11. ^ Motion Picture and Television Magazine, November 1952, page 33, Ideal Publishers

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tom Drake.

February 23, 2023
drake, american, baseball, player, baseball, american, wrestler, politician, wrestler, others, thomas, drake, born, alfred, sinclair, alderdice, august, 1918, august, 1982, american, actor, drake, made, films, starting, 1940, continuing, until, 1970s, also, ma. For the American baseball player see Tom Drake baseball For the American wrestler and politician see Tom Drake wrestler For others see Thomas Drake Tom Drake born Alfred Sinclair Alderdice 1 August 5 1918 August 11 1982 was an American actor Drake made films starting in 1940 and continuing until the mid 1970s and also made TV acting appearances 2 Tom DrakeDrake in The Sandpiper 1965 BornAlfred Sinclair Alderdice 1918 08 05 August 5 1918Brooklyn New York U S DiedAugust 11 1982 1982 08 11 aged 64 Torrance California U S Resting placeHoly Cross Cemetery Culver City CaliforniaOther namesRichard AldenOccupationActorYears active1938 1978SpouseIsabelle Dunn m 1945 div 1946 wbr Contents 1 Early life and career 2 MGM 3 Later career 4 Personal life 5 Death 6 Filmography 7 References 8 External linksEarly life and career EditDrake was born in Brooklyn New York 3 and attended Iona Preparatory School and graduated from Mercersburg Academy 4 He was excused from serving in World War II due to heart problems 2 Despite this limitation he did act in British training films Billed as Alfred Alderdice Drake appeared on Broadway in Run Sheep Run 1938 and Clean Beds 1939 5 After appearing in the film The Howards of Virginia billed as Richard Alden 3 he got his break after starring in the 1942 Broadway smash Janie 6 after which he was signed to a contract with Metro Goldwyn Mayer 7 MGM Edit Drake in Meet Me in St Louis MGM started Drake in a supporting role in Two Girls and a Sailor 1944 He was third billed in a B Maisie Goes to Reno 1944 then had small roles in some A pictures Marriage Is a Private Affair 1944 and Mrs Parkington 1944 He was more prominently featured in his role as Judy Garland s leading man in 1944 s Meet Me in St Louis 3 He played John Truitt the boy next door MGM promoted him to leading roles with This Man s Navy 1944 co starring Wallace Beery MGM gave Drake the star role in The Green Years 1946 which was a huge hit 8 It was followed by Courage of Lassie 1946 another big hit and Faithful in My Fashion 1946 which lost money Universal borrowed him to play Deanna Durbin s leading man in I ll Be Yours 1947 9 Back at MGM Drake was a support in The Beginning or the End 1947 and Cass Timberlane 1947 and teamed with Beery again in Alias a Gentleman 1948 He did another Lassie film Hills of Home 1948 and played composer Richard Rodgers in the loosely based biography Words and Music 1948 Cass Timberlane was popular but the other films all lost money 8 Drake was borrowed by Fox to play the romantic lead in Mr Belvedere Goes to College 1949 then at MGM was in Scene of the Crime 1949 with Van Johnson He made The Great Rupert 1950 for George Pal Later career EditDrake began appearing on episodes of TV shows such as The Ford Theatre Hour Suspense Lights Out Tales of Tomorrow The Unexpected He went to Columbia for Never Trust a Gambler 1951 and to Allied Artists for Disc Jockey 1951 He appeared in F B I Girl 1951 and Sangaree 1953 After television jobs for actors transitioned from live telecasts from New York to shows that were filmed in California Drake had roles in the CBS series Lassie NBC s Cimarron City ABC s 77 Sunset Strip ABC s The Rebel CBS Perry Mason ABC s Combat ABC s Land of the Giants Land of the Giants NBC s ADAM 12 ABC s The Streets of San Francisco and NBC s Banacek He continued to appear in features starring in The Cyclops Date with Disaster 1957 a rare lead and Raintree County 1957 He played the leader of a gang of criminals in Warlock 1959 and was in Money Women and Guns 1958 He also had a minor role in the film The Singing Nun 1966 playing Ed Sullivan s producer Mr Fitzpatrick His last acting credit was in 1975 according to his obituary in the Chicago Tribune 4 Personal life EditTom Drake was married to Isabelle Dunn during the 1940s Drake was a Roman Catholic 10 and supported Adlai Stevenson during the 1952 presidential election 11 Death EditDrake died of lung cancer at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance California Los Angeles County on August 11 1982 4 His body is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City California 1 Filmography EditFeatures Our Town 1940 Best Man at Wedding uncredited film debut The Mortal Storm 1940 Student in Second Classroom Scene uncredited The Howards of Virginia 1940 James Howard at 16 Northern Pursuit 1943 Heinzmann uncredited Two Girls and a Sailor 1944 Frank Miller The White Cliffs of Dover 1944 Dying American Soldier uncredited Maisie Goes to Reno 1944 Sgt William Bill Fullerton Marriage Is a Private Affair 1944 Bill Rice Mrs Parkington 1944 Ned Talbot Meet Me in St Louis 1944 John Truitt This Man s Navy 1945 Jess Weaver Main Street After Dark 1945 Radio Broadcaster voice uncredited The Green Years 1946 Robert Shannon as a Young Man Courage of Lassie 1946 Sergeant Smitty Faithful in My Fashion 1946 Jeff Compton I ll Be Yours 1947 George Prescott The Beginning or the End 1947 Matt Cochran Cass Timberlane 1947 Jamie Wargate Alias a Gentleman 1948 Johnny Lorgen Hills of Home 1948 Tammas Milton Words and Music 1948 Richard Dick Rodgers Mr Belvedere Goes to College 1949 Bill Chase Scene of the Crime 1949 Detective C C Gordon The Great Rupert 1950 Peter Pete Dingle Never Trust a Gambler 1951 Police Sgt Ed Donovan Disc Jockey 1951 Johnny FBI Girl 1951 Carl Chercourt Sangaree 1953 Dr Roy Darby Betrayed Women 1955 Jeff Darrell Sudden Danger 1955 Wallace Curtis The Cyclops 1957 Lee Brand Date with Disaster 1957 Miles Harrington Raintree County 1957 Bobby Drake Money Women and Guns 1958 Jess Ryerson Warlock 1959 Abe McQuown The Bramble Bush 1960 Larry McFie The Sandpiper 1965 Walter Robinson House of the Black Death 1965 Paul Desard Johnny Reno 1966 Joe Conners The Singing Nun 1966 Fitzpatrick Red Tomahawk 1967 Bill Kane Deadly Inheritance 1968 Phil Sutton Warkill 1968 Inspector Gerard Greville Cycle Psycho 1973 Dick Ridelander The Spectre of Edgar Allan Poe 1974 Dr Adam Forrest final film References Edit a b Ellenberger Allan R 2001 Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries A Directory McFarland p 162 ISBN 9780786450190 Retrieved June 11 2017 a b Classic Images bio Archived 2009 07 26 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 11th December 2008 a b c Monush Barry 2003 Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors From the silent era to 1965 Hal Leonard Corporation p 203 ISBN 9781557835512 Retrieved June 13 2018 a b c Movie actor Tom Drake known as boy next door dies at 64 Chicago Tribune Illinois Chicago Associated Press August 12 1982 p Section 4 14 Retrieved June 12 2018 via Newspapers com Alfred Alderdice Internet Broadway Database The Broadway League Archived from the original on June 13 2018 Retrieved June 13 2018 Replacement Cast information for Janie Archived 2012 10 21 at the Wayback Machine at Internet Broadway Database Room Adrian 2010 Dictionary of Pseudonyms 13 000 Assumed Names and Their Origins 5th ed McFarland p 153 ISBN 9780786457632 Retrieved June 11 2017 a b The Eddie Mannix Ledger Los Angeles Margaret Herrick Library Center for Motion Picture Study Scheuer Philip K August 21 1946 Powell Loy Recalled for Song of Thin Man Los Angeles Times p A2 Morning News January 10 1948 Who Was Who in America Vol 2 Motion Picture and Television Magazine November 1952 page 33 Ideal PublishersExternal links Edit Biography portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tom Drake Tom Drake at IMDb Tom Drake at the Internet Broadway Database as Alfred Alderdice Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tom Drake amp oldid 1138572198, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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