Tom Tryon (1926-1991)

biography

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, on January 14, 1926, actor Tom Tryon grew up in Wethersfield, Connecticut. During World War II, he enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and served through 1946. Upon leaving the Navy, Tryon drifted to New York City, where he studied at the Art Students League. By the early 1950s, Tryon embarked upon an acting career, working in early television and acting on Broadway. His first Broadway appearance was in the play Wish You Were Here in 1952. After being noticed in a television appearance by producer Hal Wallis, Tryon signed a contract with Paramount Studioes in 1955.

Tom Tryon made a string of B films in the 1950s, most notably I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958; with Gloria Talbott). In the early 1960s, Tryon made the leap to "A" pictures, but a bad experience with director Otto Preminger on the set of The Cardinal (1963; with Carol Lynley and John Saxon) and In Harm's Way (1965; with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas) convinced Tryon to find another profession, although he made a few more films and several appearances throughout the 1960s.

the films of tom tryon

The Scarlet Hour (1956)

Three Violent People (1956)

The Unholy Wife (1957)

I Married a Monster From Outer Space (1958)

Texas John Slaughter (1958-1961 ABC TV Series)

The Story of Ruth (1960)

Marines, Let's Go! (1961)

Moon Pilot (1962)

The Cardinal (1963)

The Glory Guys (1965)

The Big Valley (1965-1969 ABC TV Series)

Winchester 73 (1966)

The Narco Men (1967)

Color Me Dead (1969)

later years

In the late 1960s, with his acting career floundering, Tom Tryon turned his energies to writing and became highly successful with his science fiction works such as his 1971 novel The Other. Tryon died of stomach cancer at the age of 65 on September 4, 1991. He was survived by two brothers.

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TELEVISION
Wagon Train: The Complete First Season [DVD](1957) DVD
All 39 episodes from the debut season--including "The Willy Moran Story," "The Mary Halstead Story," "The Cliff Grundy Story," "The Rex Montana Story," and "The Sacramento Story"--are featured in a 10-disc set. 32 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono. **39 episodes on 10 discs. 32 1/2 hrs.**
The Big Valley: Season One [DVD](1965) DVD
All 30 first-season episodes--including "Palms of Glory," "Forty Rifles," "Night of the Wolf," "The Invaders," "Under a Dark Star," and "Last Train to the Fair"--have been collected in a five-disc set. 25 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish. **30 episodes on 5 discs. 25 1/2 hrs.**

FILM
Three Violent People [DVD](1956) DVD
Powerful mix of frontier action and character study with Charlton Heston as an ex-Confederate officer who returns to the family ranch with new bride Anne Baxter and faces problems from carpetbaggers and his jealous brother, and a secret from Baxter's past. With Tom Tryon, Gilbert Roland, Forrest Tucker. 99 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English. NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per Customer.
The Story Of Ruth [DVD](1960) DVD
While not strictly based on the Biblical book, this affecting Hollywood religious drama movingly follows the title character's renouncement of her people's idolatry and her conversion to Judaism. Stuart Whitman, Tom Tryon, Peggy Wood, and Elana Eden as Ruth star. 131 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 4.0, Spanish Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish.
The Longest Day [Blu-ray](1962)
Acclaimed as one of Hollywood's greatest epics, producer Darryl F. Zanuck's re-creation of the Allied landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944 follows the grand-scale drama and personal stories of D-Day. International all-star cast includes John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Rod Steiger, Richard Burton, Red Buttons, Sean Connery, Mel Ferrer, Robert Ryan. 178 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English DTS HD 5.1, Dolby Digital 4.0, French Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish; audio commentary; featurettes; interview; photo gallery; theatrical trailer. Two-disc set.
The Longest Day (Special Edition) [DVD](1962) DVD
Acclaimed as one of Hollywood's greatest epics, producer Darryl F. Zanuck's re-creation of the Allied landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944 follows the grand-scale drama and personal stories of D-Day. International all-star cast includes John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Rod Steiger, Richard Burton, Red Buttons, Sean Connery, Mel Ferrer, Robert Ryan. 178 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 4.0, Dolby Digital Surround, Spanish Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish; audio commentary; featurettes; interview; photo gallery; theatrical trailer. Two-disc set.
The Cardinal (Special Edition) [DVD](1963) DVD
Epic drama directed by Otto Preminger focuses on an Irish-American priest whose dedication carries him through the ranks to one of the highest seats of power within the Roman Catholic Church. Fine performances from Tom Tryon, Romy Schneider, John Huston, Dorothy Gish, Burgess Meredith. 175 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital Surround stereo; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; featurettes; theatrical trailer. Two-disc set.
The Cardinal [DVD](1963) DVD
Epic drama directed by Otto Preminger focuses on an Irish-American priest whose dedication carries him through the ranks to one of the highest seats of power within the Roman Catholic Church. Fine performances from Tom Tryon, Romy Schneider, John Huston, Dorothy Gish, and Burgess Meredith. 175 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital Surround stereo; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.
The Narco Men [DVD](1967) DVD
Future author Tom Tryon plays a former Interpol agent hired by a mysterious bad guy to retrieve drugs hijacked in Spain. While trying to complete his assignment, Tryon encounters a hippie singer, finds his life in jeopardy, poses as a drug buyer and faces off against ruthless kidnappers. Whew! No wonder Tryon turned to writing such best-sellers as "The Other." With Ana Castor, Richard Deacon. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English (dubbed). Dubbed in English.

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filmography

FILM
The Horsemen (1971) with Omar Sharif, Leigh Taylor-Young, and Jack Palance
Color Me Dead (1969) with Carolyn Jones and Rick Jason
The Narco Men (1967) with Richard Deacon and Raf Baldassarre
Winchester 73 (1967) with John Saxon, Dan Duryea, John Drew Barrymore, Joan Blondell, John Dehner, William Kerwin, and Barbara Luna
The Glory Guys (1965) with Harve Presnell, Senta Berger, Michael Anderson Jr., James Caan, Slim Pickens, Andrew Duggan, Peter Breck, Jeanne Cooper, and Wayne Rogers
In Harm's Way (1965) with John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Paula Prentiss, Dana Andrews, Burgess Meredith, and Franchot Tone
The Cardinal (1963) with Carol Lynley, Dorothy Gish, Bill Hayes, Cecil Kellaway, and John Saxon
The Longest Day (1962) with an all-star cast
Moon Pilot (1962) with Brian Keith, Edmond O'Brien, Dany Saval, and Tommy Kirk
Something's Got to Give (1962) with Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Cyd Charisse, Wally Cox, and Phil Silvers (never completed)
Marines, Let's Go (1961) with David Hedison, Tom Reese, and Barbara Stuart
The Story of Ruth (1960) with Stuart Whitman, Viveca Lindfors, Jeff Morrow, Les Tremayne, John Gabriel, and Ziva Rodann
I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958) with Gloria Talbott, Peter Baldwin, Ty Hardin, and Maxie Rosenbloom
The Unholy Wife (1957) with Diana Dors, Rod Steiger, Beulah Bondi, Marie Windsor, and Arthur Franz
Three Violent People (1956) with Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter, Gilbert Roland, Forrest Tucker, Bruce Bennett, Elaine Stritch, and Robert Blake
Screaming Eagles (1956) with Jan Merlin, Martin Milner, Joe Di Reda, Alvy Moore, Paul Burke, Robert Blake, and Robert Dix
The Scarlet Hour (1956) with Carol Ohmart, James Gregory, Elaine Stritch, and E.G. Marshall

TELEVISION SERIES
The Wonderful World of Disney: Texas John Slaughter, 1958-1961 ABC television series. Tryon portrayed the title character in 17 episodes

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
The Virginian, episode The Price of the Hanging, originally aired November 11, 1970
The Virginian, episode Star Crossed, originally aired October 4, 1967
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, episode Wipeout, originally aired April 26, 1967
The Road West, episode Charade of Justice, originally aired March 27, 1967
The Virginian, episode Girl on the Glass Mountain, originally aired December 28, 1966
The Big Valley, episode The Midas Man, originally aired April 13, 1966
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, episode Mr. Governess, originally aired November 10, 1965
Kraft Suspense Theatre, episode Nobody Will Ever Know, originally aired March 25, 1965
Dr. Kildare, episode The Mosaic, originally aired January 31, 1963
The Virginian, episode The Man from the Sea, originally aired December 26, 1962
The Millionaire, episode The Tony Drummond Story, originally aired April 9, 1958
G.E. True Theater, episode Strange Witness, originally aired March 23, 1958
The Restless Gun, episode Sheriff Billy, originally aired March 10, 1958
Wagon Train, episode The Mark Hanford Story, originally aired February 26, 1958
Matinee Theatre, episode Dark of the Moon, originally aired December 13, 1957
Matinee Theatre, episode The Story of Sarah, originally aired September 22, 1957
Lux Video Theatre, episode Design for November, originally aired June 13, 1957
Zane Grey Theater, episode Black Is for Grief, originally aired April 12, 1957
Matinee Theatre, episode Wuthering Heights, originally aired April 8, 1957
Playhouse 90, episode Charley's Aunt, originally aired March 28, 1957
The 20th Century-Fox Hour, episode Springfield Incident, originally aired February 6, 1957
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, episode Birthright, originally aired February 5, 1957
Matinee Theatre, episode The Fall of the House of Usher, originally aired August 6, 1956
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, episode The Mirror, originally aired February 28, 1956
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, episode Not What She Pretended, originally aired February 7, 1956
Frontier, episode King of the Dakotas: Parts 1 and 2, originally aired November 8 and 20, 1955

tom tryon film now showing

Watch a 1966 episode of The Big Valley titled The Midas Man, starring Tom Tryon