Tim Thomerson

Joseph Timothy Thomerson (born April 8, 1946) is an American actor and comedian.[1] He is best known for his role as Jack Deth in the Trancers[2] film series and for his work in numerous low-budget features and his comedic television roles.[3]

Tim Thomerson
Born
Joseph Timothy Thomerson

(1946-04-08) April 8, 1946
OccupationActor, comedian
Years active1975present
Spouse(s)Teri Blythe

Early life

Tim Thomerson was born in Coronado, California. He was brought up in Hawaii and in San Diego. Following a stint in the Army National Guard where he served as a cook in a tank company with actor Brion James, Thomerson chose to become an actor, while taking a job as a set builder and prop man at the Old Globe Theatre, famous for its Shakespearean productions. After meeting character actor Anthony Zerbe, he took Anthony's advice and studied acting at the Herpolscheimer School of Performing Arts, with Stella Adler in New York City.

After his college tenure had ended, Thomerson began a career as a stand-up comedian, honing his skills. He appeared in clubs that included The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, The Improv in Los Angeles, Catch a Rising Star, and the Catskills.

Career

When Thomerson moved into comedy, he found himself in a boom alongside the likes of David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Freddie Prinze. In L.A., he became a regular at the Comedy Store and the Improv, as well as making numerous appearances on television variety shows and in Las Vegas.

Thomerson has had a very long career in television and appeared in scores of films since the 1970s; he had a memorable minor role in Car Wash and played criminal psychologist Jerry Moriarity in the slasher film Fade to Black (1988).

In 1985, Thomerson starred as the time-traveling future cop Jack Deth in the low-budget science fiction film Trancers, produced by Charles Band and Empire Pictures. The role made him an icon of the B-movie genre, and led to Thomerson building a working relationship with the Bands. He was supposed to appear in the feature Pulse Pounders, but it was ultimately never completed.

In 1986, Thomerson reunited with a few of his Trancers co-stars for the World War II science fiction film Zone Troopers; he also appeared in the vampire film Near Dark. He played a villain opposite Melanie Griffith's heroine in the science fiction film Cherry 2000. He also Major Dan Hackett in the Disney made-for-TV movie, The B.R.A.T. Patrol, starring opposite Sean Astin, Nia Long, and Brian Keith.

When Charles Band started Full Moon Features in the late 1980s, one of his first projects was the sequel Trancers II (1991), in which he reunited Thomerson with much of the cast from the first film. Thomerson would later appear in the next three sequels, with the exception of Trancers 6. It starred Zette Sullivan in her only lead role and used archive footage of Thomerson to enhance the storyline.

He appeared in NBC's television film The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988) as The Hulk's opponent, Jack LeBeau.

Another film role making Thomerson popular with science fiction fans was that of Brick Bardo in Dollman (1991), a Dirty Harry-like alien cop who is only 13 inches tall; he uses his blaster to take on gangsters and devil-possessed toys. The character also appeared briefly in Bad Channels.

Thomerson has had many memorable roles in feature films, including Uncommon Valor, Air America, Volunteers, Who's Harry Crumb?, Iron Eagle, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, as well as numerous television roles, including the series Tour of Duty and 21 Jump Street. He also played Colonel Savage of the Missouri Militia in The Young Riders (1989). In the 1990s, he was a series regular on the TV police drama Sirens, followed by a regular, co-starring role on the series Land's End starring Fred Dryer.

Thomerson has worked with some of his favorite actors, which include Gene Hackman, Clint Eastwood, Wilford Brimley, and Richard Farnsworth. His personal comic hero is Richard Pryor.

Initial success

One of Thomerson's early acting breaks came from director Robert Altman who, after seeing Thomerson's stand-up act, cast him in the film A Wedding. At this early stage of Thomerson's film career, he found himself surrounded by Vittorio Gassman, Carol Burnett, Geraldine Chaplin, and a very young Dennis Franz.

Thomerson first came to prominence in the short-lived comedy science-fiction TV series Quark in 1977–78, as Gene/Jean, a character of dual gender who randomly switched from a macho to a feminine personality.

Feature film actor

Thomerson's most famous film role is that of Jack Deth, the hero of Charles Band's Trancers science fiction series. Playing against his comedic roots, Thomerson played Deth as a hard-nosed epitome of machismo, like Clint Eastwood in the Dirty Harry cop films. The Jack Deth character continued in four more sequels throughout the 1990s. A fifth sequel, Trancers 6, was made and released in 2002 without Thomerson.

Other career highlights include Babo in the adventure film Air America with Mel Gibson and Robert Downey, Jr., grimy mercenary Rhodes in Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn, demented cult leader Lester in Cherry 2000, Loy in the horror classic Near Dark, diminutive lawman Brick Bardo in Dollman and Dollman vs. Demonic Toys, and a scruffy motorcyclist in Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Thomerson is a stock player in the films of actor/director Michael Worth (DUAL, Devil on the Mountain, God's Ears) and a favorite of director Albert Pyun (Dollman, Knights, Nemesis, Nemesis 3: Prey Harder).

In addition, Thomerson has made guest appearances on TV shows The Golden Girls, Walker, Texas Ranger, The Young Riders, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Xena, Warrior Princess, Viper, The District, and Silk Stalkings.

He also was the Voice of Freedom for the John Milius-written video game Homefront and Cyrus Temple in Saints Row: The Third.

Personal life

Thomerson's wife Teri Blythe has worked extensively in Hollywood as a script supervisor, make-up artist, casting director, and producer.

Filmography

Year Film Role Other notes
1975MannixRustyEpisode: "A Word Called Courage"
A Shadow in the StreetsChickTelevision movie
Hustling'Two to a cell' Cop (uncredited)Television movie
1976Laverne & ShirleySilky MulcheckEpisode: "The Bachelor Party"
Harry OReporterEpisode: "Hostage"
City of AngelsSeyersEpisode: "The Parting Shot"
Car WashKennyAs Timmothy Tomerson
1977Benny And Barney: Las Vegas UndercoverBarney TuscomTelevision movie
All That GlittersSonny PackerTV series
TerracesSteveTelevision movie
Which Way Is Up?Tour GuideAs Timothy Thomerson
1977-1978QuarkGene/JeanTV series regular
1978Remember My NameJeffAs Timothy Thomerson
Record CityMarty
A WeddingRussell Bean
1978Hawaii Five-OMik ChandlerEpisode: "Death Mask"
1979Mork & Mindy (ep. 13)SergieGuest in TV series
The AssociatesJohnny DankoTV series regular
AngieGianniTV series regular
1980Getting ThereLesterTelevision movie
CarnyDoubles
Fade to BlackJerry Moriarty
1981Take This Job and Shove ItRay Binkowski
In TroubleMr. DamrushTelevision movie
Golden GateFrank NightingaleTelevision movie
St. HelensSheriff Dwayne Temple
1981-1982The Two of UsReggie CavanaughTV series regular
1982Some Kind of HeroCal
Bare EssenceBillyTelevision movie
Jekyll and Hyde... Together AgainDr. Knute Lanyon
Honkytonk ManHighway Patrolman
1983Likely Stories, Vol. 2TV series
Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-SynRhodes
The Osterman WeekendMotorcycle cop
Uncommon ValorCharts
Gun ShyTheodore OgilvieTV series
1984 Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour Himself Panelist (March 1984)
RhinestoneBarnett Kale
His MistressTom GoodmanTelevision movie
1984-1988HunterMule Mulelowski / Police Sgt. Harry Traynor / Police Det. Gil GlasgowEpisodes "Honorable Profession" (1988) ... Mule Mulelowski
"Change Partners and Dance"(1986) ... Police Sgt. Harry Traynor
"Pen Pals" (1984) ... Police Det. Gil Glasgow
1985TrancersJack Deth
VolunteersJohn Reynolds
Murder, She WroteLt. Clyde Pitts
1986Iron EagleCol. Ted Masters
Zone TroopersThe Sergeant
The B.R.A.T. PatrolMaj. Dan HackettTelevision movie
1987Glory YearsJack SandersTelevision movie
Near DarkLoy Colton
Tour of DutySgt. Aubrey Decker.1 episode. The Good, the Bad, and the Dead
Cherry 2000Lester
Down and Out in Beverly HillsJerry BaskinTV series
1988A Tiger's TaleLonny
The Wrong Guys
The Incredible Hulk ReturnsJack LeBeauTelevision movie
1989Who's Harry Crumb?Vince Barnes
1990Vietnam, TexasMax Heron
Air AmericaBabo
The FlashJay AllenTelevision movie
Murder, She WroteBert RogersTV series
Midnight CallerPerry FineTV series
1991Trancers IIJack Deth
DollmanBrick Bardo
1992Eddie PresleyShock Comic
StringerJack Mitchett
Intimate StrangerMalcolm HenthoffTelevision movie
Bad ChannelsBrick Bardo
Trancers IIIJack Deth
1993Die WatchingDetective Lewis
NemesisFarnsworth
Dollman vs. Demonic ToysBrick Bardo
The HarvestSteve Mobley
KnightsFarmerUncredited
Brainsmasher... A Love StoryBlack
1994FleshtoneBuddy Fields
Natural CausesThe Westerner
Trancers 4: Jack of SwordsJack Deth
The Cisco KidLundquistTelevision movie
Hong Kong 97Jack McGraw
Trancers 5: Sudden DethJack Deth
1995MalevolenceMr. Williams
DominionFitz
SpitfireRex Beechum
SirensSgt. James "Buddy" ZunderTV series
HeatseekerOldest Elder
Walker Texas RangerMitch BoltonTV series
1996Back to BackThomas
Nemesis 3: Prey HarderFarnsworth 2
Pacific BlueThe AngelTV series
Land's EndDave "Thunder" ThorntonTV series
Kid CopArnold Downey
1997BlastPolice Commissioner
Xena: Warrior PrincessMeleager the MightyTV series
When Time ExpiresRifkin KossTelevision movie
The Angry BeaversLeonard Beaver (voice)TV series
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanWoody SamsTV series
1998CrossfireCrane
Together & AloneDaddy
Escape from AtlantisLiam GallagherTelevision movie
Fear and Loathing in Las VegasHoodlum
Border to BorderPoet
1999Red TeamWilliam Heywood
Dirt MerchantJack
SuckersDet. Laughlin
Unseen EvilRanger Chuck Macneil
The Magnificent SevenGuy RoyalTV series
Last ChanceSam
DetourMel Kiner
Sabrina, the Teenage WitchMr. AlcerroTV series
2000GanglandDr. Adams
SubmergedOwen Cantrell
Highway 395
The Princess & the Barrio BoyMonsignor O'DellTelevision movie
2001They CrawlExterminator
Devil's PreySheriff Harry
2002Gale ForcePhillip Edwards
Shoot or Be ShotUncle Bill
The Killing PointMr. Banyon
Ocean PointMike
Project ViperSheriff MorganTelevision movie
Con ExpressBill Barnes
The DistrictColonel CarlTV series
Days of Our LivesOliver WentworthTV series
2003ClichéChief Jackson
Air MarshalSen. Chambers
2004PaparazziUniformed Officer
A Lousy Ten GrandJudge
2005The Nowhere Man
DualDeston, Jared
SwarmedPhineas WashburnTelevision movie
Hell to PayReverend
Junior PilotCaptain Noonanalso known as Final Approach
2006The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeArnie Swift
To Kill a MockumentaryWill
Sasquatch MountainEli
Forget About ItArizona Al
A.I. AssaultAdmiral HarrisonTelevision movie
Bottoms UpA.J. Mancini
Left in DarknessJoe
Evil BongJack Deth
Christmas Do-OverArthurTelevision movie
2007God's EarsUncle Steve
Urban DecayDet. Thompson
Blue Lake MassacreMarshall Lex
Good God Bad DogBill Monahan
Live EvilThe Priest
2008Wicked LakeJake
2009War WolvesFrank Bergman
2011ShamelessA.B. FisherTV series
2012Season of DarknessDetective Kesler
MoniKaThomas
2013The Silicon Assassin ProjectFreddy JonesTV series
2016Catfish BluesEddie
2017Asylum of DarknessDet. Kesler

Video games

Year Video game Role
2011HomefrontVoice of Freedom
Saints Row: The ThirdCyrus Temple
2013Saints Row IVSimulation Cyrus
gollark: I have no idea what that corresponds to.
gollark: ... in Turkey?
gollark: They also have the advantage of being a socially-acceptable place to live independently or whatever and do weird and/or possibly reckless things, although it's possible this is partly marketing.
gollark: Anyway, on the one hand, universities are apparently quite good jobs-wise and I can probably get into a fairly good one, but on the other hand ~£50000 could pay for 200 years of osmarks.tk server time.
gollark: I guess Turkey has lower cost of living?

References

  1. "Movies". The New York Times. January 18, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  2. Thomas, Kevin (September 24, 1985). "Movie Review: 'Trancers' Plague L.A. in a Futuristic Shake-Up". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  3. "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
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