Tom 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]

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
Drake in The Sandpiper (1965)
Born
Alfred Sinclair Alderdice

August 5, 1918
Brooklyn, New York, US
DiedAugust 11, 1982 (age 64)
Torrance, California, US
Other namesRichard Alden
OccupationActor
Years active1938–1978
Spouse(s)
Isabelle Dunn
​
(
m. 1945; div. 1946)

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.

Drake in Meet Me in St. Louis

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. He began his film career using the name Richard Alden.[7]

After a number of films, Drake co-starred with Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)[3] as John Truett, the boy next door. He appeared in more than forty films in all, including Mrs. Parkington (1944), The Green Years (1946), Cass Timberlane (1947), as composer Richard Rodgers in the loosely-based biography Words and Music (1948) and, in a role at the opposite end of the character spectrum from John Truett, as the leader of a gang of criminals in Warlock (1959). He also had a minor role in the film The Singing Nun (1966), playing Ed Sullivan's producer Mr. Fitzpatrick.

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, ABC’s The Streets of San Francisco and NBC’s Banacek. He completed his last acting job in 1975, according to his obituary in the Chicago Tribune[8]

Personal life

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

Drake was a Roman Catholic[9] and a lifelong Democrat who supported Adlai Stevenson during the 1952 presidential election[10].

Death

Drake died of lung cancer at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, California (Los Angeles County) on August 11, 1982.[11]

His body is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.[1]

Filmography

Features:

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References
  1. Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 162. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  2. Classic Images bio. Archived 2009-07-26 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 11th December 2008
  3. 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 13 June 2018.
  4. "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. "Alfred Alderdice". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  6. Replacement Cast information for Janie Archived 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 11 June 2017.
  8. "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.
  9. Morning News, January 10, 1948, Who Was Who in America (Vol. 2)
  10. Motion Picture and Television Magazine, November 1952, page 33, Ideal Publishers
  11. "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.
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