Rip Torn
(1931 - )Long before I ever knew who Rip Torn was, I knew that name. It was, it seemed, the typical movie star alias. Much like Tab Hunter, Rock Hudson and Lash LaRue it seemed a “made up” moniker. It wasn’t until I saw the film “Heartland” that I realized Rip Torn was a dynamite actor. He’s always been a ‘faceless’ sort, blending into a film like a prop or scenery and I mean that in a positive way. Although he’s always been around, it wasn’t until the 1980s that he came into prominence and received the accolades due him. A tall stocky fellow, with broad shoulders, a wizened, but handsome face framed by thick dark hair with deep-set, penetrating eyes, he possesses a booming yet soft-toned voice. He can play a menacing villain or a dependably loyal sidekick. His versatility keeps him from being pigeon-holed in stereotypical roles. He does, however, prefer playing surly, volatile types. He was born Elmore Rual Torn on February 6, 1931 in Temple, Texas. He attended Texas A & M University studying animal husbandry as he aspired to be a rancher. He served a hitch in the Army and later found himself cast in a play, “Ah Wilderness” and getting good reviews. This convinced him he could buy a ranch if he chose acting as a career. Around this time he met and married Texas actress Anne Wedgeworth and they had a daughter, Danae. After his decision to become a serious actor, he, Anne and Danae moved to New York where he attended the Actors Studio. This led to Off Broadway plays and TV appearances. He made his film debut in the late 1950s. His film credits include: “Baby Doll” (1956) with Carroll Baker, in an uncredited bit part, his film debut; “A Face in the Crowd” (1957) uncredited as Barry Mills; “Pork Chop Hill” (1959) as Lt. Walter Russell; “King of Kings” (1961) as Judas, type of role that seems quite fitting for him; “Sweet Bird of Youth” (1962) as Thomas ‘Tom’ J. Finley Jr.; “Critics Choice” (1963) as Dion Kapakos; one of his better roles in “The Cincinnati Kid” (1965) with Steve McQueen and Edward G. Robinson, as William Jefferson Slade; “You’re a Big Boy Now” (1966) as I. H. Chanticleer; “Beach Red” (1967) as Gunnery Sgt. Ben Honeywell; “Sol Madrid” (1968) as Dano Villanova; “Coming Apart” (1969) as Joe; “Tropic of Cancer” (1970) as Henry Miller; “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (1976) as Nathan Bryce; “Coma” (1978) as Dr. George; “The Seduction of Joe Tynan” (1979) as Sen. Kittner; “One Trick Pony” (1980) as Walter Fox; “Heartland” (1980) with Conchata Ferrell, as Clyde Stewart; “Airplane II: The Sequel” (1982) as Bud Kruger/Pres. Reagan; “The Beastmaster” (1982) as Maax; “Cross Creek” (1983) as Marsh Turner; “Misunderstood” (1984) as Will; “City Heat” (1984) as Primo Pitt; “Summer Rental” (1985) with John Candy, as Scully; “Extreme Prejudice” (1987) as Sheriff Hank Pearson; “Hit List” (1988) as Vic Luca; “Beautiful Dreamers” (1990) as Walt Whitman; “Defending Your Life” (1991) as Bob Diamond; “RoboCop 3” (1993) as The CEO; “Canadian Bacon” (1995) as Gen. Dick Panzer; “How to Make an American Quilt” (1995) as Arthur Cleary; “Trial and Error” (1997) as Benjamin Gibbs; Disney’s animated film “Hercules” (1997) as Voice of Zeus; “Men in Black” (1997) as MiB Chief Z/Zed, one of my favorite of his roles; “The Insider” (1999) with Russell Crowe, as John Scanlon, Brown & Williamson PR Advisor; “Wonder Boys” (2000) as Q (Quentin Moorewood); “Freddy Got Fingered” (2001) as Jim Brody; “Men in Black II” (2002) as Z/Zed and “Rolling Kansas” (2002) as Oldman. He was a regular on the TV series: “Blind Ambition” (1979) a mini-series, as Richard M. Nixon; “The Blue and the Gray” (1982) a mini-series, as Gen. Ulysses S. Grant; “The Atlanta Child Murders” (1985) a mini-series, as Lewis Slaton; “Dream West” (1986) a mini-series, as Kit Carson; “The Larry Sanders Show” (1992-98) as Artie/Arthur, the Producer; “Ghost Stories” (1997) as Narrator and “Seasons of Love” (1998) a mini-series, as Spence. He appeared in numerous TV movies including: “The President’s Plane Is Missing” (1973); “A Shining Season” (1979); “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (1985) and “By Dawn’s Early Light” (1990). He changed his name to Rip early on as his uncle Roland was called Big Rip, a cousin Sam was also called Rip and he became Showbiz Rip. His name is a frequent crossword puzzle answer. He and Ann were divorced in 1961 and he married actress Geraldine Page later that year. They were together until her death in 1987. He is also a cousin of actress Sissy Spacek.
From Great Character Actors, Page 9.
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