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Tom Neal

Tom Neal
Detour1.jpg
Ann Savage and Tom Neal
Born Thomas Carroll Neal, Jr.
(1914-01-28)January 28, 1914
Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
Died August 7, 1972(1972-08-07) (aged 58)
North Hollywood, California, U.S.
Cause of death Heart failure
Education Lake Forest Academy
Evanston Township High School
Alma mater Northwestern University
Occupation Actor
Years active 1935-1959
Spouse(s) Vicky Lane (m. 1948; div. 1950)
Patricia Fenton (m. 1956; d. 1958)
Gale Bennett (m. 1960; d. 1965)

Thomas Carroll "Tom" Neal, Jr. (January 28, 1914 – August 7, 1972), known professionally as Tom Neal, was an American actor and boxer best known for appearing in the critically lauded film Detour and Club Havana, having a tryst with Barbara Payton and later committing manslaughter.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Neal was one of three children born to banker Thomas, Sr. and Mayme Neal (née Martin). He had two older sisters, Mary Elizabeth and Dorothy Helen. His great uncle was John Drew. Neal and his sisters were raised in a spacious ten-room home in Chicago. He attended Lake Forest Academy and Evanston Township High School before enrolling at Northwestern University where he majored in mathematics. During college, Neal played several sports and, for a time, competed in amateur boxing matches. He was also a member the Sigma Chi fraternity and was active in the drama club.

Neal dropped out of Northwestern after a year, and moved back to Chicago. He appeared in various stage productions in before making his way to New York City in 1933. Neal made his Broadway debut in 1935. In 1938, he first appeared in film in Out West with the Hardys, part of the Mickey Rooney "Hardy family" movie series.

Neal appeared in many low budget B-movies in the 1940s/1950s. In 1941 he starred with Frances Gifford in the Republic Pictures 15 episode serial, Jungle Girl. Perhaps his most memorable role was that of Al Roberts in the classic film noir Detour alongside Ann Savage. They went on to make five movies together.


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