Tom Poston
| Tom Poston | |
|---|---|
Poston in 1965.
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| Born |
Thomas Gordon Poston October 17, 1921 Columbus, Ohio, U.S |
| Died | April 30, 2007 (aged 85) Los Angeles, California |
| Cause of death | Respiratory failure |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950-2006 |
| Spouse(s) |
Jean Sullivan (m.1955-68; divorced) Kay Hudson (m.1968-75; divorced) (m.1980-1998; her death) Suzanne Pleshette (m.2001-2007; his death) |
Thomas Gordon Poston (October 17, 1921 – April 30, 2007) was an American television and film actor. He starred on television in a career that began in 1950. He appeared as a comic actor, game show panelist, comedy/variety show host, film actor, television actor, and Broadway performer. According to USA Today Life editor Dennis Moore, Poston appeared in more sitcoms than any other actor. In the 1980s, he played George Utley, opposite Bob Newhart's character on Newhart.
Poston was born in Columbus, Ohio, the son of George and Margaret Poston. His father was a liquor salesman and dairy chemist.
After completing high school, Poston attended Bethany College in West Virginia, but did not graduate. While there, he joined Sigma Nu Fraternity. He joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1941. Accepted to officer candidate school and then graduating from flight training, Poston served as a pilot in the European Theater in World War II; his aircraft dropped paratroopers for the Normandy invasion.
Poston served in North Africa, Italy, France, and England. After his discharge, he began studying acting in New York City, graduating from the American Academy for Dramatic Arts.
In 1953, as Thomas Poston, he was cast as "Detective" in the film City That Never Sleeps. In 1957, Poston gained recognition as a comedic "Man in the Street" (along with his colleagues Louie Nye, Dayton Allen and Don Knotts) on The Steve Allen Show. For these performances, Poston won the 1959 Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series. In the fall of 1959 when the Allen program moved west to Los Angeles Tom remained in New York appearing frequently on Broadway and television game shows. He was a regular panelist on many Mark Goodson-Bill Todman CBS Television panel shows including To Tell the Truth and What's My Line?. Poston's film career was limited, with appearances in films such as William Castle's Zotz! (1962), The Old Dark House (1963), Soldier in the Rain (1963), Cold Turkey (1971), The Happy Hooker (1975), Rabbit Test (1978), Up the Academy (1980) and Carbon Copy (1981). However his television career was expansive, covering the better part of five decades, and saw him contributing his comedic talents in virtually every corner of the medium, from made-for-TV movies to variety shows to situation comedies to talk shows and even to voice-overs for cartoons. When Mel Brooks submitted his idea for the television show Get Smart to the ABC network, ABC wanted Poston for the lead role of Maxwell Smart. When ABC passed on the show, the lead went to Don Adams. Poston, however, made a guest appearance on the show during its run on NBC.
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