Tom Tryon

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Biography

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Tom Tryon--son of clothier Arthur Lane Tryon and not, as is commonly believed--actor 'Glenn Tryon' from his writing than he ever did from his acting. He died of cancer in 1991.--

  • Primary profession
  • Actor·writer·producer
  • Country
  • United States
  • Nationality
  • American
  • Gender
  • Male
  • Birth date
  • 14 January 1926
  • Place of birth
  • Hartford· Connecticut
  • Death date
  • 1991-09-04
  • Death age
  • 65
  • Place of death
  • Los Angeles
  • Cause of death
  • Natural causes
  • Education
  • Yale University·Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre
  • Knows language
  • English language

Movies

TV

Books

Trivia

His last novel, "Night Magic", which deals with the supernatural, bears the following inscription: "Copyright 1995 by Tom Tryon." (Tryon died in 1991.)

Was cast in Somethings Got to Give as the man stranded on a tropical island with Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was fired and the film was subsequently made after her death with a new cast under the title Move Over, Darling . Doris Day took over Marilyns part and Chuck Connors replaced Tryon.

Alfred Hitchcock considered Tryon for the "Sam Loomis" role in Psycho (along with Cliff Robertson and Stuart Whitman ), but the part went to John Gavin.

Graduate of Yale University.

Was inspired by the Ira Levin novel Rosemarys Baby to write his own horror novel, The Other , which became an immediate bestseller.

Was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1963 for his role in The Cardinal , but suffered immensely under the dictatorial and abusive treatment of the films director Otto Preminger. At one point during filming, Preminger fired Tryon in front of his parents when they visited the set, then rehired him after being satisfied that Tryon had been sufficiently humiliated. This was a big turning point for Tryon, who eventually retired from acting and turned to writing.

Was involved at one time with Clive Clerk , one of the original cast members of "A Chorus Line" and an interior designer, who decorated Tryons Central Park West apartment, which was featured in "Architectural Digest". Tryon later had a relationship, albeit short-lived, with Casey Donovan , a well-known star of gay porn films. Donovan is often credited with helping Tryon finish his novel "Crowned Heads" on an extremely tight deadline by typing up revisions and offering suggestions.

Joined Cape Playhouse stock company in Dennis, Massachusetts as set designer, assistant stage manager and later actor.

Enlisted in the US Navy at age 17 and spent three years as a radio specialist in the South Pacific during World War II.

Quotes

When I began writing all that I had going for me was that I could type,80 words per minute, I could spell and I liked words. But in doing it,I found that the real reward was the writing itself, working at it day,by day and finally accomplishing something--that was it. To have a book,published is one of the most exciting things that can happen to you.

Infinitely more rewarding than acting.

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