Tommy Farrell (born Thomas Farrell Richards; October 7, 1921 – May 9, 2004) was an American actor and comedian who appeared in over 100 films and TV series between 1944 and 1983. He was best known for his sidekick roles in the Hollywood Golden Age.

Early years

A native of

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, he grew up watching his mother, actress

Glenda Farrell Glenda Farrell (June 30, 1904 – May 1, 1971) was an American actress. Farrell personified the smart and sassy, wisecracking blonde of the Classical Hollywood films. Farrell's career spanned more than 50 years, appearing in numerous Broadwa ...

, appear in films such as '' Little Caesar'' and '' I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang'', opposite

Edward G. Robinson Edward G. Robinson (born Emanuel Goldenberg; December 12, 1893January 26, 1973) was a Romanian-American actor of stage and screen, who was popular during the Hollywood's Golden Age. He appeared in 30 Broadway plays and more than 100 films duri ...

and

Paul Muni Paul Muni (born Frederich Meshilem Meier Weisenfreund; September 22, 1895– August 25, 1967) was an American stage and film actor who grew up in Chicago. Muni was a five-time Academy Award nominee, with one win. He started his acting career in ...

, respectively. His father was film editor Thomas Richards. Farrell attended St. John's Military Academy in Los Angeles and was a drama student at the

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it was the first university in the Arizona Territory. T ...

. He served in the

Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Career

Farrell made his Broadway debut as a young drummer in ''Strip for Action'' and made his movie debut in ''

Winged Victory The ''Winged Victory of Samothrace'', or the ''Nike of Samothrace'', is a votive monument originally found on the island of Samothrace, north of the Aegean Sea. It is a masterpiece of Greek sculpture from the Hellenistic era, dating from the beg ...

'', the film version of the Army Air Forces play of the same title. He was a corporal at the time. During the 1940s, he became entrenched as a supporting player in

B Westerns A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double featur ...

and cliffhanger serials. He also appeared in a number of other films, including '' Kissin' Cousins'' costarring with his mother, Glenda Farrell, and

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

, and '' A Guide for the Married Man'' with

Walter Matthau Walter Matthau (; born Walter John Matthow; October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American actor, comedian and film director. He is best known for his film roles in '' A Face in the Crowd'' (1957), ''King Creole'' (1958) and as a coach of a ...

. After the Westerns and serials, he migrated to television work. On television, Farrell played Corporal Thad Carson on '' The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin'', Riff Ryan on '' The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis'', and Chet Holliday, father of Alice Holliday, in the 1958–59 syndicated sitcom '' This is Alice''. He was also a recurring guest star in two other sitcoms, '' Room for One More'' and ''

Here's Lucy ''Here's Lucy'' is an American sitcom starring Lucille Ball. The series co-starred her long-time comedy partner Gale Gordon and her real-life children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. It was broadcast on CBS from 1968 to 1974. It was Ball's thir ...

''. He made six appearances on '' Perry Mason'' in minor roles such as salesman or reporter. He finally retired in 1979 after filming an episode of the Robert Urich series, '' Vega$''.

Personal life

Farrell was married three times. He had a daughter, born in 1945, with his first wife, Norma, another daughter, born in 1951, with his second wife, Ann, and two more children, a son and a daughter, with his third wife, Bobbi.

Recognition

In 2003, Farrell was honored during the 21st Annual

Golden Boot Awards The Golden Boot Awards were an American acknowledgement of achievement honoring actors, actresses, and crew members who made significant contributions to the genre of Westerns in television and film. The award was sponsored and presented by the ...

ceremony for his work in the Western genre, along with

Sue Ane Langdon Sue Ane Langdon is an American actress. She has appeared in dozens of television series and had featured roles in films such as ''A Guide for the Married Man'' and ''The Cheyenne Social Club'', both directed by Gene Kelly, as well as '' The Round ...

, Michael Dante,

Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquir ...

, Kris Kristofferson, and

Tommy Lee Jones Tommy Lee Jones (born September 15, 1946) is an American actor and film director. He has received four Academy Award nominations, winning Best Supporting Actor for his performance as U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard in the 1993 thriller film '' The ...

, among others.

Death

Farrell died of natural causes at the Motion Picture and Television Fund hospital in

Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Geography Woodland Hills is in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley, which is located east of Ca ...

, at the age of 82. At the time of his death, he was the last living B Western sidekick from the golden era of Westerns. He was survived by his wife, a son, three daughters, and three grandchildren.

Filmography

Films

* ''

'' (1944) – Soldier in Audience at Camp Show (uncredited) * ''

Duchess of Idaho Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ranked ...

'' (1950) – Chuck * ''

Atom Man vs. Superman ''Atom Man vs. Superman'' is a 1950 American film serial and the second Superman movie serial featuring Kirk Alyn, credited (as with the previous serial) only by his character name, Superman. When Lex Luthor blackmails the city of Metropolis by ...

'' (1950, Serial) – Man Observing Ship Rescue / Briggs, Chs. 2, 10 (uncredited) * '' Gunfire'' (1950) – Lerner—Silver Wagon Driver * ''

Last of the Buccaneers ''Last of the Buccaneers'' is a 1950 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Lew Landers and starring Paul Henreid as Jean Lafitte. Plot Swashbuckler about the adventures of pirate Jean Lafitte after he helped save New Orleans from a Br ...

'' (1950) – René – Pirate (uncredited) * ''

Pirates of the High Seas ''Pirates of the High Seas'' is a 1950 American adventure serial film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Carr and starring Buster Crabbe, Lois Hall and Tommy Farrell. Plot Adventurer Jeff Drake sails to a Pacific island in aid of Kel ...

'' (1950, Serial) – Kelly Walsh * ''

Pygmy Island ''Pygmy Island'' is a 1950 Jungle Jim film starring Johnny Weissmuller as the title character. It was movie number five in the series. Production Filming started 19 June 1950. Katzman hired several midget actors to play pygmies. The film was shot ...

'' (1950) – Captain (uncredited) * ''

Outlaws of Texas ''Outlaws of Texas'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr and written by Daniel B. Ullman. The film stars Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde, Phyllis Coates, Terry Frost, Tommy Farrell and Zon Murray. The film was released on December ...

'' (1950) – Jeff Johnson * '' At War with the Army'' (1950) – Cpl. Clark * ''

Colorado Ambush ''Colorado Ambush'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Lewis D. Collins and produced by Vincent M. Fennelly. It stars Johnny Mack Brown, Lois Hall, and Myron Healey, who also wrote the screenplay for the film.Stephens, Michael L. Steph ...

'' (1951) – Terry Williams * '' Abilene Trail'' (1951) – Ed Dawson * '' A Yank in Korea'' (1951) – Jinx Hamilton * ''

Roar of the Iron Horse ''Roar of the Iron Horse'' is a 1951 American Western Serial film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Carr and starring Jock Mahoney and Virginia Herrick. Plot A railroad agent named Jim Grant opposes hard-nosed German, Karl Ulrich, c ...

'' (1951, Seial) – Del – Young Outlaw in Polka-Dot Shirt hs. 6, 7, 9–11, 15(uncredited) * '' Strangers on a Train'' (1951) – 1# Miriam's Boyfriend (uncredited) * ''

The Strip The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South in Clark County, Nevada, that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. The Strip, as it is known, is about long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas city ...

'' (1951) – Boynton * '' The Stooge'' (1951) – Tommy – Kit Kat Club MC (uncredited) * '' Starlift'' (1951) – Turner – Card Player (uncredited) * '' Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere'' (1951, Serial) – Atoma Head Soldier

h. 2 H is the eighth letter of the Latin alphabet. H may also refer to: Musical symbols * H number, Harry Halbreich reference mechanism for music by Honegger and Martinů * H, B (musical note) * H, B major People * H. (noble) (died after ...

(uncredited) * ''

The Marrying Kind ''The Marrying Kind'' is a 1952 comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor, starring Judy Holliday and Aldo Ray. Other cast members include John Alexander, Charles Bronson, Peggy Cass, Barry Curtis, Tom Farrell, Frank Ferguson, Ruth Gordon ( ...

'' (1952) – Cliff (uncredited) * '' Night Raiders'' (1952) – Jim Dugan * ''

Meet Danny Wilson ''Meet Danny Wilson'' is the debut album by Scottish pop group Danny Wilson. It became a significant hit in America on the strength of the summer of 1987 hit single "Mary's Prayer". Track listing All tracks composed by Gary Clark. # "Davy ...

'' (1952) - Tommy Wells * ''

This Woman Is Dangerous ''This Woman Is Dangerous'' is a 1952 American film noir crime drama by Warner Bros. starring Joan Crawford, David Brian, and Dennis Morgan in a story about a gun moll's romances with two different men. The screenplay by Geoffrey Homes and ...

'' (1952) – Bellhop (uncredited) * ''

Flesh and Fury ''Flesh and Fury'' is a 1952 American film noir drama sport film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Tony Curtis, Jan Sterling and Mona Freeman.Singin' in the Rain ''Singin' in the Rain'' is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds and featuring Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell and Cyd Charis ...

'' (1952) – Sid Phillips (uncredited) * '' The Atomic City'' (1952) – Baseball Game Usher (uncredited) * '' Brave Warrior'' (1952) – Townsman (uncredited) * '' You for Me'' (1952) – Dr. Rollie Cobb * ''

The Golden Hawk ''The Golden Hawk'' is a 1952 American adventure film, directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Rhonda Fleming and Sterling Hayden, based on the novel of the same name by Frank Yerby. Plot French sea captain Kit 'The Hawk' Gerardo sails the seas ...

'' (1952) – Spanish Captain (uncredited) * '' Son of Geronimo: Apache Avenger'' (1952, Serial) – Frank Baker * ''

Wyoming Roundup ''Wyoming Roundup'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr and written by Daniel B. Ullman. The film stars Whip Wilson, Tommy Farrell, Phyllis Coates, Richard Emory, Robert J. Wilke and I. Stanford Jolley. The film was releas ...

'' (1952) – Bob Burke * ''

Girls in the Night ''Girls in the Night'' is an American film noir directed by Jack Arnold. Released by Universal Pictures on January 15, 1953, the film stars Harvey Lembeck, Joyce Holden and Glenda Farrell. A family's efforts to move into a better neighborhood a ...

'' (1953) – Frankie * ''

The 49th Man ''The 49th Man'' is a 1953 American film noir crime film directed by Fred F. Sears and starring John Ireland and Richard Denning. It was released by Columbia Pictures. The Cold War thriller was based on a story by Ivan Tors and the screenplay w ...

'' (1953) – Agent Reynolds * '' Siren of Bagdad'' (1953) – Palace Guard (uncredited) * ''

Sky Commando ''Sky Commando'' is a 1953 American war film released by Columbia Pictures, directed by Fred F. Sears and starring Dan Duryea, Frances Gifford and Mike Connors (credited as "Touch Conners"). The Cold War period provides the background, althoug ...

'' (1953) – Pilot (uncredited) * ''

The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd ''The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd'' (1953) was the 52nd serial released by Columbia Pictures. It is based in the historical figure of Captain William Kidd. Plot In 1697, agents Richard Dale and Alan Duncan are sent on an undercover missio ...

'' (1953) – Kidd crewman (uncredited) * '' Gunfighters of the Northwest'' (1954, Serial) – Constable Arch Perry – Ch's 1–2 * ''

Woman Obsessed ''Woman Obsessed'' is a 1959 romantic drama film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Susan Hayward, Stephen Boyd, Barbara Nichols, Dennis Holmes, Theodore Bikel, Ken Scott, James Philbrook, and Florence MacMichael. The screenplay concerns th ...

'' (1959) – Carnival Barker (uncredited) * '' North by Northwest'' (1959) – Eddie, Elevator Operator (uncredited) * ''

Wake Me When It's Over ''Wake Me When It's Over'' is the second album by Faster Pussycat, released in 1989. The band moved away from the glam metal of their first album to a more blues-influenced sound. Music videos were produced for "Poison Ivy" and "House of Pain". ...

'' (1960) – Smitty (uncredited) * '' Bells Are Ringing'' (1960) – Party Guest (uncredited) * '' Swingin' Along'' (1961) – Georgie * '' Breakfast at Tiffany's'' (1961) – Party Guest (uncredited) * ''

Saintly Sinners ''Saintly Sinners'' is a 1962 American comedy-drama film directed by Jean Yarbrough and starring Don Beddoe, Ellen Corby, Stanley Clements and Paul Bryar."'Saintly Sinners,' a Comedy, Arrives" ''New York Times'' 29 Mar 1962: 28. Plot Ex-con Josep ...

'' (1962) – Mike (uncredited) * ''

My Six Loves ''My Six Loves'' is a 1963 comedy film in Technicolor starring Debbie Reynolds as a Broadway star who takes a vacation and finds herself responsible for six abandoned children, in Gower Champion's directorial debut. It is based on the novel of th ...

'' (1963) – Studio Representative (uncredited) * '' Kissin' Cousins'' (1964) – Master Sgt. William George Bailey * ''

The Disorderly Orderly ''The Disorderly Orderly'' is a 1964 American comedy film released by Paramount Pictures, and starring Jerry Lewis. The film was produced by Paul Jones with a screenplay by director Frank Tashlin, based on a story by Norm Liebermann and Ed Ha ...

'' (1964) – Policeman (uncredited) * '' Never Too Late'' (1965) – Fred Ainsley (uncredited) * '' Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!'' (1966) – Reporter (uncredited) * '' A Guide for the Married Man'' (1967) – Rance G.'s Hanger On

TV shows

* '' The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin'' (1955–59) – Cpl. Thad Carson * '' Matinee Theatre'' (1957) – George Hill * ''

Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Bureau ...

'' (1957) – Lefty Dolan * '' Bachelor Father'' (1957–1961) – Toaster Salesman / Joe Browning / Cecil * ''

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. Their Cheyenne language belongs to the Algonquian language family. Today, the Cheyenne people are split into two federally recognized nations: the Southern Cheyenne, who are enroll ...

'' (1958) * '' This is Alice'' (1958) – Chet Holliday * '' Dragnet'' (1958) * ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

'' (1958) – Pfc. Atwood * '' Wanted: Dead or Alive'' (1959) – Billy Bland * ''

Bourbon Street Beat ''Bourbon Street Beat'' is a private detective television series that aired on the ABC network from October 5, 1959, to July 4, 1960, starring Richard Long as Rex Randolph and Andrew Duggan as Cal Calhoun, with Arlene Howell as detective agency s ...

'' (1959–1960) – Jay O'Hanlon * '' The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis'' (1959–1961) – Riff Ryan * '' Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' (1960) – Frank Connolly * ''

Hawaiian Eye ''Hawaiian Eye'' is an American detective television series that ran from October 1959 to April 1963 on the ABC television network. Premise Private investigator Tracy Steele (Anthony Eisley) and his half-Hawaiian partner, Tom Lopaka (Robert Con ...

'' (1960–1962) – Freddie / Breezy Gallagher / Cy Bliss * ''

Pete and Gladys ''Pete and Gladys'' is an American sitcom television series starring Harry Morgan and Cara Williams that aired on CBS on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time for two seasons, beginning on September 19, 1960. The last episode was b ...

'' (1961) – Steve * '' Bringing Up Buddy'' (1961) – Billy * '' The Roaring 20's'' (1961) – Hermie Marcus / Al * '' Perry Mason'' (1962–1965) – Reporter / TV Reporter / Jefferson / Herbert Baker / Robert Fordney / Salesman * '' Rawhide'' (1963) – Mister Buzby * ''

Dr. Kildare Dr. James Kildare is a fictional American medical doctor, originally created in the 1930s by the author Frederick Schiller Faust under the pen name Max Brand. Shortly after the character's first appearance in a magazine story, Paramount Pictur ...

'' (1963) – Wally * '' The Fugitive'' (1964) – Ryan * '' The Munsters'' (1964) – The Assistant * '' The Addams Family'' (1965) – Sam Diamond * '' The Lucy Show'' (1965–1966) – Harry / Pete Murdock * '' The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' (1966) – Coplin * '' F Troop'' (1966) – Jenks * '' The Beverly Hillbillies'' (1966) – Pilot * ''

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. ''Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.''The show (and CBS) renders the title as ''Gomer Pyle – USMC''. is an American situation comedy that originally aired on CBS from September 25, 1964, to May 2, 1969. The series was a spin-off of ''The Andy Griffith Sho ...

'' (1966–1968) – Assistant Cameraman / Reporter * ''

Lost in Space ''Lost in Space'' is an American science fiction television series, created and produced by Irwin Allen, which originally aired between 1965 and 1968 on CBS. The series was inspired by the 1812 novel ''The Swiss Family Robinson.'' The series fo ...

'' (1967) – Cyborg * ''

'' (1968–1974) – Phil Harris' Manager / Bank Teller / Paul / Reporter / Sky Marshal / Morgan * '' Get Smart'' (1970) – Tuttle * '' Vega$'' (1979) – Harmon Cox * '' Hart to Hart'' (1983) – Roaring Tommy (final appearance)

References

External links

*
Life in Legacy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farrell, Tommy 1921 births 2004 deaths American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors Male actors from Los Angeles Military personnel from California University of Arizona alumni United States Army Air Forces non-commissioned officers United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II 20th-century American male actors