Tom Forman (February 22, 1893 – November 7, 1926) was an American motion picture actor, director, writer, and producer of the early 1920s.

Life and career

Texas-born Forman made his first film for Jesse L. Lasky's production company in 1914. With the exception of service at the front during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, he had a successful career as both an actor and director. Forman directed

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

's ''

Shadows A shadow is a dark area where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object. It occupies all of the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it. The cross section of a shadow is a two-dimensional silhouette, ...

'' (1922), but his biggest achievement was realised directing the second screen version of

Owen Wister Owen Wister (July 14, 1860 – July 21, 1938) was an American writer and historian, considered the "father" of western fiction. He is best remembered for writing '' The Virginian'' and a biography of Ulysses S. Grant. Biography Early life ...

's '' The Virginian'' (1923). After his career faltered, he was reduced to working on cheap

Poverty Row Poverty Row is a slang term used to refer to Hollywood films produced from the 1920s to the 1950s by small (and mostly short-lived) B movie studios. Although many of them were based on (or near) today's Gower Street in Hollywood, the term did n ...

melodramas A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...

. Forman is also known for his work with Edith Taliaferro in ''

Young Romance ''Young Romance'' is a romantic comic book series created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby for the Crestwood Publications imprint Prize Comics in 1947. Generally considered the first romance comic,Ro, Ronin. ''Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan L ...

''. Forman was set to direct the Columbia film ''The Wreck'', which was to start shooting on November 8, 1926; however on the evening of November 7, Forman died by suicide by shooting himself through the heart at his parents' home in

Venice, California Venice is a neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles within the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California. Venice was founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905 as a seaside resort town. It was an independent city until 1926, when it was annexed b ...

Adela Rogers St. Johns Adela Nora Rogers St. Johns (May 20, 1894 – August 10, 1988) was an American journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. She wrote a number of screenplays for silent movies but is best remembered for her groundbreaking exploits as "The World's Grea ...

based the character of Maximillan Carey in her original story for ''

What Price Hollywood? ''What Price Hollywood?'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Cukor and starring Constance Bennett with Lowell Sherman. The screenplay by Gene Fowler, Rowland Brown, Jane Murfin and Ben Markson is based on a story by A ...

'' (1932) on Forman.''TV Guide'' review of ''What Price Hollywood?''
/ref>

Family

He was a cousin of silent screen star

Madge Bellamy Madge Bellamy (born Margaret Derden Philpott; June 30, 1899 – January 24, 1990) was an American stage and film actress. She was a popular leading lady in the 1920s and early 1930s. Her career declined in the sound era and ended following a rom ...

Filmography

Actor

* ''The Treachery of a Scar'' (1913) * ''John, the Wagoner'' (1913) * ''Baffled, But Not Beaten'' (1913) * ''The Alibi'' (1913) * ''

Virtue Is Its Own Reward ''Virtue Is Its Own Reward'' (aka ''Virtue Its Own Reward'') is a 1914 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney and Pauline Bush. It was written by Harry G. Stafford from a story by John Barton Oxford. The ...

'' (1914) * '' Lights and Shadows'' (1914) * ''

'' (1915) * '' A Gentleman of Leisure'' (1915) * ''

The Governor's Lady ''The Governor's Lady'' is a 1912 play written by Alice Bradley, directed by David Belasco and produced by Belasco and his son-in-law David Elliott. It is known for its unconventional set. Production After previews in Philadelphia and Washingto ...

'' (1915) * '' The Woman'' (1915) * ''Stolen Goods'' (1915) * ''

The Wild Goose Chase ''The Wild Goose Chase'' is a late Jacobean stage play, a comedy written by John Fletcher, first performed in 1621. It is often classed among Fletcher's most effective and best-constructed plays; Edmund Gosse called it "one of the brightest a ...

'' (1915) * ''

Chimmie Fadden ''Chimmie Fadden'' is a 1915 American silent comedy film directed, written and edited Cecil B. DeMille. The film starred Victor Moore in the title role and is based on the play and short story of the same name by Edward W. Townsend. It was f ...

'' (1915) * ''

Kindling Kindling is material for firelighting Kindling may also refer to: * ''Kindling'' (album), a 1973 album by Gene Parsons * ''Kindling'' (film), a 1915 film by Cecil B. DeMille * ''Kindling'' (Mick Farren novel) * ''Ruined City'' (novel) or ''Ki ...

'' (1915) * ''The Fighting Hope'' (1915) * ''The Puppet Crown'' (1915) * ''The Marriage of Kitty'' (1915) * ''Out of the Darkness'' (1915) * ''The Explorer'' (1915) * ''

Chimmie Fadden Out West ''Chimmie Fadden Out West'' is a 1915 American silent Western comedy film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It was made as a sequel to '' Chimmie Fadden''. Once lost, a print is now held in the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection. Plot ...

'' (1915) * '' The Unknown'' (1915) * ''

The Ragamuffin ''The Ragamuffin'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed and written by William C. deMille. The film stars Blanche Sweet in a ' Pickfordish' style role. Cast * Blanche Sweet - Jenny * Tom Forman - Bob Van Dyke * Minnette Barrett - Bet ...

'' (1916) * '' To Have and to Hold'' (1916) * ''

Sweet Kitty Bellairs ''Sweet Kitty Bellairs'' is a 1930 American historical musical comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green. The film is based on the 1900 novel, ''The Bath Comedy'' by Agnes Castle and Egerton Castle. Shot entirely in Technicolor, the film stars ...

'' (1916) * '' The Thousand-Dollar Husband'' (1916) * '' The Clown'' (1916) * ''

Public Opinion Public opinion is the collective opinion on a specific topic or voting intention relevant to a society. It is the people's views on matters affecting them. Etymology The term "public opinion" was derived from the French ', which was first use ...

'' (1916) * ''Unprotected'' (1916) * ''The Yellow Pawn'' (1916) * '' The Evil Eye'' (1917) * ''

The American Consul ''The American Consul'' is a 1917 American drama silent film directed by Rollin S. Sturgeon and written by Thomas J. Geraghty, Harvey F. Thew and Paul West. The film stars Theodore Roberts, Ernest Joy, Maude Fealy, Charles West, Raymond Hatt ...

'' (1917) * '' On Record'' (1917) * ''

Those Without Sin ''Those Without Sin'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Marshall Neilan, written by Thomas J. Geraghty, George DuBois Proctor and Harvey F. Thew, and starring Blanche Sweet, Tom Forman, Clarence Geldart, Guy Oliver, James Neill, ...

'' (1917) * ''

The Cost of Hatred ''The Cost of Hatred'' is a 1917 American Drama film, drama silent film directed by George Melford and written by Beulah Marie Dix. The film stars Kathlyn Williams, Theodore Roberts, Tom Forman (actor), Tom Forman, Jack W. Johnston, Jack Holt (ac ...

'' (1917) * ''

The Tides of Barnegat ''The Tides of Barnegat'' is a 1917 American drama silent film directed by Marshall Neilan and written by Francis Hopkinson Smith and Eve Unsell. The film stars Blanche Sweet, Elliott Dexter, Tom Forman, Norma Nichols, Billy Jacobs and Walter Rod ...

'' (1917) * ''

The Jaguar's Claws ''The Jaguar's Claws'' is a 1917 American Western silent film directed by Marshall Neilan and written by William M. McCoy, Beatrice DeMille and Leighton Osmun. The film stars Sessue Hayakawa, Fritzi Brunette, Tom Moore, Marjorie Daw, Tom For ...

'' (1917) * '' Her Strange Wedding'' (1917) * ''

Forbidden Paths ''Forbidden Paths'' is a 1917 American drama silent film directed by Robert Thornby and written by Beatrice DeMille, Leighton Osmun and Eve Unsell. The film stars Vivian Martin, Sessue Hayakawa, Tom Forman, Carmen Phillips, James Neill and Ern ...

'' (1917) * ''

A Kiss for Susie ''A Kiss for Susie'' is a lost 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Robert Thornby and written by Harvey F. Thew and Paul West. The film stars Vivian Martin, Tom Forman, John Burton, Jack Nelson, Pauline Perry, and Chris Lynton. The fi ...

'' (1917) * ''Hashimura Togo'' (1917) * '' For Better, for Worse'' (1919) * ''

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

'' (1919) * ''The Heart of Youth'' (1919) * ''

Told in the Hills ''Told in the Hills'' is a 1919 American silent Western film produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Artcraft. George Melford directed the film and Robert Warwick stars. Cast * Robert Warwick as Jack Stuart * Ann Li ...

'' (1919) * '' The Tree of Knowledge'' (1920) * ''

The Sea Wolf Seawolf, Sea wolf or Sea Wolves may refer to: Animals * Sea wolf, a wolf subspecies found in the Vancouver coastal islands * Seawolf (fish), a marine fish also known as wolffish or sea wolf * A nickname of the killer whale * South American sea ...

'' (1920) with Noah Beery Sr. * '' The Round-Up'' (1920) with

Roscoe Arbuckle Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle (; March 24, 1887 – June 29, 1933) was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He started at the Selig Polyscope Company and eventually moved to Keystone Studios, where he worked ...

and

Wallace Beery Wallace Fitzgerald Beery (April 1, 1885 – April 15, 1949) was an American film and stage actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in ''Min and Bill'' (1930) opposite Marie Dressler, as General Director Preysing in ''Grand Hotel'' (193 ...

* ''

White Shoulders ''White Shoulders'' is a lost 1931 American pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by Melville W. Brown and starring Mary Astor and Jack Holt, with major supporting roles by Ricardo Cortez and Sidney Toler. The film was produced and distributed b ...

'' (1922) * '' Hoboken to Hollywood'' (1926) * ''Devil's Dice'' (1926) * ''

Sagebrush Politics ''Sagebrush Politics'' is a 1930 American silent Western film with sound sequences, directed by Denver Dixon, starring Art Mix, Wally Merrill, and Lilian Bond. Cast * Art Mix as Tom Williams * Lilian Bond as Sheriff's Daughter * Gilbert Holme ...

'' (1930) * ''

Pals of the Range ''Pals of the Range'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Elmer Clifton, starring Rex Lease, Frances Morris, and Yakima Canutt. Cast * Rex Lease as Steve arton* Frances Morris (credited as Frances Wright) as Peggy * Yakima Canutt as ...

'' (1935)

Director

* ''The Ladder of Lies'' (1920) * ''

The Sins of Rosanne ''The Sins of Rosanne'' is a surviving 1920 American silent drama film starring Ethel Clayton and directed by actor/director Tom Forman. The Famous Players-Lasky studio produced the film with release by Paramount Pictures. The film is preserved ...

'' (1920) * ''The Easy Road'' (1921) * ''The City of Silent Men'' (1921) * ''White and Unmarried'' (1921) * ''

Cappy Ricks ''Cappy Ricks'' is a 1921 American silent adventure film directed by Tom Forman and written by Peter B. Kyne, Albert S. Le Vino, Edward E. Rose, and Waldemar Young. The film stars Thomas Meighan, Charles S. Abbe, Agnes Ayres, Hugh Cameron, Jo ...

'' (1921) * ''A Prince There Was'' (1921) * ''If You Believe It, It's So'' (1922) * ''

'' (1922) * ''

The Woman Conquers ''The Woman Conquers'' is a 1922 American silent drama film written by Violet Clark and directed by Tom Forman. It starred Katherine MacDonald and Bryant Washburn and featured a young Boris Karloff. The film is considered lost. Plot Young soc ...

'' (1922) * ''Money! Money! Money!'' (1923) * '' The Girl Who Came Back'' (1923) * '' Are You a Failure?'' (1923) * '' The Broken Wing'' (1923) * '' The Virginian'' (1923) * ''April Showers'' (1923) * ''

The Fighting American ''The Fighting American'' (also known as ''The Fighting Adventurer'') is a surviving 1924 American silent romantic drama film produced and distributed by Universal Pictures and directed by Tom Forman. The young Mary Astor plays a young college ...

'' (1924) * ''

Roaring Rails ''Roaring Rails'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Tom Forman and featuring Harry Carey. Cast * Harry Carey as Big Bill Benson * Frankie Darro as Little Bill * Edith Roberts as Nora Burke * Wallace MacDonald as Malcolm Gre ...

'' (1924) * ''

The Flaming Forties ''The Flaming Forties'' is a 1924 American silent Western film, the sixth of seven features which short-lived motion picture company Stellar Productions released in 1924–1925 as Producers Distributing Corporation vehicles for Harry Carey. Ca ...

'' (1924) * ''

Flattery Flattery (also called adulation or blandishment) is the act of giving excessive compliments, generally for the purpose of ingratiating oneself with the subject. It is also used in pick-up lines when attempting to initiate sexual or romantic co ...

'' (1925) * '' The Crimson Runner'' (1925) * ''

Off the Highway ''Off the Highway'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Tom Forman and starring William V. Mong, Marguerite De La Motte and John Bowers.Goble p.892 Plot Cast * William V. Mong as Caleb Fry / Tatterly * Marguerite De La Motte a ...

'' (1925) * '' The People vs. Nancy Preston'' (1925) * ''

The Midnight Flyer ''The Midnight Flyer'' is a 1918 American short action drama film directed by George Marshall and starring Hoot Gibson. Cast * Hoot Gibson * Violet Mersereau * Helen Gibson * G. Raymond Nye Reception Like many American films of the time, '' ...

'' * ''

Whispering Canyon ''Whispering Canyon'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Tom Forman and starring Jane Novak, Robert Ellis and Lee Shumway.Goble p.1015 Cast * Jane Novak as Antonia Lee * Robert Ellis as Bob Cameron * Lee Shumway as Lew Selb ...

'' (1926) * ''

Devil's Dice ''Devil's Dice'' is a 1926 American silent romance film directed by Tom Forman and starring Barbara Bedford, Robert Ellis and Josef Swickard.Munden p.186 Cast * Barbara Bedford as Helen Paine * Robert Ellis as Larry Bannon * Josef Swicka ...

'' (1926)

Writer

* '' The Measure of a Man'' (1915) * '' The Threads of Fate'' (1915) * ''

The Desert Breed ''The Desert Breed'' is a 1915 American silent Western film directed by Joe De Grasse, written by Tom Forman, and featuring Lon Chaney and Pauline Bush. It is now considered to be a lost film. Plot Two fugitives, Fred and Jack, dash out of the ...

'' (1915) * ''Sins of Her Parent'' (1916) * ''The Trouble Buster'' (1917) * ''The Round-Up'' (1920) * ''The Broken Wing'' (1923)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Forman, Tom 1893 births 1926 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Suicides by firearm in California Male actors from Texas Film directors from Texas 20th-century American male actors People from Mitchell County, Texas 1926 suicides