Jerome Thor (January 5, 1915 — August 12, 1993) was an American actor of the stage and screen. He is best known for his work in Broadway plays from 1935 through 1946, and on American television during the 1950s. He starred as Robert Cannon in Foreign Intrigue; a role which popularized the trench coat-wearing detective in public consciousness.[1] His costume is part of the collection at the Smithsonian Institution.[1]
Jerome Thor | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 5, 1915 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 12, 1993 (aged 78) Westwood, Los Angeles, California, U.S. U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Spouse | Synda Scott |
Early life edit
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Thor began his career as a stage actor.[1]
Career edit
Thor made his Broadway debut in 1934 at the 46th Street Theatre in Emmet Lavery's The First Legion. He appeared in numerous Broadway plays through 1946, including Anton Chekhov's The Marriage Proposal,[1] William Saroyan's Get Away Old Man,[1] Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov's My Sister Eileen,[2] Clifford Odets's Golden Boy,[2] and Leonid Andreyev's He Who Gets Slapped.[2]
Thor transitioned into working as a television actor in the late 1940s and early 1950s with guest roles on several American television anthology series, including Suspense and Studio One.[2] His breakthrough role was as Robert Cannon in the 1950s TV series Foreign Intrigue in which he popularized the image of the trench coat-wearing detective.[2][1] Filmed in Europe, the syndicated mystery program ran from 1951 through 1955.[2] The trench coat he wore for the series is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution.[1][2] When James Daly replaced him on the program, the producers attributed the change to Thor's wanting more money. Thor said, "I didn't ask for all that money . . . I was tired of doing everything — helping direct, rewriting scripts, even carrying camera equipment."[3]
He portrayed the recurring character of Art Delgado in Hill Street Blues in the early 1980s. Shore also periodically worked as a film actor, appearing in Riot in Juvenile Prison, 55 Days at Peking, Love and Bullets, St. Ives, House of the Black Death, and 10 to Midnight.[2]
Personal life edit
Thor was married to actress Synda Scott until his death.[4] He died of a heart attack in Westwood, Los Angeles, on August 12, 1993, at the age of 78.[2][1]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Riot in Juvenile Prison | Paul A. Furman, M.D. | |
| 1963 | 55 Days at Peking | Capt. Andy Marshall | |
| 1971 | House of the Black Death | Dr. Eric Campion | |
| 1975 | Mr. Sycamore | Higgins | |
| 1976 | St. Ives | Chasman | |
| 1979 | Love and Bullets | Senator | |
| 1983 | 10 to Midnight | Medical Examiner | |
| 1986 | Murphy's Law | Judge Kellerman | |
| 1988 | Messenger of Death | Jimmy | |
| 1989 | Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects | Perverted Gentleman |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948, 1949 | Studio One | — | 2 episodes |
| 1950 | Suspense | — | Episode: "Morning Boat to Africa" |
| 1950 | The Nash Airflyte Theater | — | Episode: "The Doll in the Pink Silk Dress" |
| 1950–1951 | Hands of Murder | — | 3 episodes |
| 1951 | The Great Merlini | Great Merlini | Television film |
| 1951 | The Trap | — | Episode: "Errand for Noonan" |
| 1951 | Big Town | — | Episode: "Dangerous" |
| 1951 | The Web | — | 3 episodes |
| 1951–1953 | Foreign Intrigue | Robert Cannon | 63 episodes |
| 1951–1953 | Danger | — | 4 episodes |
| 1953 | Medallion Theatre | — | Episode: "Contact with the West" |
| 1955 | Appointment with Adventure | — | Episode: "Forbidden Holiday" |
| 1955 | The United States Steel Hour | Walter Tillman | Episode: "Hung for a Sheep" |
| 1955 | Lux Video Theatre | Carey | Episode: "June Bride" |
| 1956 | The Philco Television Playhouse | — | Episode: "The Starlet" |
| 1956 | Goodyear Television Playhouse | — | Episode: "Starlet" |
| 1956 | The Alcoa Hour | Shaw | Episode: "Man on Fire" |
| 1959 | 77 Sunset Strip | John Cosgrove | Episode: "Dark Vengeance" |
| 1960 | Hong Kong | Chet Bates | Episode: "The Jumping Dragon" |
| 1961 | Perry Mason | Walter Randell | Episode: "The Case of the Wintry Wife" |
| 1961 | The Barbara Stanwyck Show | Pete Bishop | Episode: "Along the Barbary Coast" |
| 1961 | The Deputy | Ben Meadows | Episode: "Tension Point" |
| 1961 | Checkmate | Mal Stryker | Episode: "Hot Wind on a Cold Town" |
| 1965 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Norman | Episode: "The Arabian Affair" |
| 1966 | Daniel Boone | Samuel Thurston | Episode: "The Accused" |
| 1969 | Adam-12 | Milton Prendle | Episode: "The Things You Do for the Job" |
| 1969 | It Takes a Thief | Saunders | Episode: "Rock-Bye, Bye, Baby" |
| 1969 | The F.B.I. | Layton Simms | Episode: "Silent Partner" |
| 1971 | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | Marty Baron | — |
| 1973 | Incident on a Dark Street | Abe Hirsch | Television film |
| 1974 | Planet of the Apes | Proto | Episode: "Escape from Tomorrow" |
| 1976 | The Great Houdini | Conductor | Television film |
| 1976 | Stalk the Wild Child | Menzies | |
| 1977 | The Amazing Howard Hughes | Counsel | |
| 1977 | Murder in Peyton Place | Manager | |
| 1977 | Quincy, M.E. | Lynch | Episode: "Death Casts a Vote" |
| 1980 | CHiPs | Businessman | Episode: "Nightingale" |
| 1982 | Hill Street Blues | Delgado | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Highway to Heaven | Dr. Gottlieb | |
| 1986 | You Again? | Richard Wendell | Episode: "Marry Me a Little" |
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Obituaries: Jerome Thor". Variety. September 20, 1993. p. 42.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jerome Thor; Star of 1950s TV Series". Los Angeles Times. August 21, 1993.
- ^ Johnson, Erskine (August 23, 1962). "Jerome Thor: No Time for Golf". Guam Daily News. Guam, Agana Heights. NEA. p. 12. Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Willis, John (1996). Theatre World 1993-1994. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 245. ISBN 978-1-55783-235-1. Retrieved October 5, 2022.