Remembering Tom Troupe: A Celebrated Veteran Actor Passes Away at 97
Tom Troupe, a distinguished veteran actor who graced both stage and screen, has passed away at the age of 97 due to natural causes in his Beverly Hills home. This news comes from his publicist, Harlan Boll, along with several media outlets reporting the sad loss.
Troupe was a prolific performer with a career that spanned from the mid-1950s to the late 2010s, during which he appeared on Broadway and in over 75 television series. He is best remembered for his iconic roles in the original TV series Star Trek and the acclaimed film My Own Private Idaho, alongside River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.
Born on July 15, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri, Troupe began his journey in the performing arts with local theater productions before heading to New York City in the late 1940s. There, he honed his craft at the Herbert Berghof Studio, earning a scholarship from the legendary actress and teacher Uta Hagen, who played a significant role in shaping his career.
After serving in the Korean War, where he was awarded a Bronze Star for his bravery, Troupe made his Broadway debut in 1957, portraying Peter van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank. His move to Los Angeles in the following year marked the beginning of his Hollywood journey, leading to guest appearances in beloved television shows such as Lawman, Dr. Kildare, The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, The Wild Wild West, The F.B.I., The Streets of San Francisco, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, CHiPs, Cagney & Lacey, Cheers, Murder, She Wrote, Knots Landing, Frasier, and ER, among many others.
On the silver screen, Troupe’s filmography includes roles in the 1987 comedy Summer School, Clint Eastwood’s Kelly’s Heroes from 1970, and the 1968 war drama The Devil’s Brigade, featuring William Holden.
In addition to his film and television work, Troupe made a significant impact on the stage, performing in productions such as The Lion in Winter, Fathers Day, and The Gin Game, all of which featured his wife of nearly 60 years, Carole Cook. Cook, a talented Broadway performer and protégé of Lucille Ball, passed away in 2023. Together, they were honored with the Theatre Ovation Award for Career Achievement in 2002, becoming the first husband-and-wife duo to receive this accolade.
Troupe also starred in a national tour of Same Time, Next Year alongside Barbara Rush in the late 1970s and penned his own single-character play, The Diary of a Madman.
He is survived by his son, Christopher Troupe, daughter-in-law Becky Coulter, granddaughter Ashley Troupe, and several nieces and nephews. Tom Troupe leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the world of entertainment, cherished by fans and colleagues alike.
