- Tom Neal
Infobox actor
name = Tom Neal
imagesize = 150px
caption =Ann Savage and Tom Neal in "Detour (1945")
birthdate = birth date|1914|1|28|mf=y
birthplace =Evanston, Illinois ,United States
deathdate = death date and age|1972|8|7|1914|1|28|mf=y
deathplace =North Hollywood, California ,United States
restingplace =Cremated ,Chapel of the Pines Crematory ,Los Angeles , CaliforniaUnited States Thomas Neal (
January 28 ,1914 –August 7 ,1972 ) was an Americanactor famous for appearing in the critically lauded film "Detour", atryst withBarbara Payton and later committingmanslaughter .Born in
Evanston, Illinois , Tom Neal debuted on the Broadway stage in 1935. In 1938 he first appeared in film in "Out West with the Hardys", part of theMickey Rooney "Hardy family" movie series. That same year, he received a law degree fromHarvard University . While in college at Northwestern andHarvard Universities, Neal was a stand-out on the schools' boxing teams. He compiled a 44-3 (41 knockouts) ring record.Neal appeared in many low budget
B-movies in the 40s and early 50s. In 1941 he starred withFrances Gifford in theRepublic Pictures 15 episode serial, "Jungle Girl." Perhaps his most memorable role was that of Al Roberts in the classicfilm noir "Detour" alongsideAnn Savage . They went on to make five movies together.In 1951, he fought aristocratic actor
Franchot Tone over their mutual girlfriend, actressBarbara Payton . Neal inflicted upon Tone a smashed cheekbone, a broken nose and a brainconcussion . After the incident, Tone and Payton married, and Neal had a difficult time finding work. He ended up supporting himself landscaping and gardening. Payton left Tone after only seven weeks and returned to the troubled Neal. Their relationship lasted four years.Neal remarried almost immediately and in 1957 fathered a son. His wife died the following year from
cancer . In 1961, Neal married for the third time, to Gale Bennett. Four years later, he shot her in the back of the head with a .45-caliber gun, killing her instantly. He was arrested and, although prosecutors sought thedeath penalty , he was convicted ofinvoluntary manslaughter and sentenced to ten years inprison , of which he served exactly six. OnDecember 7 ,1971 , he was released onparole .In August of 1972, Tom Neal died of
heart failure inNorth Hollywood, California at the age of 58. He wascremated , and his ashes stored in the vault at theChapel of the Pines Crematory inLos Angeles .External links
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* [http://www.palmspringslife.com/media/Palm-Springs-Life/Whispering-Palms/Killer-Career-Actor-Tom-Neal/index.php Killer Career: Actor Tom Neal]Persondata
NAME= Neal, Tom
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= 1914-1-28
PLACE OF BIRTH=Evanston, Illinois ,United States
DATE OF DEATH= 1972-8-7
PLACE OF DEATH=North Hollywood, California ,United States
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