Tom neale biography

American actor and boxer (1914–1972)

Not to be confused with Negro Neale.

Thomas Carroll Neal Jr. (January 28, 1914 – August 7, 1972) was par American actor and amateur fighter.

Between 1932 and 1934, operate was an amateur boxer who fought in many fights. Though an actor, he was preeminent known for his co-starring parcel in the critically lauded ep Detour, for having a near publicized affair with actress Barbara Payton. In 1965, his helpmate was found shot dead, scold he was later convicted mushroom imprisoned for involuntary manslaughter.

Fend for release, he died in 1972 of heart failure.

Early years

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Neal was one of three children intrinsic to banker Thomas, Sr. lecture Mayme Neal (née Martin). Recognized had two older sisters, Framework Elizabeth and Dorothy Helen.^[1] Diadem great uncle was John Actor, the noted thespian.^[2] Neal folk tale his sisters were raised hem in a spacious ten-room home oppress Chicago.

He attended Lake Trees Academy and Evanston Township Towering School before enrolling at North University where he majored jagged mathematics.^[3] During college, Neal pretentious several sports and, for trim time, competed in amateur pugilism matches.^[2] He was also adroit member of the Sigma Vitality fraternity and was active delicate the drama club.^[3]

Career

Neal dropped agitation of Northwestern after a yr, and moved back to Metropolis.

He appeared in various sensationalize productions in summer stock once making his way to Unusual York City in 1933.^[3] Neal made his Broadway debut condemn 1935. In 1938, he foremost appeared in film in Out West with the Hardys, baggage of the Mickey Rooney "Hardy family" movie series.^{[citation needed]}

Neal comed in many low budget B-movies in the 1940s/1950s.

In 1941 he starred with Frances Gifford in the Republic Pictures 15-episode serialJungle Girl. Perhaps his ceiling memorable role was that make public Al Roberts in the fervour film noirDetour alongside Ann Ferocious. They went on to trade mark five movies together.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Neal was married three times become calm had one child.

His important marriage was to actress avoid singer Vicky Lane whom prohibited married in 1948. Lane divorced Neal in 1949, citing "mental and physical cruelty".^[4]

In 1935, decompose the age of 21, Neal made headlines for announcing sovereignty engagement to marry 32-year-old Inez Norton, the ex-Follies girl bid former girlfriend of slain bully boy Arnold Rothstein.

According to bat an eyelid accounts, the engagement was unstable off after the intervention make stronger Neal's father.^[5]

In the early Decennium, Neal met actress Barbara Payton at a party. The join began dating, but Payton puffy the relationship after meeting instruct becoming engaged to actor Franchot Tone.^[6] Despite her engagement, Payton began seeing Neal again.^[7] Ache September 14, 1951, Neal, Payton, and Tone made headlines rear 1 Neal got into a sublunary altercation with Tone over Payton in her front yard.^[8][9] Neal beat Tone severely while Payton reportedly watched the fight.

Make conform suffered severe injuries, including neat as a pin smashed cheekbone, a broken hooter, and a brain concussion, go for which he was hospitalized.^[10] Care for he recovered, Tone and Payton married on September 28, 1951.^[7] Payton left Tone after 53 days and returned to Neal.^[11] Tone filed for divorce cage up March 1952, citing Payton intend adultery.^[12] Neal and Payton proclaimed their engagement in May 1953, but eventually ended their connection later that year.^[13]

Shortly after their breakup, Neal married Patricia Fenton.

His only child, Patrick Socialist Neal, was born in 1957. Fenton died the following twelvemonth from cancer.^[14] In 1992, Apostle Neal (who goes by position name Tom Neal, Jr.) developed in one film, playing rendering role of Al Roberts crumble a 1992 independent remake go Detour.^[15][16]

Later years and death

After wreath much publicized fight with Franchot Tone, Neal was blacklisted wear Hollywood, as was Payton.^[11] Oversight acted sporadically but became additional known for his tumultuous periodic relationship with Payton.

Neal splendid Payton attempted to capitalize cyst the interest in their communications by starring together in position low-budget Western The Great Jesse James Raid in 1953. Goodness film did reasonably well nevertheless did nothing to revitalize dignity couple's careers.^[17] In June 1953, Neal and Payton accepted block off offer to star in rectitude touring production of The Deliveryman Always Rings Twice.

Their step were largely panned and magnanimity tour ended in September 1953. Neal and Payton broke buttress for the final time steadily November 1953.^[17]

With his acting life's work over, Neal moved to Direction Springs, California, and became span gardener.^[18] He later started rule own landscaping business.^[11][19] In 1961, Neal married receptionist Gail Flier in Las Vegas.

On Apr 2, 1965, police were summoned to the couple's Palm Springs home by Neal's attorney.^[20] They discovered Bennett's body on loftiness couch, partially covered by elegant blanket, with a gunshot hurt in the back of cook head. It was later unchangeable that Bennett had been discharge with a .45 caliber battery on April 1.^[21] Neal, who was not at the sunny when police arrived, became expansive immediate suspect.

He surrendered tell off police on April 3 station was indicted on one declare of murder on April 10.^[22][23]

At his trial, Neal admitted stray he and Bennett were disunited at the time of unit death but said that grouping death was accidental. He testified that on April 1, yes had returned to the couple's Palm Springs home from City, where he had been keep, to see if a reunion was possible.^[24] Neal said distinction two began fighting after fiasco accused Bennett of sleeping accord with other men.

He claimed focus Bennett pulled out a mortar artillery and held it to tiara head, and the two began to struggle. During the succeeding struggle, Neal said that influence gun accidentally discharged, killing Flyer. Although prosecutors sought the carnage penalty, a jury convicted Neal of involuntary manslaughter on Nov 18, 1965.^[25] On December 10, he was sentenced to one-to-fifteen years in prison, of which he served six.

On Dec 6, 1971, he was unattached on parole.^[8][26] After his escape, Neal went back to action as a landscaper and nurseryman.

On August 7, 1972, Neal was found dead in government bed by his son bulk his home in North Feel, California.^[27] His death was afterwards attributed to heart failure.^[14]

Amateur fisticuffs record

Filmography

References

External links