Tom Troupe, Veteran Character Actor And Broadway Performer, Dies At 97

Tom Troupe, the stage and screen actor who was a familiar presence in dozens of television guest spots across several decades, died of natural causes on Sunday, July 20, at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 97.

Born July 15, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri, Troupe moved to New York to study acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio in the early 1950s. He made his television debut in 1955 in the drama anthology series Studio One and appeared on Broadway two years later, playing Peter in the original production of The Diary of Anne Frank.

Troupe segued into a familiar face on television , with guest appearances in numerous dramas such as Rawhide, Lawman, Dr. Kildare, Combat!, Ben Casey, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Mission: Impossible, Marcus Welby, M.D., Knots Landing, Cagney & Lacey, and ER. He also made memorable appearances in comedies including Cheers and Who’s the Boss?

An active stage performer, Troupe starred in productions including The Lion in Winter, The Gin Game, and Father’s Day. In 2002, he was honored with the L.A. Ovation Award for Career Achievement, alongside his wife, veteran actress Carole Cook.

On the big screen, his film credits included The Devil’s Brigade (1968) and Kelly’s Heroes (1970).

Off camera, Troupe co-founded The Faculty (a Los Angeles acting school) with Charles Nelson Reilly.

Troupe is survived by his son, Christopher Troupe; daughter-in-law, Becky Coulter; granddaughter, Ashley Troupe; and several nieces and nephews. His wife of more than 50 years, Carole Cook, passed away in 2023 at the age of 98.