Veteran character actor Tom Troupe, whose acting career spanned decades on stage and screen, died Sunday morning at the age of 97, CBS News reports.
Television audiences may recognize Troupe from his roles in classic series including “Mission: Impossible,” “Star Trek,” “The Fugitive,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “The Wild Wild West” and “Cheers.”
“You might not recognize the name, but if you watched TV in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, you probably know the face,” said Joey Morona, cleveland.com’s resident pop culture expert. “Troupe was a prolific character actor during that time, appearing in many classic shows…and so much more.”
Troupe’s nephew Mark Cocanougher, also shared the news of his uncle’s passing on Sunday in an Instagram post. Cocanougher said his uncle “died peacefully at home.”
“He had a lovely, full life, and an equally graceful departure…I know that Tom and my aunt, Carole Cook, touched many lives, and I’m grateful for any positive impact they have had among so many friends and fans through their work and generous spirit,” he wrote.
The Kansas City, Missouri native began his acting career after moving to New York in 1948. His career path was temporarily paused when he served in the Korean War, where he earned a bronze star for his service.
Following his military duty, Troupe returned to New York and achieved his Broadway debut in 1957, appearing in a production of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” A decade later, he relocated to Los Angeles, launching a prolific television career that would include appearances in more than 70 shows.
Beyond his television work, Troupe co-wrote and starred in the 1968 film “Sofi,” an adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s “Diary of a Madman.” He maintained an active stage career throughout his life, performing in productions like “The Lion in Winter,” “Fathers Day” and “The Gin Game,” the latter co-starring his late wife, Carole Cook, who passed away in 2023.
Troupe is survived by his son, Christopher Troupe, and daughter-in-law, Becky Coulter.
This story was written with the assistance of AI.
