Tim Thomerson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tim Thomerson (born April 8, 1946) was born in Coronado, California and was raised in Hawaii and San Diego. After a stint in the army, Thomerson drifted into acting while working backstage at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, a well-known venue for Shakespearean productions. He worked at the Globe as a prop man and set builder and it was there that he met respected character actor, Anthony Zerbe who suggested that he study with Stella Adler in New York.
After spending some time in college, Tim took Zerbe’s advice and moved to New York to study with the highly esteemed acting teacher. Tim had always had an interest in stand up comedy and it was while in New York that he also began to hone his skills as a stand up comedian. He started working such clubs as The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, Bud Friedman’s Improvisation, Catch a Rising Star as well as the Catskills.
At the completion of his studies with Ms. Adler, Tim came back to California to pursue his stand up career. The comedy boom was happening and Thomerson was in the middle of it along with comics like David Letterman, Jay Leno and Freddie Prinze. Back in L.A., he became a regular at the Comedy Store and the Improv as well as making numerous appearances on television variety shows, and in Las Vegas.
One of his early acting breaks came from director Robert Altman who after seeing his stand up act cast him in the film A Wedding. At this early stage of Tim’s movie career he found himself surrounded by the likes of Vittorio Gassman, Carol Burnett, Geraldine Chaplin and a very young Dennis Franz. Tim was struck by the generosity of these truly talented actors.
During Thomerson’s almost 30-year career, he has played a wide variety of film and television roles. Over the years he has developed a loyal fan base because of Sci-fi cult heroes like Jack Deth in the Trancers films, Brick Bardo in the Dollman series and Farnsworth from the Nemesis Trilogy. His long list of film credits also includes: Uncommon Valor, Air America, Volunteers, Who’s Harry Crumb?, Iron Eagle, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, just to name a few, as well as numerous television roles. In the 90’s he was a series regular on the television police drama Sirens followed by a regular, co-starring role on the series Land’s End starring 'Fred Dryer. During his career Tim has been fortunate enough to work with some of his favorite actors including Gene Hackman, Clint Eastwood, Wilford Brimley, Richard Farnsworth and his personal comic hero, Richard Pryor.
He first came to prominence in the short-lived comedy science-fiction TV series Quark in 1977-78, as Gene/Jean, a character of dual gender who randomly switched from a macho to a feminine personality.
In 1990 he starred with Mel Gibson in the adventure film Air America in which he played the character of Babo.
He played the villain, Hanson Dekker, in season 2 of the syndicated TV series Viper, in 1995-96.
Thomerson has made guest appearances on tv shows such as Walker, Texas Ranger, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The District, and Silk Stalkings.
He was good friends with the late actor Brion James, having served with him in the Vietnam War.
[edit] External links
[edit] Wikipedia links
Information on Thomerson as a surname.
