Tim Thomerson

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Tim Thomerson
Born Joseph Timothy Thomerson
April 8, 1946 (1946-04-08) (age 62)
Coronado, California, U.S.
Occupation Film, television actor
Spouse(s) Teri Blythe

Joseph Timothy "Tim" Thomerson (born April 8, 1946) is an American actor and comedian. Most famous for his role as Jack Deth in the Trancers series, Thomerson is renowned for his work in numerous low-budget movies and his comedic television roles.

Thomerson was born in Coronado, California and was raised in Hawaii and San Diego. After a stint in the National Guard, 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, Thomerson took Zerbe’s advice and moved to New York to study with Adler. Thomerson 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.

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[edit] Career

At the completion of his studies with Ms. Adler, Thomerson 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.

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 such as Tour of Duty. 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. Thomerson has worked with some of his favorite actors including Gene Hackman, Clint Eastwood, Wilford Brimley, Richard Farnsworth and his personal comic hero, Richard Pryor.

[edit] Initial success

One of Thomerson's early acting breaks came from director Robert Altman who, after seeing Thomerson's stand-up act, cast him in the film A Wedding. At this early stage of Thomerson’s movie career he found himself surrounded by the likes of Vittorio Gassman, Carol Burnett, Geraldine Chaplin and a very young Dennis Franz.

Thomerson first came to prominence in the 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. Sadly, the show was short-lived.

[edit] Movie star

Thomerson's most famous role is that of Jack Deth, the hero of Charles Band's Trancers series. Playing against his comedic stylings, Thomerson played Deth as a hard-nosed epitome of machismo, like the sci-fi equivalent of Clint Eastwood in the Dirty Harry series. The character continued in four more sequels throughout the 1990s. (A fifth sequel, Trancers 6, was released in 2002 but Thomerson was not involved).

Other career highlights include Babo in the adventure film Air America with Mel Gibson and Robert Downey, Jr., grimy mercenary Rhodes in Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn, demented cult leader Lester in Cherry 2000, Loy in the horror classic Near Dark, diminutive lawman Brick Bardo in Dollman and Dollman vs. Demonic Toys, and a scruffy motorcyclist in Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Thomerson is a stock player in the films of actor/director Michael Worth (DUAL, Devil On The Mountain, God's Ears) and a favorite of director Albert Pyun (Dollman, Knights, Nemesis).

In addition, Thomerson has made guest appearances on tv shows such as Walker, Texas Ranger, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Xena, Warrior Princess, Viper, The District, and Silk Stalkings. Furthermore, an action figure based on Jack Deth was planned for release, but was ultimately cancelled. Images of it exist on the Internet.[1]

[edit] Personal life

Thomerson's wife Teri Blythe has worked extensively in Hollywood as a script supervisor, make-up artist, casting director, and producer.

Thomerson was good friends with the late actor Brion James. Both served together as cooks in a tank company while in the Army Reserve in California. After their service, they both went to New York to break into acting.

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1975 A Shadow in the Streets Chick Television movie
1976 Car Wash Kenny As Timmothy Tomerson
1977 Benny And Barney: Las Vegas Undercover Barney Tuscom Television movie
All That Glitters Sonny Packer TV series
Terraces Steve Television movie
Which Way is Up? Tour Guide As Timothy Thomerson
1977-1978 Quark Gene/Jean TV series
1978 Remember My Name Jeff As Timothy Thomerson
Record City Marty
A Wedding Russell Bean
1979 The Associates Johnny Danko TV series
Angie Gianni TV series
1980 Getting There Lester Television movie
Carny Doubles
Fade to Black Jerry Moriarty
1981 Take This Job and Shove It Ray Binkowski
Golden Gate Frank Nightingale Television movie
St. Helens Sheriff Wayne Temple
1981-1982 The Two of Us Reggie Cavanaugh TV series
1982 Some Kind of Hero Cal
Bare Essence Billy Television movie
Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again Dr. Knute Lanyon
Honkytonk Man Highway Patrolman
1983 Likely Stories, Vol. 2 TV series
Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn Rhodes
The Osterman Weekend Motorcycle cop
Uncommon Valor Charts
Gun Shy Theodore Ogilvie TV series
1984 Rhinestone Barnett Kale
His Mistress Tom Goodman Television movie
1985 Trancers Jack Deth
Volunteers John Reynolds
1986 Iron Eagle Col. Ted Masters
Zone Troopers The Sarge
The B.R.A.T. Patrol Maj. Dan Hackett Television movie
1987 Glory Years Jack Sanders Television movie
Near Dark Loy Colton
Cherry 2000 Lester
Down and Out in Beverly Hills Jerry Baskin TV series
1988 A Tiger's Tale Lonny
The Wrong Guys
The Incredible Hulk Returns Jack LeBeau Television movie
1989 Who's Harry Crumb? Vince Barnes
1990 Vietnam, Texas Max Heron
Air America Babo
The Flash Jay Allen Television movie
1991 Trancers II Jack Deth
Dollman Brick Bardo
1992 Eddie Presley Shock Comic
Stringer Jack Mitchett
Intimate Stranger Malcolm Henthoff Television movie
Bad Channels Brick Bardo
Trancers III Jack Deth
1993 Die Watching Detective Lewis
Nemesis Farnsworth
Dollman vs. Demonic Toys Brick Bardo
The Harvest Steve Mobley
Knights Farmer Uncredited
Brain Smasher...A Love Story Black
1994 Fleshtone Buddy Fields
Natural Causes The Westerner
Trancers 4: Jack of Swords Jack Deth
The Cisco Kid Lundquist Television movie
Hong Kong 97 Jack McGraw
Trancers 5: Sudden Deth Jack Deth
1995 Malevolence Mr. Williams
Dominion Fitz
Spitfire Rex Beechum
Sirens Sgt. James "Buddy" Zunder TV series
Heatseeker Oldest Elder
1996 Back to Back Thomas
Nemesis III: Prey Harder Farnsworth 2
Land's End Dave "Thunder" Thornton TV series
Kid Cop Arnold Downey
1997 Blast Police Commissioner
Xena: Warrior Princess Meleager the Mighty TV series
When Time Expires Rifkin Koss Television movie
1998 Crossfire Crane
Together & Alone Daddy
Escape from Atlantis Liam Gallagher Television movie
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Hoodlum
Border to Border Poet
1999 Red Team William Heywood
Dirt Merchant Jack
Suckers Det. Laughlin
Unseen Evil Ranger Chuck Macneil
The Magnificent Seven Guy Royal TV series
Last Chance Sam
Detour Mel Kiner
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Mr. Alcerro TV series
2000 Gangland Dr. Adams
Submerged Owen Cantrell
Highway 395
The Princess & the Barrio Boy Monsignor O'Dell Television movie
2001 They Crawl Exterminator
Devil's Prey Sheriff Harry
2002 Gale Force Phillip Edwards
Shoot or Be Shot Uncle Bill
The Killing Point Mr. Banyon
Ocean Point Mike
Project Viper Sheriff Morgan Television movie
Con Express Bill Barnes
The District Colonel Carl TV series
Days of Our Lives Oliver Wentworth TV series
2003 Cliché Chief Jackson
Air Marshal Sen. Chambers
2004 Paparazzi Uniformed Officer
A Lousy Ten Grand Judge
2005 The Nowhere Man
Dual Deston, Jared
Swarmed Phineas Washburn Television movie
Hell to Pay Reverend
2006 Final Approach Captain Noonan
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Arnie Swift
To Kill a Mockumentary Will
Sasquatch Mountain Eli
Forget About It Arizona Al
A.I. Assault Admiral Harrison Television movie
Bottoms Up A.J. Mancini
Left in Darkness Joe
Evil Bong Jack Deth
Christmas Do-Over Arthur Television movie
2007 God's Ears Uncle Steve
Urban Decay Det. Thompson
Blue Lake Massacre Marshall Lex
Good God Bad Dog Bill Monahan
Live Evil The Priest
2008 Wicked Lake Jake

[edit] References

  1. ^ Charles Band Announces Wizard Toys Debut :: Action-Figure :: Toy, Collectibles and Action Figure News and Reviews from across the Globe

[edit] External links