Thomas "Tommy" Everett Ross is one of the main characters in the horror novel Carrie by Stephen King.
In both of the two film adaptations, as in the book, Tommy is asked by his girlfriend Sue Snell to take Carrie White to the prom instead of her. Susan feels guilty for taunting Carrie in the showers of the school locker-room when she responded hysterically to her late first period. Tommy, at first, is very reluctant but complies. Carrie is suspicious of a prank, but accepts.
In the book, in a comparison between the case of the murders committed by Carrie White and the murder of John F. Kennedy, Tommy's role in the catastrophe is noted to be the one of Lee Harvey Oswald.
In film, he was played by William Katt and Tobias Mehler.
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In the novel, Tommy is a popular athlete (specifically, a baseball player) of Thomas Ewen High School, but is described as more than a mere "jock". He is a gifted student who has had his poetry published in literary journals. He's been scouted by the Boston Red Sox, but wants to attend a university first. He has been dating Sue Snell for six months and their relationship has recently become more intimate. The two of them have been planning for the Spring Ball for many weeks, but Sue feels guilty for her role in the infamous shower room incident, and asks Tommy to take Carrie to the prom in her place. Tommy complies, remembering feeling similar guilt after a similar incident in middle school.
Carrie, at first, refuses Tommy's invitation to the prom, but later agrees and sews her own dress for the prom. Realizing they are nominated for the Prom King and Queen election, Tommy insists on voting for himself and Carrie, telling her "Tonight, you go first class." When Vic Mooney announces them king and queen, they ascend the stage. Tommy realizes he loves Carrie. One of his last thoughts is that Susan was right, "I love her, and I love this one too, this Carrie... she is beautiful, the light in her eyes." Chris Hargensen and her boyfriend Billy Nolan have rigged two buckets of pig blood above the stage and pull the cord at this moment. One bucket falls on Tommy's head, fracturing his skull. Within an hour he is dead.
In the 1976 film of the novel, he is portrayed by William Katt as a tall handsome teen with curly blonde hair, blue eyes, and a pleasant disposition.
As in the novel, he is a popular athlete who is dating Sue Snell (Amy Irving). Early in the movie, he writes a poem which is read in class. After the teacher encourages criticism, Carrie (Sissy Spacek) finally speaks, saying the poem is beautiful. The teacher ridicules Carrie for her opinion, and Tommy, defending Carrie, mutters "you suck." At Sue's request, he reluctantly asks Carrie to be his prom date. He and his friends George Dawson and Freddie Holt (a.k.a. The Beak) visit a store and buy an unusual tuxedo for the prom. As in the book, he takes Carrie to the dance and meets with class clown George Dawson and his girlfriend Frieda Jason. Carrie and Tommy win Prom King and Queen, and Tommy begins to fall in love with Carrie and kisses her. When Chris (Nancy Allen) and Billy (John Travolta) pull the cord connected to the bucket of blood concealed over the stage, most of the blood drenches Carrie. Tommy is infuriated, but before he can react, the bucket falls on his head, fracturing his skull and rendering him unconscious. Tommy dies in the fire that consumes the gymnasium, and his death is mentioned by Sue's mother in the epilogue.
In 1988 the property was adapted into a musical by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Tommy Ross was again depicted as dating Sue Snell and at her request taking Carrie to the prom. In both the London production and the Broadway transfer the character was played by Paul Gygnell. Tommy's songs in the show include "Don't Waste the Moon" and "Do Me a Favour" (with Sue and others), "Wotta Night" (with Carrie and chorus) and the solo number "Heaven."
When the blood is poured over Carrie at the prom, Tommy tries to get to her to comfort her but is held back by his friends and forced to watch as Carrie is taunted by everyone at the prom. Carrie then accidentally kills Tommy during her rampage (although the audience don't see this happening) causing her to realize what she is doing and stop although it's too late.
In the 2002 version remake, he is portrayed by Tobias Mehler. This version he's a tall handsome, tan skin guy with brown eyes and medium cut dark brown hair.
In a portrayal that is closer to the original story, Susan and Tommy are portrayed as sexually intimate, and their discussion as to why Tommy should ask Carrie is included in the dialogue. He comes to her house the night of the prom with a limousine, and they meet with his friend Roy Evarts (Steve Byers) and Roy’s girlfriend and Sue’s friend Helen Shyres (Chelan Simmons). Miss Desjarden (Rena Sofer) warns Tommy that his courtesy toward Carrie had better be on the level. Tommy and Carrie dance together briefly and he begins to fall in love with her. Tommy and Carrie are elected Prom King and Queen, but Chris and Billy drop the bucket of pigs blood on her. Tommy is visibly outraged at this, but before he can react, the bucket falls onto his head and fractures his skull, killing him. his body remains in the gymnasium as it is set ablaze by Carrie, who then leaves.
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