Tom Adams (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tom Adams
in The Avengers episode Take-Over (1969)
Born	Anthony Frederick Charles Adams (1938-03-09)9 March 1938 Poplar, London, England
Died	11 December 2014(2014-12-11) (aged 76) Slough, Berkshire, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1961–2002

Anthony Frederick Charles "Tom" Adams (born March 9, 1938 – died December 11, 2014) was an English actor. He was known for his roles in adventure, horror, and mystery movies. He also appeared in many TV shows. People especially remember him as Daniel Fogarty in the TV series The Onedin Line.

Early Life and Start in Acting

Tom Adams was born in Poplar, London. His father worked as a driver for businesses. After finishing school, Tom joined the Coldstream Guards for his national service. This was a time when young men had to serve in the military.

Later, he joined the Unity Theatre, London, which was a theater group. He chose the stage name Tom Adams. In the 1960s, between his acting jobs with different theater groups, he taught English and drama at a school in Poplar.

Tom Adams' Acting Career

Tom Adams appeared in many popular TV shows. These included The Avengers, Maigret, and Ghost Squad. He started acting in films in 1961.

First Big Roles

His first big role on the stage was in London's West End. This is a famous theater area. He acted in a play called Masterpiece in 1961. In 1962, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. This is a very famous theater group.

His first major movie role was as Nimmo in The Great Escape (1963). This movie was a big hit! The money he earned from this film helped him buy his very first car.

Playing a Spy and Other Films

Tom Adams starred as a spy named Charles Vine in three movies. These films were a bit like the James Bond movies. They included Licensed to Kill (1965), Where the Bullets Fly (1966), and Somebody's Stolen Our Russian Spy (1967).

He also had a big role in the 1966 Disney movie The Fighting Prince of Donegal. He played a character who caused trouble for Raquel Welch in the movie Fathom.

Television Appearances

Tom Adams was a familiar face on television. He played Dr. Guy Marshall in Emergency – Ward 10 from 1964 to 1967. Later, he played a similar doctor, Dr. Guy Wallman, in General Hospital from 1975 to 1978.

He also starred as Major Sullivan in the spy drama Spy Trap (1973–1975). From 1977 to 1979, he was Daniel Fogarty in The Onedin Line. Fans of Doctor Who might remember him as Commander Vorshak in the 1984 episode Warriors of the Deep. He also appeared in Emmerdale Farm in 1987. In 1980, he took the main role in The Enigma Files.

Voice Work and Commercials

Tom Adams was also known for his voice. He did many voice-overs for commercials. In the late 1970s, he appeared in TV ads for Dixons. For many years in the 1980s and 1990s, he was the face of the furniture store chain DFS.

Later, in 2011, he was in commercials for Aero Biscuits. He also appeared in ads for Stannah Stairlifts and Hyundai cars. He even became the voice that announced shows on the UK television channel E4.

Tom Adams enjoyed golf. In 1996, he wrote a book of short stories about golf called Shakespeare Was a Golfer: A Collection of Golfing Shorts.

Later Years and Passing

Tom Adams passed away on December 11, 2014. He was 76 years old. He died from cancer at Wexham Park Hospital in Berkshire.

TV and Film Roles