Tom Drake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tom Drake
Drake in The Sandpiper (1965)
Born	Alfred Sinclair Alderdice (1918-08-05)August 5, 1918 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	August 11, 1982(1982-08-11) (aged 64) Torrance, California, U.S.
Resting place	Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California
Other names	Richard Alden
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1938–1978
Spouse(s)	Isabelle Dunn ​ ​ (m. 1945; div. 1946)​

Tom Drake (born Alfred Sinclair Alderdice; August 5, 1918 – August 11, 1982) was an American actor. He starred in many films from the 1940s to the 1970s. He also appeared in many TV shows.

Becoming an Actor

Tom Drake was born in Brooklyn, New York. He went to Iona Preparatory School and then Mercersburg Academy.

He could not join the military during World War II because of a heart condition. Even so, he acted in British training films.

Early Stage and Film Roles

Before he was famous, Tom Drake used his birth name, Alfred Alderdice. He acted on Broadway in plays like Run Sheep Run (1938).

His first film role was in The Howards of Virginia. He was called Richard Alden in that movie. His big break came when he starred in the Broadway play Janie in 1942. After this, he signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a major movie studio.

Starring at MGM

Tom Drake in Meet Me in St. Louis

MGM, also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, gave Tom Drake his start in movies. He had a smaller role in Two Girls and a Sailor (1944). He also appeared in bigger movies like Marriage Is a Private Affair (1944).

Famous Roles and Big Hits

Tom Drake became well-known for playing John Truitt. This was the "boy next door" character in the 1944 movie Meet Me in St. Louis. He starred alongside Judy Garland in this popular film.

MGM then gave him leading roles. He starred in This Man's Navy (1944). He also had the main role in The Green Years (1946), which was a huge success. Another big hit was Courage of Lassie (1946).

Other studios also wanted him. Universal Pictures borrowed him for the movie I'll Be Yours (1947). Back at MGM, he played composer Richard Rodgers in Words and Music (1948).

Later Career in Film and TV

After his time at MGM, Tom Drake started appearing on television. He was in many TV shows. These included The Ford Theatre Hour and Suspense.

Moving to Television Roles

As TV shows began to be filmed in California, Tom Drake got more roles. He appeared in popular series like Lassie and Perry Mason. He also had roles in action shows like Combat! and police dramas like Adam-12.

More Movies and Final Roles

Tom Drake continued to act in movies. He starred in The Cyclops (1957) and Date with Disaster (1957). He also played a criminal leader in Warlock (1959). One of his last movie roles was in The Singing Nun (1966). In this film, he played Ed Sullivan's producer.

His last acting role was in 1975.

Personal Life

Tom Drake was married to Isabelle Dunn for a short time in the 1940s.

He was a Roman Catholic. He also supported Adlai Stevenson in the 1952 presidential election.

Death

Tom Drake passed away from lung cancer on August 11, 1982. He was 64 years old. He died at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, California. His body is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Filmography

Features:

Selected Television Appearances

• The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1965) (Season 3 Episode 29: "Off Season") as Sheriff Dade