Regis Toomey

Regis Toomey

actor, soundtrack

Regis Toomey was born on Aug 13, 1898 in USA. Regis Toomey's big-screen debut came with Alibi directed by Roland West in 1929, strarring Danny McGann (as Mr. Regis Toomey). Regis Toomey is known for Man's Favorite Sport? directed by Howard Hawks, Rock Hudson stars as Roger Willoughby and Paula Prentiss as Abigail Page. The most recent award Regis Toomey achieved is Walk of Fame. The upcoming new movie Regis Toomey plays is Evil Town which will be released on Jun 03, 1987.

Pittsburgh-born and -raised character actor Regis Toomey, of Irish descent, took an early interest in the performing arts and initially studied drama at the university of his home town. One of four children of Francis X. and Mary Ellen Toomey, John Regis Toomey initially pondered a law career, but acting won out and he gradually established himself as a musical stage performer. Dropping his first name for acting purposes, he was touring in a production of "Little Nellie Kelly" in England when he developed an acute case of laryngitis. The severity of the problem forced a serious rethinking of his career goals.With the birth of sound pictures, Toomey made an auspicious debut with Alibi (1929) starring Chester Morris where a climactic death scene sparked controversy--and a movie career that would include almost 200 pictures and a number of other notorious death scenes. His lead/second lead status opposite such stars as Clara Bow, Constance Bennett, Barbara Stanwyck and Evelyn Brent fell away within a few years, and he found more work in streetwise character roles. Fast-paced crime action was his forte and he was prevalent throughout the 1930s and 1940s. He appeared in many classic films including Les hors la loi (1935), L'Homme de la rue (1941), Le grand sommeil (1946), Rachel et l'étranger (1948) and La Maison du docteur Edwardes (1945). In 1955 he played Uncle Arvide of The Salvation Army in Blanches colombes et vilains messieurs (1955) alongside Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons and Vivian Blaine, a role for which he is still well remembered.In the 1950s he found employment on TV as a good guy, typically playing judges, sheriffs, businessmen and police sergeants. He was a regular on The Mickey Rooney Show (1954). Fellow one-time singer Dick Powell became a friend and Powell, having turned producer, saw to it that Toomey had involving roles on a couple of his TV series such as Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957) and L'homme à la Rolls (1963). He was later a regular on Petticoat Junction (1963). Toomey played roles well past his 80th year.His marriage (from 1925) to Kathryn Scott produced two children. They met in 1924 when he appeared in a musical production of "Rose Marie" that Kathryn assistant choreographed. Toomey died of natural causes on October 12, 1991, at the Motion Picture Country House in Woodland Hills, California at age 93.

  • Birthday

    Aug 13, 1898

  • Place of Birth

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Known For

Man's Favorite Sport?
Movie
Man's Favorite Sport?

19647.1

Johnny Shiloh
Movie
Johnny Shiloh

19637.6

Burke's Law
TV
Burke's Law

19637.4

Shannon
TV
Shannon

19617.3

Warlock
Movie
Warlock

19597.1

Richard Diamond, Private Detective
TV
Richard Diamond, Private Detective

19577.9

The 20th Century-Fox Hour
TV
The 20th Century-Fox Hour

19557.4

Guys and Dolls
Movie
Guys and Dolls

19557.1

The Loretta Young Show
TV
The Loretta Young Show

19537.7

Four Star Playhouse
TV
Four Star Playhouse

19527.7

Awards

1 wins & 0 nominations

Walk of Fame
1960
Motion Picture
Winner - Star on the Walk of Fame

Movies & TV Shows

All
Movies
TV Shows