Tom Towles

Tom Towles was born on March 20, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., and grew up with a sister named Kai. Before he ever stepped onto a stage, Towles served a brief stint in the United States Marine Corps, an experience that later lent a gritty authenticity to his on‑screen presence. In 1971 he launched his acting career with the Organic Theater Company in Chicago, honing his craft alongside the Goodman Theatre and quickly earning a reputation for intense, unsettling performances. His first on‑screen appearance came in the 1975 classic Dog Day Afternoon, where he played a minor cop, marking the start of a film career that would span over three decades. After a period of steady theatrical work, Towles returned to film with Pink Nights in 1985, setting the stage for the breakthrough role that would define his legacy. Otis, the chilling antagonist in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), showcased Towles’s talent for embodying dark, volatile characters and earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male. Paragraph Two: Following the critical acclaim of Henry, Towles became a go‑to character actor for villainous and intimidating roles, appearing in Night of the Living Dead, Blood In Blood Out, The Rock, and Dr. Dolittle, among numerous others. On television he made memorable guest spots on Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, L.A. Law, ER, as well as Star Trek franchises and Firefly, proving his versatility across genres. A frequent collaborator with Rob Zombie, he returned to horror in House of 1000 Corpses (2003), The Devil’s Rejects (2005), Halloween (2007) and the Grindhouse double‑feature, cementing his status as a cult favorite. Towles’s career tapered off after 2008, and he passed away on April 2, 2015 in Pinellas, Florida, after complications from a stroke, leaving behind a body of work that continues to influence the portrayal of menacing supporting characters.