Tom Helmore

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Thomas Percy Helmore (born January 4, 1904 in London , England , † September 12, 1995 in Longboat Key , Florida ) was a British - American actor.

Life

Helmore worked as an apprentice in his father's company while he also worked as an extra in British film. He made his debut in Alfred Hitchcock's silent film Der Weltmeister . Helmore played his most famous film role again 30 years later under Hitchcock's direction: As a friendly-appearing, but secretly evil businessman Gavin Elster in Vertigo - From the Realm of the Dead . He was the first choice for the role, according to Hitchcock. Otherwise, the medium-sized brown-haired actor played mostly men of rich and noble origins in comedies, who in the end did not succeed in conquering women. For example, he loses Lauren Bacall to Gregory Peck in Why did I say yes? (1957). By the end of his career in 1972, he appeared in various television series, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Dr. Kildare . He also appeared on Broadway and the musical The Day Before Spring paved the way for Helmore to Hollywood in 1945.

He was married to his first wife Evelan Hope from 1931 to 1945. A year later she married horror star Boris Karloff , with whom Helmore was friends. He was married to his second wife, Mary Drayton, from 1945 until her death in 1994. Drayton and Helmore had a child. Tom Helmore died in Longboat Key, Florida, at the age of 91.

Filmography (selection)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Helmore, Tom
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Helmore, Thomas Percy
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British-American actor
DATE OF BIRTH 4th January 1904
PLACE OF BIRTH London , England
DATE OF DEATH September 12, 1995
Place of death Longboat Key , Florida , USA