Tom Poston

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Tom Poston (right) with Mickey Rooney and other actors on the Steve Allen Show  (1959)

Thomas "Tom" Poston (born October 17, 1921 in Columbus , Ohio , † April 30, 2007 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American actor . He started his career as a television actor in the 1950s, but also worked as a moderator for game shows and entertainment programs, as well as a stage and film actor.

life and work

After high school and attending Bethany College in West Virginia, which he dropped out early when the war began, Poston was drawn to the United States Army Air Forces in 1941 . In the Air Force, he was accepted into the officers' school and finally trained as a pilot. As a pilot he was used in Europe during World War II , where he dropped paratroopers for the invasion of Normandy, among other things . He also served in Northern Africa, Italy, France and England. For his services as a pilot he has been awarded several medals for bravery.

After the end of the war he moved to New York City , where he began studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made his debut in José Ferrer's Cyrano de Bergerac in 1947 . More stage plays followed when he discovered the medium of television for himself in the 1950s. With colleagues like Louie Nye , Wally Steuermann and Don Knotts , he appeared as a comedian on The Steve Allen Show from 1956 to 1960 . He gained popularity so quickly and was awarded an Emmy in 1959 for his appearances on the show . Then he tried his hand at being an actor in Broadway plays, as well as participating in various television quiz programs. Poston concentrated more on a career in television and, thanks to his comic talent, worked for decades in various films and series, but also in variety shows, situation comedies and talk shows. His screen career, however, was limited to rather smaller roles.

Poston was married to the actress Suzanne Pleshette for the fourth time .

Filmography (selection)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Poston, Tom
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Poston, Thomas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION US-American actor
DATE OF BIRTH October 17, 1921
PLACE OF BIRTH Columbus , Ohio, United States
DATE OF DEATH April 30, 2007
Place of death Los Angeles , California, United States