Tom Neal

Thomas Carroll "Tom" Neal, Jr. (January 28, 1914 – August 7, 1972), known professionally as Tom Neal, was an American actor and boxer best known for appearing in the critically lauded film Detour and Club Havana, having a tryst with Barbara Payton and later committing manslaughter.

Career

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Neal was one of three children born to banker Thomas, Sr. and Mayme Neal (née Martin). He had two older sisters, Mary Elizabeth and Dorothy Helen. His great uncle was John Drew. Neal and his sisters were raised in a spacious ten-room home in Chicago. He attended Lake Forest Academy and Evanston Township High School before enrolling at Northwestern University where he majored in mathematics. During college, Neal played several sports and, for a time, competed in amateur boxing matches. He was also a member the Sigma Chi fraternity and was active in the drama club.

Neal dropped out of Northwestern after a year, and moved back to Chicago. He appeared in various stage productions in summer stock before making his way to New York City in 1933. Neal made his Broadway debut in 1935. In 1938, he first appeared in film in Out West with the Hardys, part of the Mickey Rooney "Hardy family" movie series.