Mission: Impossible and Star Trek actor Tom Troupe died on Sunday, July 20, at the age of 97. A veteran actor of both the stage and screen, Troupe was especially prolific on television. He had many memorable guest-starring roles, notably playing IMF operative David Day in Mission: Impossible, Star Trek Starfleet officer Lt. Harold, and Judge William E. Grey in Cheers.
According to CBS News, Troupe’s representative confirmed his death, though no other details were revealed. The Hollywood Reporter notes that the actor passed away in his Beverly Hills home five days after his birthday and was believed to have died of natural causes. Troupe leaves behind a lasting legacy on the small screen, with more than 70 TV appearances throughout his career.
Tom Troupe Left Behind A Lasting Legacy On The Small Screen
He Had Over 70 Television Credits To His Name
In the almost 65 years he was active in Hollywood, Troupe made television guest-acting an art form. Rarely appearing in a series for more than one episode, the actor’s credits also include The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Fugitive, Cagney & Lacey, CHiPS, Quincy, M.E., Murder, She Wrote, Frasier, and ER.
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Tom Troupe’s Notable Television Roles |
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The Fugitive (1964) |
Dr. Bloch |
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Mission: Impossible (1967) |
David Day |
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Star Trek (1967) |
Lt. Harold |
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Cheers (1987) |
Judge William E. Grey |
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ER (1998) |
Tancred Baumgartner |
Hailing from North Kansas City, Missouri, Troupe decided to pursue acting and moved to New York in 1948. Before his career could take off, he first served in the Korean War and earned a Bronze Star. Troupe would return to New York following his service, and made his Broadway debut in 1957, playing Peter in The Diary of Anne Frank.
A decade later, Troupe moved to Los Angeles, a successful move that launched his impressive television career. In addition to his TV credits, the actor appeared in the film My Own Private Idaho and co-wrote and starred in Sofi, an adaptation of a play based on “Diary of a Madman,” a short story by Nikolai Gogol.
Tom Troupe Was Married To Late Actress Carole Cook
They Appeared In Several Plays Together
Troupe married actress Carole Cook in 1964. Though Cook was most famous for her appearances in Lucille Ball’s series The Lucy Show and Here’s Lucy, she was also a stage actor like her husband. The couple appeared in productions such as The Lion in Winter, Father’s Day, and The Gin Game. Cook died in 2023, two years before her husband.
Troupe and Cook are survived by their son, Christopher Troupe, and daughter-in-law, Becky Coulter. In a moving tribute, Troupe’s nephew, Mark Cocanougher, shared a post dedicated to his uncle on Instagram. Cocanougher wrote that Troupe and Cook “touched many lives, and I’m grateful for any positive impact they have had among so many friends and fans through their work and generous spirit.“
Source: CBS News, The Hollywood Reporter, Mark Cocanougher/Instagram
